Career Categories Below this heading you will see a row of icons and names. This navigation allows you to view all the careers within a single category. When you choose a different category it will become highlighted.

Return to Career Journey By clicking the Return to Career Journey button you will be taken back to the start of this journey so you may make different choices and discover new career opportunities.

Baker Directly to the left of this help icon you will see this work indoors icon that represents where Baker work most of the time. If the person in the icon is standing outside the building then the work is mostly outside. A person inside respresents mostly insde work and two people (one inside and one outside) represent the work has a bit of both. By clicking the Details buttons to the left will open the page and allow you to read more about becoming a Baker. After you have spent some time reading and you would like to find out what schools are offering training for Baker click the Yes, use this career in my Journey button.

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Food Services

Baker

work indoors

Bakers prepare and bake breads, cakes, cookies, pastries, pies, and other baked goods.

Is this a career that interests you?

  • Related School SubjectsDetails

    Math; English; Home Economics

  • Field of StudyDetails

    Bakers are employed in retail and wholesale bakeries, supermarkets, hospitals, institutions, hotels, catering companies, restaurants, and camps.

  • DutiesDetails

    Depending on the size and type of the bakery, bakers may:

    • Follow recipes to weigh, measure, and mix ingredients.
    • Follow special customer instructions.
    • Cut and form dough.
    • Mix and pour batters.
    • Prepare fillings.
    • Use ovens to bake products.
    • Fry doughnuts.
    • Decorate baked goods.
    • Wash dishes.
    • Decide which products to and foods to create.
    • Decide how often products and foods should be created.
    • Purchase, supplies, and rotate ingredients and supplies.
    • Operate kitchen machinery.
  • Working ConditionsDetails

    Location:

    • Indoors
      • Clean, well lit environment.
      • Work with hot ovens and production equipment.
    • Outdoors
      • No.

    Hours:

    • Flexible hours.
    • Regular Work Schedule (Monday-Friday 4:00 am - 1:00 pm).
    • My need to work night shifts.

    Heavy Lifting:

    • Up to 20 kilograms.
  • PersonalDetails

    People working in this trade need the following characteristics:

    • Good health and physical stamina.
    • Works well with hands.
    • Responsible attitude about public health standards.
    • Enjoy creating things with hands.
    • Enjoy having a job that requires daily attendance.
  • EducationDetails

    Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates.

    To work in this trade in Alberta, at least ONE of these must be true:

    • You are a registered apprentice.
    • You are an Alberta-certified journeyperson.
    • You have a recognized related trade certificate.
    • Your employer believes your skills and knowledge are the same as a journeyperson.
    • You are self-employed in this trade.

    To register as an Alberta apprentice you need to have:

    • English Language Arts 10-2 or equivalent.
    • Math 10-3 or equivalent.
    • OR able to pass the entrance exam.
    • An employer willing to train you.

    Apprenticeship term:

    • Work on your first year in grade 10-12 through the Registered Apprenticeship Program.
    • 3 years.
    • 1560 work hours.
    • 8 weeks classroom training.
    • May take exam in final year to earn Red Seal and work throughout most of Canada.
  • Programs OfferedDetails

    Technical training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at:

    For more information, visit the Technical Training Centre on the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website.

    Outside the apprenticeship program, the following Alberta post-secondary institutions offer related training:

    • The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton offers a one year Baking certificate program. The entrance requirement is Grade 10 including English and Math.
    • The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary offers a two year Baking and Pastry Arts diploma program. The entrance requirements are English Language Arts 10-1 or 10-2 and Pure or Applied Math 10, Math 10c, or Math 10-3.

    Pre-employment programs for prospective apprentices and continuing education programs for journeypersons may be offered on an as needed basis by the institution(s) listed above or other schools.

    For current information about programs, admission requirements, and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

  • AdvancementDetails

    Job Opportunities in this trade include:

    • Cook.
    • Pastry cook.
    • Cake decorator.
    • Baking instructor.
    • Supervisory or management positions.
    • Sales positions.
    • Management or supervisory positions.
    • Self-employed.
    • If you have supervisory or management experience in this trade, you may apply for an Achievement in Business Competencies Blue Seal by contacting Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

    Job openings are affected by:

    • Current employment rates.
    • People leaving existing positions.
    • Creation of new positions that never existed before.
    • Size of the occupation.

    Future Trends:

    • Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

    Industries/Businesses employing people in this trade include:

    • Retail Trade.
    • Manufacturing.
    • Hotels.
    • Restaurants.
  • SalaryDetails

    Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $10 to $16.50 an hour plus benefits (2009 estimates). Apprentice bakers earn at least 65 per cent of the journeyperson rate in their place of employment in the first year, 75 per cent in the second and 85 per cent in the third.

    According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Bakers occupational group earned on average from $12.37 to $17.75 an hour. The mean wage for this group was $15.10 an hour.

  • Other SourcesDetails