How long does pastry chef training take in Mississippi?

Most paths into the pastry chef field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What apprenticeships are available for pastry chefs in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information.

How to Become a Pastry Chef in Mississippi (2026)

Q: How much do pastry chefs earn in Mississippi?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pastry chefs in Mississippi earned a median annual wage of approximately $28,920 (using the related "Bakers" BLS category, since pastry chef wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Mississippi is roughly 0.73 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 Mississippi?

Mississippi currently employs approximately 1,300 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

Mississippi chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $54,850 ($26.37/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 840 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -12.2% below the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $54,850 ($26.37/hr)
25th percentile: $37,180 per year
75th percentile: $76,350 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $83,850 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $30,900 per year
Workers employed in Mississippi: 840
Versus national median: -12.2% below the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.56 - this occupation is less concentrated in Mississippi than the national average

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

Mississippi employs about 1,300 pastry chefs earning a median $28,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Bakers”). Most pastry chefs train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Mississippi.

Key Facts

Median wage (Mississippi): $28,920/yr (Source: BLS OEWS (proxy: Bakers), 2025)
Employed in Mississippi: 1,300 workers (Source: BLS OEWS (proxy: Bakers), 2025)
Location quotient: 0.73x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 5.6% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Pastry Chef Schools in Mississippi

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	Copiah-Lincoln Community College	63.6	Contact school for pricing	$36,902	51%	Yes*	92 mi
2	East Mississippi Community College	57.7	Contact school for pricing	$42,022	44%	Yes*	58 mi
3	Hinds Community College	53.6	Contact school for pricing	$40,042	Not reported	Yes*	65 mi
4	Holmes Community College	53.5	Contact school for pricing	$39,984	Not reported	Yes*	28 mi
5	Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College	51.3	Contact school for pricing	$44,103	Not reported	Yes*	139 mi
6	Meridian Community College	50.6	Contact school for pricing	$50,810	Not reported	Yes*	52 mi
7	East Central Community College	46.4	Contact school for pricing	$36,389	38%	—	32 mi
8	Jones County Junior College	45.6	Contact school for pricing	$36,340	Not reported	Yes*	83 mi
9	Coahoma Community College	44.1	Contact school for pricing	$31,140	39%	Yes*	120 mi
10	Mississippi Delta Community College	41.8	Contact school for pricing	$37,960	Not reported	Yes*	75 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, Mississippi employs approximately 1,300 workers in the related “Bakers” category (SOC 51-3011), with a median annual wage of $28,920 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 Mississippi, 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.

Pastry Chef Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	5,980	$38,724	$38,225	$27,992	$48,844
Gulfport-Biloxi	2,940	$32,140	$32,900	$23,658	$40,686
Jackson	2,750	$30,867	$30,713	$22,425	$39,829
Hattiesburg	760	$30,474	$30,620	$22,729	$37,245

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 .

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Mississippi): $28,920 per year (based on related “Bakers” category) ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pastry Chef in Mississippi

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

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do pastry chefs earn in Mississippi? The BLS does not track pastry chef wages separately. Based on the related “Bakers” category, the median annual wage in Mississippi is $28,920, with entry-level wages around $20,910 and experienced workers earning $40,390 or more ¹.

How to Become a Pastry Chef in Mississippi

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Mississippi training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Mississippi that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
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 Mississippi before you start working.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for pastry chefs in Mississippi? Mississippi employs approximately 1,300 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 Mississippi? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Mississippi.

How much do pastry chefs earn in Mississippi compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pastry chefs in Mississippi is $28,920 (based on the related “Bakers” category), which is $7,730 below the national median of $36,650 according to BLS data ¹.

In Mississippi

Best Trade Schools in Mississippi (2026)

Explore More Trades in Mississippi

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)