How to Become a Pastry Chef in Minnesota (2026)

Q: How much do pastry chefs earn in Minnesota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pastry chefs in Minnesota earned a median annual wage of approximately $40,210 (using the related "Bakers" BLS category, since pastry chef wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Minnesota is roughly 0.59 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 Minnesota?

Minnesota currently employs approximately 2,660 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

Minnesota chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $62,600 ($30.10/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,730 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.2% above the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,600 ($30.10/hr)
25th percentile: $53,050 per year
75th percentile: $75,960 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $95,890 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,400 per year
Workers employed in Minnesota: 1,730
Versus national median: 0.2% above the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.45 - this occupation is less concentrated in Minnesota than the national average

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

Minnesota employs about 2,660 pastry chefs earning a median $40,210 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Bakers”). Most pastry chefs train through an approved program before entering the field in Minnesota.

Key Facts

Median wage (Minnesota): $40,210/yr (Source: BLS OEWS (proxy: Bakers), 2025)
Employed in Minnesota: 2,660 workers (Source: BLS OEWS (proxy: Bakers), 2025)
Location quotient: 0.59x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 5.6% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Pastry Chef Schools in Minnesota

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. 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	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	North Dakota State College of Science	72.6	Contact school for pricing	$60,587	52%	Yes*	165 mi
2	Minnesota State Community and Technical College	64.5	$5,908 - $17,194	$54,581	47%	Yes*	143 mi
3	Minnesota North College	63.9	$6,022 - $16,346	$54,100	42%	Yes*	146 mi
4	St Cloud Technical and Community College	63.7	Contact school for pricing	$58,691	44%	Yes*	39 mi
5	Chippewa Valley Technical College	61.2	Contact school for pricing	$57,493	48%	Yes*	102 mi
6	Central Lakes College-Brainerd	60.4	$6,249 - $19,543	$50,357	51%	Yes*	78 mi
7	South Central College	60.0	Contact school for pricing	$52,003	34%	Yes*	86 mi
8	Hennepin Technical College	58.9	$5,940 - $16,032	$59,906	43%	Yes*	17 mi
9	Northcentral Technical College	57.8	Contact school for pricing	$50,869	47%	Yes*	187 mi
10	Western Technical College	56.2	Contact school for pricing	$53,114	36%	Yes*	151 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, Minnesota employs approximately 2,660 workers in the related “Bakers” category (SOC 51-3011), with a median annual wage of $40,210 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 Minnesota, 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 (Minnesota): $40,210 per year (based on related “Bakers” category) ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pastry Chef in Minnesota

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

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

What do pastry chefs earn in Minnesota? The BLS does not track pastry chef wages separately. Based on the related “Bakers” category, the median annual wage in Minnesota is $40,210, with entry-level wages around $31,110 and experienced workers earning $52,970 or more ¹.

How to Become a Pastry Chef in Minnesota

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Minnesota training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved pastry chef program in Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	20,940	$41,321	$43,597	$36,167	$51,956
Fargo	2,000	$37,343	$38,264	$29,356	$46,623
Duluth	1,670	$37,886	$38,550	$30,143	$48,010
Rochester	1,240	$40,060	$41,448	$31,902	$51,260
La Crosse-Onalaska	1,160	$38,174	$38,024	$28,359	$47,452
St. Cloud	1,000	$37,961	$38,741	$29,947	$47,548
Sioux Falls	960	$39,379	$39,774	$31,054	$48,529
Mankato	610	$37,843	$38,692	$30,863	$47,055
Grand Forks	610	$36,871	$36,718	$28,629	$45,029

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 Minnesota? Minnesota employs approximately 2,660 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 Minnesota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Minnesota.

How much do pastry chefs earn in Minnesota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pastry chefs in Minnesota is $40,210 (based on the related “Bakers” category), which is $3,560 above the national median of $36,650 according to BLS data ¹.

In Minnesota

Best Trade Schools in Minnesota (2026)

Explore More Trades in Minnesota

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)