How to Become a Pastry Chef in Virginia (2026)

Q: How much do pastry chefs earn in Virginia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pastry chefs in Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $34,430 (using the related "Bakers" BLS category, since pastry chef wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Virginia is about 1.25 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Virginia currently employs approximately 7,820 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

Virginia chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $63,270 ($30.42/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,600 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 1.3% above the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $63,270 ($30.42/hr)
25th percentile: $50,170 per year
75th percentile: $77,270 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $90,470 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $43,010 per year
Workers employed in Virginia: 3,600
Versus national median: 1.3% above the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.68 - this occupation is less concentrated in Virginia than the national average

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

Virginia employs about 7,820 pastry chefs earning a median $34,430 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Bakers”). Most pastry chefs train through an approved program before entering the field in Virginia.

Compare Pastry Chef Schools in Virginia

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	Piedmont Virginia Community College	62.2	Contact school for pricing	$51,090	37%	Yes*	53 mi
2	Vance-Granville Community College	57.2	Contact school for pricing	$47,633	Not reported	Yes*	68 mi
3	Patrick & Henry Community College	56.2	Contact school for pricing	$44,016	43%	Yes*	75 mi
4	Virginia Western Community College	54.1	Contact school for pricing	$48,004	40%	Yes*	70 mi
5	J Sargeant Reynolds Community College	52.7	Contact school for pricing	$54,140	31%	Yes*	71 mi
6	Nash Community College	52.0	Contact school for pricing	$48,139	46%	Yes*	100 mi
7	Alamance Community College	50.9	Contact school for pricing	$41,411	Not reported	Yes*	91 mi
8	Central Virginia Community College	50.4	$5,157 - $12,829	$45,157	43%	Yes*	28 mi
9	Durham Technical Community College	49.8	Contact school for pricing	$57,868	40%	Yes*	90 mi
10	Southside Virginia Community College	47.9	Contact school for pricing	$43,979	Not reported	Yes*	52 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, Virginia employs approximately 7,820 workers in the related “Bakers” category (SOC 51-3011), with a median annual wage of $34,430 ¹. The state’s concentration of jobs in this category is 1.25x the national average, indicating strong regional demand. 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 Virginia, 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 (Virginia): $34,430 per year (based on related “Bakers” category) ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pastry Chef in Virginia

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

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

What do pastry chefs earn in Virginia? The BLS does not track pastry chef wages separately. Based on the related “Bakers” category, the median annual wage in Virginia is $34,430, with entry-level wages around $28,140 and experienced workers earning $46,620 or more ¹.

How to Become a Pastry Chef in Virginia

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

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Virginia

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	40,090	$46,042	$46,054	$35,818	$55,863
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	9,920	$37,188	$37,596	$29,753	$46,159
Richmond	8,150	$37,588	$38,530	$30,446	$47,780
Charlottesville	1,760	$39,117	$40,342	$30,672	$49,499
Roanoke	1,660	$36,267	$35,894	$28,854	$45,041
Kingsport-Bristol	1,300	$35,297	$35,009	$26,481	$44,662
Lynchburg	1,270	$35,859	$36,082	$28,458	$46,115
Harrisonburg	930	$36,885	$37,196	$28,968	$46,037
Winchester	810	$36,063	$36,603	$29,067	$46,534
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford	790	$36,958	$37,247	$29,185	$46,945
Staunton-Stuarts Draft	500	$35,900	$35,900	$28,950	$43,650

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 Virginia? Virginia employs approximately 7,820 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 Virginia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Virginia.

How much do pastry chefs earn in Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pastry chefs in Virginia is $34,430 (based on the related “Bakers” category), which is $2,220 below the national median of $36,650 according to BLS data ¹.

In Virginia

Best Trade Schools in Virginia (2026)

Explore More Trades in Virginia

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)