How to Become a Pastry Chef in Kansas (2026)

Q: How much do pastry chefs earn in Kansas?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pastry chefs in Kansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $34,300 (using the related "Bakers" BLS category, since pastry chef wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Kansas is roughly 0.63 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for pastry chefs in Kansas?

Kansas currently employs approximately 1,370 workers in the related "Bakers" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.6% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Kansas chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $58,390 ($28.07/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 860 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -6.5% below the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $58,390 ($28.07/hr)
25th percentile: $43,990 per year
75th percentile: $74,990 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $89,990 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,540 per year
Workers employed in Kansas: 860
Versus national median: -6.5% below the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.46 - this occupation is less concentrated in Kansas than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Kansas employs about 1,370 pastry chefs earning a median $34,300 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Bakers”). Most pastry chefs train through an approved program before entering the field in Kansas.

Compare Pastry Chef Schools in Kansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Flint Hills Technical College	75.5	$6,400	$52,442	68%	Yes*	48 mi
2	Washburn Institute of Technology	71.0	$8,880	$56,774	68%	Yes*	86 mi
3	Fort Hays Tech North Central	60.9	$7,350	Not reported	78%	—	93 mi
4	Johnson County Community College	55.0	$2,424 in-state / $5,688 out-of-state	$52,956	31%	Yes*	134 mi
5	Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology	54.7	$7,238	$47,431	43%	Yes*	44 mi
6	Pioneer Technology Center	54.4	Contact school for pricing	$37,175	73%	—	114 mi
7	Independence Community College	45.4	$4,560 in-state / $4,950 out-of-state	$34,293	26%	Yes*	112 mi
8	Butler Community College	44.9	$3,541 in-state / $6,271 out-of-state	$46,569	32%	Yes*	41 mi
9	Kansas City Kansas Community College	44.4	$3,210 in-state / $6,945 out-of-state	$50,545	42%	Yes*	137 mi
10	Autry Technology Center	43.0	Contact school for pricing	$44,150	75%	—	142 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kansas employs approximately 1,370 workers in the related “Bakers” category (SOC 51-3011), with a median annual wage of $34,300 ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034, with about 39,900 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Pastry Chef in Kansas, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track pastry chef salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Bakers (SOC 51-3011). Actual pastry chef earnings may vary.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (Kansas): $34,300 per year (based on related “Bakers” category) ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pastry Chef in Kansas

How to become a Pastry Chef in Kansas? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for pastry chefs in Kansas.

How long does it take? pastry chef training length in Kansas varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do pastry chefs earn in Kansas? The BLS does not track pastry chef wages separately. Based on the related “Bakers” category, the median annual wage in Kansas is $34,300, with entry-level wages around $27,410 and experienced workers earning $45,740 or more ¹.

How to Become a Pastry Chef in Kansas

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Kansas training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved pastry chef program in Kansas that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to pastry chefs in Kansas before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Pastry Chef Wages by Metro Area in Kansas

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Kansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), chefs and head cooks wages in Kansas vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Kansas City	12,440	$39,053	$40,562	$31,077	$50,153
Wichita	3,220	$35,009	$35,304	$24,857	$44,457
Topeka	950	$35,967	$35,893	$26,680	$45,887
Lawrence	830	$35,886	$35,844	$27,559	$45,112
Joplin	700	$33,930	$34,150	$28,600	$42,610
Manhattan	620	$33,116	$34,305	$24,692	$40,899
St. Joseph	390	$35,377	$36,198	$29,762	$45,005

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for pastry chefs in Kansas? Kansas employs approximately 1,370 workers in the related “Bakers” category ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Kansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Kansas.

How much do pastry chefs earn in Kansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pastry chefs in Kansas is $34,300 (based on the related “Bakers” category), which is $2,350 below the national median of $36,650 according to BLS data ¹.

In Kansas

Best Trade Schools in Kansas (2026)

Explore More Trades in Kansas

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)