The median annual wage of bakers was $23,450 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $16,910, and the top 10 percent earned more than $37,320.
In May 2010, median annual wages in industries employing the largest numbers of bakers were as follows:
| Bakeries and tortilla manufacturing | $24,580 |
| Grocery stories | 24,180 |
| Full-service restaurants | 22,620 |
| Other general merchandise stores | 22,300 |
| Limited-service eating places | 20,290 |
Although most bakers work full time, about 28 percent work time.
Grocery stores and restaurants, which employ more than half of all bakers, often schedule bakers to work early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays. Because these establishments sell freshly baked goods throughout the day, bakers often work in shifts.
Bakers who work in commercial bakeries where baking is done on continuous basis may have to work late evenings and weekends.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition