An 14th-century nursery rhyme talks about the butcher, the baker and candlestick maker. That's how long bakers have been around. Every community of any size needs bakers. Modern conveniences have made their jobs much easier than those of 14th-century bakers, but they're still as much in demand as they were then.
Function
Bakers bake breads, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries and rolls of all kinds that are sold to customers who can't or don't want to bake themselves for whatever reason.
Types
There are bakers who work in small-town bakeries, grocery store bakeries, restaurants of all kinds and sizes, and wholesale baked-goods companies. Some larger bakeries and restaurants have bakers that specialize in one area, such as pastries or wedding cakes.
Geography
Different baked goods are more popular in different areas of the country. For example, in the Southwest, cornbread that is seasoned with chili spices is popular. In the Midwest and deep South, the same cornbread is more popular seasoned with cheeses and bacon. A couple of decades ago, good bagels could only be found in New York. Now their popularity has expanded beyond New York's borders and they can be found in other urban areas of the country, particularly east of the Mississippi.
Education requirements
Most baker positions require a high school diploma. There are some culinary courses in community colleges, and now there are chef's academies and cooking schools around the country. Typically, however, aspiring bakers start out in a small establishment as an apprentice or trainee to gain experience and get successively better jobs from there.
Considerations
Bakers starting out do not make a lot of money. The average median salary for bakers is in the low $20s, but bakers who work full time for large chain grocery stores or institutions also have benefits. Bakers who are artistic and creative can command higher salaries, particularly after they have gained a following and can be relied on to create high-end baked goods such as wedding cakes.
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