How to Become a Pastry Chef in New York (2026)

Q: How much do pastry chefs earn in New York?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pastry chefs in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $38,660 (using the related "Bakers" BLS category, since pastry chef wages are not tracked separately).

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

New York currently employs approximately 15,130 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

New York chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $70,670 ($33.98/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 17,430 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 13.1% above the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $70,670 ($33.98/hr)
25th percentile: $55,070 per year
75th percentile: $93,240 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $120,370 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $46,260 per year
Workers employed in New York: 17,430
Versus national median: 13.1% above the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.40 - this occupation is more concentrated in New York than the national average

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

New York employs about 15,130 pastry chefs earning a median $38,660 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Bakers”). Most pastry chefs train through an approved program before entering the field in New York.

Compare Pastry Chef Schools in New York

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	Institute of Culinary Education	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	$47,145	Not reported	Yes*	42 mi
2	County College of Morris	72.1	$6,210 in-state / $14,310 out-of-state	$52,838	36%	Yes*	38 mi
3	Culinary Institute of America	69.3	$39,850	$51,285	63%	Yes*	32 mi
4	Bergen Community College	63.9	$4,913 in-state / $9,294 out-of-state	$51,761	21%	Yes*	25 mi
5	Monroe University	62.7	$18,464	$48,907	57%	Yes*	34 mi
6	Rockland Community College	59.7	$6,862	$48,706	29%	Yes*	13 mi
7	Sussex County Community College	53.8	$5,544 in-state / $9,024 out-of-state	$41,662	37%	Yes*	36 mi
8	Eastwick College-Hackensack	44.4	$18,075	$43,216	43%	—	30 mi
9	Sullivan County Community College	42.3	$6,468 in-state / $12,132 out-of-state	$43,580	33%	Yes*	41 mi
10	New Community Career & Technical Institute	41.2	Contact school for pricing	$32,679	54%	—	40 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, New York employs approximately 15,130 workers in the related “Bakers” category (SOC 51-3011), with a median annual wage of $38,660 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 New York, 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 (New York): $38,660 per year (based on related “Bakers” category) ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pastry Chef in New York

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

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

What do pastry chefs earn in New York? The BLS does not track pastry chef wages separately. Based on the related “Bakers” category, the median annual wage in New York is $38,660, with entry-level wages around $34,670 and experienced workers earning $53,960 or more ¹.

How to Become a Pastry Chef in New York

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

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in New York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	105,820	$48,283	$49,041	$35,852	$66,795
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	5,530	$42,180	$44,411	$36,041	$53,067
Rochester	4,720	$42,069	$44,790	$36,032	$55,144
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	4,270	$44,283	$45,449	$35,748	$52,586
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	3,040	$46,243	$46,202	$36,862	$55,687
Syracuse	2,520	$40,970	$43,442	$35,239	$52,091
Utica-Rome	1,260	$41,402	$44,136	$35,326	$57,439
Kingston	1,050	$46,331	$46,634	$35,784	$57,302
Binghamton	970	$40,311	$41,730	$33,483	$50,126
Glens Falls	630	$42,195	$44,414	$36,387	$54,179
Ithaca	550	$42,155	$44,856	$36,565	$54,676
Watertown-Fort Drum	440	$39,083	$40,089	$32,509	$49,028
Elmira	340	$39,797	$41,539	$33,954	$49,098

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 New York? New York employs approximately 15,130 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 New York? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in New York.

How much do pastry chefs earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pastry chefs in New York is $38,660 (based on the related “Bakers” category), which is $2,010 above the national median of $36,650 according to BLS data ¹.

In New York

Best Trade Schools in New York (2026)

Explore More Trades in New York

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)