A baker works in a bakery and produces various baked goods, such as bread and pastries. Bakers may be tasked with a variety of specific things, from preparing and mixing the ingredients for the bread, to actually taking care of the baking process. This depends largely on the type of employment the baker has, with those working in larger companies usually having less and more limited responsibilities. Large bakeries may have specific personnel dedicated to mixing, and others who work with the furnaces, etc – and all of them will technically be bakers.
Becoming a baker takes a good knowledge in working with food, which includes proper personal hygiene, good discipline and attention in order to avoid burning the bread, and in some cases controlling subordinate personnel. A baker will usually have to get up very early in the morning as bread is baked in the earliest hours of the day, making the job more suitable to night/morning people and not those who’re more productive late in the day. Some institutions provide formal education for bakers though that is rarely a requirement, except for those looking to work in companies that deal with more exquisite pastries and similar products.
Bakers earn around $50,000 annually. Some larger bakeries with more employees may compensate them to a lesser extent, and the salary will depend on the specific type of work involved as well. Pastry chefs can usually earn substantially more than other bakers, going up to $70,000 – $80,000.