Bakers

What the job really is

Mix and bake ingredients to produce breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, or other baked goods.

At a glance

• Sector: Production
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-3011
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Check products for quality, and identify damaged or expired goods.
• Set oven temperatures, and place items into hot ovens for baking.
• Combine measured ingredients in bowls of mixing, blending, or cooking machinery.
• Place dough in pans, molds, or on sheets, and bake in production ovens or on grills.
• Set time and speed controls for mixing machines, blending machines, or steam kettles so that ingredients will be mixed or cooked according to instructions.
• Measure or weigh flour or other ingredients to prepare batters, doughs, fillings, or icings, using scales or graduated containers.
• Observe color of products being baked, and adjust oven temperatures, humidity, or conveyor speeds accordingly.
• Check the quality of raw materials to ensure that standards and specifications are met.
• Check equipment to ensure that it meets health and safety regulations, and perform maintenance or cleaning, as necessary.
• Adapt the quantity of ingredients to match the amount of items to be baked.
• Apply glazes, icings, or other toppings to baked goods, using spatulas or brushes.
• Decorate baked goods, such as cakes or pastries.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, ADP Enterprise eTIME, Afcom Datasafe Computer Services FlexiBake, At Your Service Software CostGuard, Automatic dough presses, Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro, Bagel dividers, Bagel kettles, Baguette molders

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Packers and Packagers, Hand
• Fast Food and Counter Workers
• Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Food Batchmakers
• Chefs and Head Cooks
• Cooks, Restaurant
• Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
• Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Bakers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.