Baker salary in Reading, PA
Bakers in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median of $35,730 a year ($17.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 360 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,580 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $37,160. Pay here is 2% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $36,360. There are 2.1 bakers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $34,800, close to the median.
Pay range for bakers in Reading, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,090 | $12.54 |
| 25th percentile | $29,140 | $14.01 |
| Median | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| 75th percentile | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,580 | $21.43 |
| Average (mean) | $34,800 | $16.73 |
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 | $2,977.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,488.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,374.23 |
| Weekly | $687.12 |
| Hourly | $17.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Baker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chambersburg, PA | $48,640 | 200 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37,770 | 4,410 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $37,400 | 620 |
| Lebanon, PA | $36,380 | 180 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $36,260 | 640 |
| Lancaster, PA | $36,160 | 910 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $35,810 | 450 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $35,790 | 470 |
| Williamsport, PA | $35,690 | 90 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $35,340 | 2,000 |
| Erie, PA | $33,790 | 270 |
| State College, PA | $33,140 | 90 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $32,740 | 30 |
| Altoona, PA | $31,850 | 100 |
| Johnstown, PA | $29,030 | 70 |
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 |
See Baker pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $44,220 | $21.26 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $36,920 | $17.75 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,470 | $21.86 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $39,230 | $18.86 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,860 | $22.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $78,200 | $37.60 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,170 | $23.64 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $54,840 | $26.36 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $54,350 | $26.13 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,470 | $26.19 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $70,310 | $33.80 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,760 | $26.33 |
| Machinist | $59,550 | $28.63 |
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 Reading, PA?
The median salary for bakers in the Reading, PA metro area is $35,730 a year, or $17.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bakers make in Reading, PA?
The top 10% of bakers in the Reading, PA metro area earn at least $44,580 a year. The top 25% earn $37,300 or more.
What is the starting pay for bakers in Reading, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,090 a year, and a quarter of bakers earn $29,140 or less.
How many bakers work in Reading, PA?
About 360 bakers are employed in the Reading, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.