Baking and Pastry Arts Schools in the U.S.

You may wonder how much baking and pastry arts programs cost--and if they're really necessary to break into the baking field. The certifications, specialties, and school options may all be overwhelming when you first start researching the possibility of pursuing your passion. Are you curious if there cities where you'd be more likely to get a job once you have your education? Do these jobs pay more if you've been to baking school? Find answers to these, and more of your baking and pastry arts questions here.

What You'll Learn at Baking School

You may already know that you love to bake and are good at it. To become a professional baker you'll also need physical stamina, the ability to work in a hot, fast-paced environment under pressure, and strong communication skills. If you've got these covered, a degree in baking and pastry arts can build on this foundation. You learn skills like:

• Pastry dough, tarts, and cookies
• Baking and decorating cakes
• Breads
• Puffed pastry and croissants
• Sugar creations like marzipan
• Petits fours
• Chocolate

In addition, classes cover equipment usage, baker's math, menu planning, production techniques, and food safety and sanitation. Depending on the length and focus of the baking program, you may study the theory and history of baking and pastry arts and the business, financial, and managerial aspects of being a head chef or running your own business. With these skills, you can:

• Start a gourmet cookie business
• Open a European bread bakery
• Work as head pastry chef at a 5-star restaurant
• Run a business specializing in wedding cakes
• Teach baking and pastry arts

Is Pastry School Necessary?

Not everyone agrees that going to baking school is worth the time and money. After all, there's a lot you won't learn in a baking school classroom. Many hardworking and talented bakers without formal educations have landed good jobs with opportunities for advancement. Some professionals recommend simply going to the best restaurant you can find and starting at the bottom.

But as Judith Weinraub from the Washington Post discovered in her article What Do Chefs Really Earn, "restaurateurs see a diploma as a sign of seriousness in the profession." Another benefit is that the externships that culinary schools often require can lead to post-graduation employment.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), having a degree can increase your chances of finding a job in competitive upscale restaurants and hotels where the pay tends to be better. Furthermore, graduates of top culinary schools who have sharp business skills are often more appealing potential hires in this economy where employers value financial know-how.

How Much Does Baking School Cost?

The price of culinary school varies enormously, ranging from $2,000 to $45,000 annually. Private and federal loans, grants, and scholarships can all be used to make the pastry school you'd like to attend within financial reach. Community colleges and state schools also often offer more affordable programs. Find a good fit for your goals in terms of location, coursework, duration, and cost.

Some culinary hubs where you'll find more educational and employment options, include New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago, and New Orleans.

Which Baking Degree Should You Get?

Baking and pastry arts programs are now offered at universities, colleges, technical schools, professional culinary institutes, and private cooking schools. Depending on the program and the depth of focus you choose, you may earn a:

• Diploma or certificate (programs range from four to eighteen months)
• Two-year associate's degree
• Four-year bachelor's degree

The amount of education you elect to receive can help open doors at various job levels and in a range of establishments. Diploma and certificate programs will qualify you for entry level positions in the field, while associate's degrees may give you a more in-depth look into a few focused aspects of the baking and pastry arts business. A bachelor's will give you a broad training in a range of culinary subjects, often including business and management.

Start by thinking about where you want to work, and what you want to be doing. Next, research a handful of schools and the programs they offer to figure out the certificate or degree program that will help you achieve your career goals.

Many programs also require externships where students hone their skills by working in a kitchen.

How Much Do Pastry Chefs Earn?

Salaries for pastry chefs vary according to the location, size, and popularity of the restaurant and the level of responsibility of the position. For example, pastry chefs in Las Vegas earn an average of $70,000 a year and the White House pastry chef can earn $120,000. However, according the BLS, the median salary for pastry chefs was $38,770 in 2008. Job satisfaction, health care, and getting two days off in a row can be more important for many bakers than earning the biggest paycheck possible.