Baker salary in California
Bakers in California earn a median of $43,120 a year ($20.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 30,020 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,960 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $37,160. California ranks 4th of 51 states for bakers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.6 bakers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bakers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| 25th percentile | $38,040 | $18.29 |
| Median | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| 75th percentile | $47,500 | $22.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,960 | $26.42 |
| Average (mean) | $44,130 | $21.21 |
Half of bakers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,593.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,796.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,658.46 |
| Weekly | $829.23 |
| Hourly | $20.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Baker salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,600 | 4,820 |
| Napa, CA | $46,360 | 170 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,480 | 1,240 |
| Vallejo, CA | $44,970 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $44,650 | 560 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,760 | 490 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $43,630 | 400 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $43,080 | 2,200 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $42,920 | 310 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $42,910 | 1,520 |
| Merced, CA | $42,900 | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $42,470 | 640 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $42,180 | 350 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $41,790 | 2,900 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $41,380 | 720 |
| Salinas, CA | $41,310 | 410 |
| El Centro, CA | $40,580 | 60 |
| Chico, CA | $40,000 | 120 |
| Yuba City, CA | $39,580 | 60 |
| Modesto, CA | $39,450 | 400 |
| Fresno, CA | $39,260 | 640 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,260 | 10,580 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $39,220 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $38,750 | 240 |
| Redding, CA | $37,140 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for bakers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $46,710 |
| Washington | $46,140 |
| District of Columbia | $44,040 |
| California | $43,120 |
| Colorado | $40,650 |
| Minnesota | $40,210 |
| Wyoming | $40,000 |
| Vermont | $39,980 |
| Alaska | $39,710 |
| Nevada | $39,540 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Food Batchmaker | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,600 | $21.93 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,840 | $36.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $48,080 | $23.12 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,060 | $27.91 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in California?
The median salary for bakers in California is $43,120 a year, or $20.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bakers make in California?
The top 10% of bakers in California earn at least $54,960 a year. The top 25% earn $47,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for bakers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,510 a year, and a quarter of bakers earn $38,040 or less.
How many bakers work in California?
About 30,020 bakers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.