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Average Baker and Pastrycook Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

A baker and pastrycook in United Kingdom earns about 23,300 GBP a year. That's 67% below the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 13,400 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 36,800 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does a baker and pastrycook make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
23,300 GBP
1,941 GBP per month
Lowest reported
13,400 GBP
1,116 GBP per month
Highest reported
36,800 GBP
3,066 GBP per month

A typical baker and pastrycook working in United Kingdom brings home around 1,941 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 13,400 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 36,800 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior baker and pastrycook working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the baker and pastrycook salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How baker and pastrycook pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all baker and pastrycooks in United Kingdom earn less than 21,500 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 16,300 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 29,900 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of baker and pastrycooks sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 13,400 GBP. The highest stretch to 36,800 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

13,400
Low
21,500
Median
36,800
High
16,300
25th
29,900
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Baker and pastrycook pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for a baker and pastrycook in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical baker and pastrycook salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    15,800 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +22% from previous
    19,200 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +29% from previous
    24,800 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +26% from previous
    31,200 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +5% from previous
    32,900 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +3% from previous
    34,000 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 29%. That is the point at which a baker and pastrycook typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

Baker and pastrycook pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving baker and pastrycook pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average baker and pastrycook salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • High School
    19,400 GBP
  • Certificate or Diploma
    +61% from previous
    31,200 GBP

Baker and pastrycook gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male baker and pastrycooks in United Kingdom earn an average of 24,200 GBP a year, while female baker and pastrycooks earn around 23,500 GBP. That works out to a 3% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

Baker and Pastrycook gender pay gap

3%

Men earn this much more than women on average in United Kingdom.

Men 24,200 GBP
Women 23,500 GBP

Pay raises for a baker and pastrycook in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 10% every 15 months, which works out to roughly 8% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

Baker and pastrycook bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

29%

29% of baker and pastrycooks in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes a baker and pastrycook a low-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 1% to 3% of base salary. The remaining 71% of baker and pastrycooks reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

Baker and pastrycook: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

Baker and pastrycook salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Baker and pastrycook pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Birmingham
  • Leeds
  • Leicester
  • Cardiff
  • Derby
  • Wolverhampton
  • Manchester
  • Bradford
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion47,400 GBP45,300 GBP24,400-74,600 GBP
ScotlandRegion36,600 GBP35,300 GBP16,300-54,700 GBP
BirminghamCity31,200 GBP30,300 GBP14,900-45,600 GBP
LeedsCity29,200 GBP29,200 GBP13,300-44,500 GBP
LeicesterCity29,000 GBP29,300 GBP12,000-45,200 GBP
CardiffCity29,000 GBP31,200 GBP13,900-45,000 GBP
DerbyCity27,600 GBP26,200 GBP13,900-42,000 GBP
WolverhamptonCity27,600 GBP26,500 GBP10,200-39,700 GBP
ManchesterCity27,400 GBP27,000 GBP17,000-45,000 GBP
BradfordCity27,400 GBP24,400 GBP13,300-41,400 GBP
SouthamptonCity27,400 GBP23,600 GBP13,600-40,000 GBP
EdinburghCity27,400 GBP26,900 GBP15,800-44,300 GBP
LiverpoolCity27,400 GBP30,100 GBP13,400-43,500 GBP
BrightonCity27,300 GBP26,400 GBP14,500-41,100 GBP
PlymouthCity27,300 GBP26,100 GBP12,800-42,500 GBP
SomersetCity27,300 GBP26,400 GBP11,800-40,600 GBP
AberdeenCity27,000 GBP23,600 GBP15,300-42,000 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity26,600 GBP24,400 GBP13,500-41,100 GBP
GlasgowCity26,500 GBP26,500 GBP12,400-45,000 GBP
CoventryCity26,500 GBP26,300 GBP11,400-41,500 GBP
SheffieldCity26,400 GBP26,900 GBP14,300-45,000 GBP
LincolnCity26,400 GBP24,200 GBP12,500-40,500 GBP
NewcastleCity26,200 GBP27,400 GBP14,200-40,700 GBP
LondonCity26,100 GBP31,200 GBP12,800-45,200 GBP
PeterboroughCity25,800 GBP27,300 GBP11,400-40,200 GBP
BristolCity25,800 GBP27,300 GBP15,200-40,300 GBP
BelfastCity25,800 GBP27,300 GBP15,200-40,300 GBP
NottinghamCity25,800 GBP24,200 GBP14,700-39,500 GBP
DundeeCity25,700 GBP24,200 GBP13,900-40,500 GBP
PooleCity25,400 GBP26,600 GBP12,200-37,900 GBP
YorkCity25,400 GBP24,400 GBP13,900-35,400 GBP
DerryCity25,300 GBP22,000 GBP12,600-36,700 GBP
WellsCity24,400 GBP23,500 GBP12,300-34,300 GBP
GloucesterCity24,200 GBP21,500 GBP11,400-36,800 GBP
NorwichCity24,200 GBP23,500 GBP12,800-35,600 GBP
WinchesterCity23,800 GBP24,200 GBP12,300-34,800 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion23,800 GBP23,800 GBP13,200-34,400 GBP
WalesRegion23,700 GBP20,000 GBP12,200-35,100 GBP
KirkwallCity23,700 GBP23,100 GBP10,300-36,000 GBP
NewportCity23,600 GBP26,900 GBP12,200-38,000 GBP
ExeterCity23,600 GBP22,800 GBP13,900-36,900 GBP
SwanseaCity23,600 GBP23,400 GBP13,900-36,900 GBP
PortsmouthCity23,600 GBP26,500 GBP12,200-40,300 GBP
HartlepoolCity23,500 GBP24,400 GBP12,800-36,500 GBP
WakefieldCity23,400 GBP23,800 GBP10,300-33,600 GBP
CanterburyCity23,400 GBP23,400 GBP12,800-34,800 GBP
DurhamCity23,200 GBP25,300 GBP11,000-34,400 GBP
AbingdonCity23,200 GBP21,500 GBP9,500-33,600 GBP
SalisburyCity23,100 GBP23,400 GBP11,800-35,300 GBP
RiponCity23,000 GBP17,800 GBP10,000-31,400 GBP
CambridgeCity22,800 GBP23,800 GBP10,200-35,500 GBP
OxfordCity22,400 GBP22,400 GBP12,200-35,600 GBP
StirlingCity22,400 GBP24,400 GBP13,200-36,900 GBP
ArmaghCity22,400 GBP24,400 GBP12,800-35,000 GBP
TruroCity22,300 GBP22,300 GBP10,300-35,500 GBP
InvernessCity22,300 GBP23,400 GBP9,500-33,000 GBP
NewryCity22,200 GBP23,100 GBP10,000-35,600 GBP
ChesterCity22,000 GBP25,300 GBP11,900-35,400 GBP
StrontianCity21,700 GBP18,900 GBP13,200-30,600 GBP
LisburnCity21,500 GBP21,500 GBP12,200-35,500 GBP
BangorCity21,400 GBP20,700 GBP11,000-32,900 GBP
St DavidsCity21,100 GBP19,100 GBP12,200-30,300 GBP
StromnessCity20,000 GBP22,200 GBP9,420-34,000 GBP

Baker and Pastrycook in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does a baker and pastrycook make per month in United Kingdom?

    A baker and pastrycook in United Kingdom earns about 1,941 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 23,300 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for a baker and pastrycook in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level baker and pastrycooks in United Kingdom start near 13,400 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 36,800 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 16,300 and 29,900 GBP.

  • Is the median baker and pastrycook salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 21,500 GBP, lower than the average of 23,300 GBP. Half of baker and pastrycooks in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for baker and pastrycooks in United Kingdom?

    Men working as a baker and pastrycook in United Kingdom earn around 3% more than women on average (24,200 vs 23,500 GBP a year).

  • Do baker and pastrycooks in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 29% of baker and pastrycooks in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 1% to 3% of base salary.

  • Do baker and pastrycooks earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays a baker and pastrycook about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do baker and pastrycooks in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    A baker and pastrycook in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 10% every 15 months, equivalent to roughly 8% a year.