Should I Consider Pursuing the Pastry Chef Occupation?

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Do you enjoy baking and creating edible masterpieces? Have you long been fascinated by those store window cakes, brownies and pies? Then, maybe this is the career avenue you’ve been waiting for.

The pastry chef occupation is a field of specialty for a cook, and one that solely concerns the creation of pastries, breads, desserts and other items. These are baking specialties, as opposed to cooking, and are often served in restaurants, resorts, hotels, bistros and cafés. The question is, how much control is given to the pastry chef? The occupation may well imply some sort of managerial role. Because the pastry chef makes the items and develops menus and selections, that means he or she is responsible for researching recipes and testing diner’s reactions.

A chef will often do all preparation of the desserts, well before dinner is served. However, he or she does not have to do this alone; a garde manager can be of assistance. A large dessert and bread course could easily be a multi-chef assignment, with tasks for your own group of delegates.

Pastry Chef Occupation and Expectations

A pastry chef should understand the science and creativity involved in cooking, not to mention, the delicate relationships between customers and other chefs. There are more duties involved than simply creating a work of art. These chefs may manage junior kitchen staff, or preside over the cleanliness of the kitchen. They may literally work as head chefs or executive chefs, despite having additional responsibilities as a pastry chef. There may be budgeting involved, working only with desserts and pastries, or maybe beyond.

Since this is a specialty field of cuisine, for the most part, chefs only work with pastries and build a resume over time. This means that from an early age, they pursue coursework relevant to their niche field. If they are only pastry chefs and not full-time executive chefs, they have limited responsibility and only supervise certain portions of the meal. It is typical for such a worker to work at all hours of the day in a fast-paced working environment. Travel is often required unless you can secure a job at a fixed location, such as a restaurant or hotel.

Salaries for the Pastry Chef Occupation

Although salary ranges from $17,000 to $37,000 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this is relative to how many clients you choose, and what level of ownership you pursue over these projects. The highest paying industries of the pastry field were the federal branch, coming in at over $46,000 per year, as well as the travel business, state government and other prestigious positions. Self-employed pastry chefs were not included in statistical research, suggesting that many chefs do pursue ownership and catering instead of staying on as part of a staff. You may find advantages in this or limitations, depending on your career outlook.

For more information, contact your favorite school and look up culinary arts. You may find that specializing in a field within cooking is the best match for your talents and career aims.