How much do cake decorators get paid? Like the cake decorators at a bakery or restaurant?

bump....let's see what the averages are....I'm curious....Who out there is one and would you mind sharing what you get paid????

I'll start.

When I started work I began at $7. After a year I was up to $9.

Not the best paying job I've ever had, but I took the experience and opened my own place.

I worked at a bakery for about 3 weeks a couple of months (helping them out after the reg. decorator's mom died). I got paid $9 hour under the table.

I worked at a bakery outside of Atlanta and made $9 an hour but the on the job training was worth it!!!
by the way- it wasn't a chain and nothing was repeated- all custom, beautiful cakes and I did about 10-25 a day!!! UGHH

Not nearadangnough! 10-12 cakes a hour is what we're supposed to be producin' too! I started at less than 10 a hour....not much more than that now.

I still go in everyday...it's practice I don't have to pay for. That and the sheer comedy that comes from needy, greedy, ignorant, complaining, cheapskates!

WOW!! You were dishing out 10-12 cakes and hour and only making $7-9 an hour? You're better off getting your own customers. If the average cake was $25 and you made 10 of them in one hour, that is $250 an hour in which you all were only paid $7-9??

That doesn't even sound right! Are there any cake decorators that make more than $40k a year?

Grocery stores in California pay about 10-15 dollars an hour depending on experience. Some upscale bakeries pay up to 20 an hour if they think you're really good. The good thing about the grocery stores is that they're union so you get benefits and guaranteed raises every certain amount of hours. I think you get a raise like every 500 hours or so.

tamifaye, not "were" ...am...this is the place I work now! Today, I was by myself...all by my self! I decorated 58 cakes, waited on customers, answered the phone, wrote on cakes, took orders, filled the cake case...all in around 6 1/2 hours. To do it for myself takes funds...funds I don't have. Maybe one day....

I just started my cake business, and I live in a lower income area of Ohio. It is worth it.... I work very very hard, and my gross sales vary. Last week, I collected 1700 dollars in wedding cake balances, down payments, and birthday cakes. This week, I am anticipating about 250.00. Next week, 450.00. Don't forget, I have to purchase supplies, pay taxes, and pay bills out of this money. Between November and December of last year, I was bone dry on any sales. When January hit, brides were placing their deposits for summer weddings, and there was constant flow all winter and spring. It is not bad....I think way better than 10 dollars/hour. I will say, though, that these wedding cakes are the bread and butter of the business. If you can go into business for yourself, it is worth it.

I worked in the bakery at Costco started at $10. after about 4 yrs I made $22 per hr but required to do 7-10 cakes per hr.

I worked at a local bakery and made $10/ hour when I left.

I make $12.00, but they have promised a raise soon. I work in a chain, and have been there 3 months. I don't have to do anything except cakes because they have other employees for that. I don't have a set number of cakes to do. I fill any orders, fill the case, and then sometimes make back-up cakes for the freezer. There is nooooo way that I can do 10-12 cakes an hour. Orders generally take longer, but if they're for the case, I probably average around 5 or 6. The manager doesn't care what I do, as long as they look good. The pay isn't high, but I'm gaining a lot of experience. I love my job

i work at a very small family run bakery, nothing is up to date, all antiquated equipment. they pay me now, $11/hr, started at $9. but there is no pressure or hurry in any of the cakes we do. average for a saturday is 3 weddings and about 30 custom designed cakes. oh and no fondant!!

I must be the slowest decorator on the planet. I can't do one cake an hour when you add in the baking, icing making and general decorating. These cakes that you are required to make an hour, is that with everything made and icing colored? I might be able to churn out a few if that were the case but I find the prep work of making icing, coloring icing, baking and leveling a cake, filling and ciing to be a huge chunk of what it takes to produce a cake - and making 58 cakes in one day? Is that possible? It wouldn't be for me...

This is very eye opening!

Whew! 58 cakes in one day, that is a lot! It takes me 4 hours just for one, lol.

Well I thought I would find a new career in cake decorating but maybe not. Better stick to my day job.

I agree with you, divaricks, there's no way, I'm like you one cake an hour is almost impossible. But I would guess, their not doing the baking and pre-prep.

I was getting paid $10 per hour at a grocery store. I only had a year of experience. The other cake decorator was getting paid $12 after working there 3 years and having 28 years of experience decorating.

It all depends on how you get hired. As a Cake Decorator they may start you at minimum wage.

As a Pastry Chef well you can get depending on where up to $25.00 an hour.

Big difference isn't it?

I was a Cake decorator for Vons ( Safeway ) but gained my experience at Food 4 less. I started at Vons on Jan as a cake decorator and my starting pay was 10HR in 4 months I got promoted to Bakery manager and bumped to 18HR with union benefits but the stress was ridiculous. They expected 10 cakes per hour plus baking bread at the same time while cleaning and doing front customer service. I did it for 7 years and quit when I almost got a stroke. 2 other bakers had heart attacks due to stress. They are good jobs but they kill you slowly 

Karenging, it sounds like you have a fantastic boss!! 

All4cake, it sounds like you have a stressful job!! Does someone else cook the 58 cakes and level them? Do you just do the decorating only? Even so, with just decorating them it just sounds like too much for most people to handle. You are probably exhausted by the time you leave there!! My prayers go out to you!! I would be too stressed out to handle that!! You must have a lot of stamina and energy!! I am glad that I only make cakes for fun!! 

Did you guys have to experience to work in those bakeries? Or did they teach you how to decorate cakes? Just curious!

This is depressing. I work as a bakery clerk for a huge grocery chain. I'd love to get a chance to be a cake decorator as I have quite a bit of experience both professional and independent. I recently found out that to transfer to another store/position could also reset my hours towards a raise, raises are not merit based, and the cake decorator position would not pay any more than the (unskilled, untrained ) clerk position. At this rate it would take me 5 more years with the company to make what I was getting 15 years ago in a similar position. I'm seeing comments from 10 years ago that reflect better pay/ job equity than what I am seeing now. 

When I started decorating, I made $6.50 an hour.  I am now making almost $15.00 an hour.  I went from a regular bakery to a grocery store. I took a pay cut going to the grocery store, but it worked around my kids school schedule better.  Now after 9 years at the grocery store I am looking to open my own shop. I know the hours and work will be crazy, but I think it will be worth it.

Consider though that grocery store cakes are a FAR CRY from what most of us on here do. Custom cakes take a lot longer. For anyone.

I was making $13.00 an hour at Baskin Robbins. Started with them 6 years before that at $7.25.  My last few years with the company, I was producing 40+ ice cream cakes in an 8 hour day while also being the day shift supervisor. The build process and freeze time make these take longer than fresh cakes. Corporate standard is 3 per hour.  Apparently that is more than the owner was comfortable with paying, because I was replaced with a lady who makes $8.50. My skills are with much more than that though. I charge at least $4 a serving when I make cakes from my home. I'm finding it difficult to acquire a job in a custom bakery. Seems once someone gets the gig, they stay until forced to retire. Ugh. Until I get enough clients to pay my bills or enough money to open my own shop, I'm afraid I'll have to work at a grocery store. One offered $14.00 full time with benefits, but me being a loyal idiot, I didn't go. And right now I'm stuck managing a fast food chain... Thanks to all of you for sharing your information, it's been very insightful!

I haven't posted for 9 years. Wow, interesting to look back at my post. I'm no longer just a decorator, because I needed more money. I'm  a bakery mgr. and average $45-50,000 each year with bonuses for a 40 hour week. I can decorate when ever I like. but do have a decorator. My company hires new decorators with no experience at $11.23 per hour part time. I was hired in at 12,00 full time 9 years ago. the top out for a decorator is $15.   I really enjoy my job, and find that the  mgr, position is better for my personality. I'm very ADD, and have a hard time doing the same thing for very long. This way I can decorate when I want , bake or whatever, and assign the other tasks to my associates. works for me:)

I have all the necessary baking and decorating equipment and supplies will be opening my bakery in October.

My sisters helped me figure 35.00 per hour.

-how long from baking to boxing -multiply for example if the cake upon completion took 2 hours  35.00 X 2 = 70.00 and so on.

-if < than 1 hour 18.00 -35.00 depending on the decoatrions.

Hand made flowers, toppers, and bases - additional charges.

Deliveries-additional charges.

Tastings by appointment-two people is the limit: additional peple- additional charge.

Happy Baking and Decorating,