Pastry Chef Schools in the U.S.

Do I Need to Attend Pastry School?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it's not essential that you complete post-secondary training to work in the pastry arts. Many pastry chefs are taught on the job; some earning their titles through years of working their way up the ranks of restaurant, hotel, or supermarket kitchens.

But because this is an elite profession, competition is keen. In fact, the American Culinary Federation (ACF) says that only 3 percent of its culinary membership's jobs are held by pastry chefs. Additionally, a 2008 survey by the ACF found that 76 percent of respondents working in the culinary arts attended culinary school.

Many employers simply prefer to hire those with certifications or degrees from baking and pastry arts programs. Plus, having such training often leads to better opportunities for advancement and higher salaries.

How Can I Pay for Pastry School?

Costs vary for pastry arts programs, depending on the school or program you attend, how long your program takes to complete, and whether you attend full or part-time. There are ways to help you afford culinary school including scholarships, employer sponsored tuition reimbursement, financial aid and student loans. In fact, the ACF and other culinary organizations offer scholarship opportunities.

What Do I Need to Learn to Become a Pastry Chef?

The scientific processes at work in baking are essential lessons for anyone wanting to work in this profession. For instance, did you know that all ingredients should be at room temperature before you use them? Do you know why you can't mix custard over direct heat? And why are baking instructions different at different elevations? The answers to these and many other questions are what pastry chefs know like the backs of their hands.

Pastry school programs cover basic baking principals as well as more advanced skills, including how to prepare or develop recipes for any dessert, from pies and cakes to custards. Pastry chefs also need to be able to prepare sauces, glazes, icing, marzipan figures, blown or pulled sugar, ice carvings, and dough sculptures.

For the management-oriented pastry chef, school also teaches basic sanitation, how to use the various pieces of kitchen equipment, and some business aspects of working in pastry arts, which may include lessons in kitchen management and inventory.

What Is a Pastry Arts Career Like?

With your pastry arts degree firmly in hand, you can work in a variety of settings, including restaurants, hotel or resort kitchens, supermarket bakeries, specialty bakeries, catering businesses, or even research kitchens for food manufacturers.

Most pastry chef jobs are found in large metropolitan areas known as destinations for upscale dining, vacationers, and business conferences, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Las Vegas.

Salaries vary depending on the employer and experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the majority of pastry chefs have between 0 and 9 years experience, with the middle 50 percent of salaries ranging from $29,050 to $51,540.