Hospitality & Food

How to become a Pastry Chef

From line cook: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

1–3 years

Typical pay

$42k–$62k

Starting from

Line cook

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from line cook and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   1–2 years

   Work a savoury or prep station first

   Kitchen discipline transfers; most pastry chefs did not start in pastry.

   Course that covers thisHospitality and Culinary Arts Careers – Culinary FoundationsUdemy · around $19.99 →
2. 2

   1–2 years

   Learn baking science

   Ratios, lamination and temperature. Pastry punishes improvisation more than cooking does.

3. 3

   1–3 years

   Work under a pastry chef

   Hotels and larger restaurants are the only places with a real pastry brigade to learn in.

4. 4

   2–4 years

   Run a program

   Menu, costing and a small team. Hours start very early and that does not change.

5. ✓

   Destination

   Pastry Chef

   Browse jobs now →

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