Bakers prepare doughs, batters and other ingredients and then produce items such as bread, buns, cakes, pies, cookies and other baked goods. They are employed in a variety of food establishments but the vast majority of work takes place in retail settings such as supermarkets, specialty bakeries, restaurants and hotels. Baker is is a nationally designated trade under the Inter-provincial Red Seal program. (Find out about Red Seal in the Trades Lingo section.)

What do these workers do?
(Source: BC Work Futures)

Prepare dough and batter. You prepare dough to produce necessary quantities of pies, bread, rolls, cookies and sweet goods. Similarly, you prepare cake and muffin batter, icings and frostings. You follow standard recipes and, occasionally, you follow customers' special orders.

Operate baking machinery. In a large bakery operation you use high-volume mixing machines, ovens and other equipment to produce large quantities of baked goods.

Bake ingredients. You adjust oven temperatures and baking times as needed for the various items being baked.

Decorate. You prepare and apply frosting and icing to cakes, cookies and other baked goods.

Monitor quality. You ensure that your bakery products meet established standards for quality and appearance.

Maintain supplies. You order baking supplies to suit your production schedule and you also arrange for equipment purchases and repairs.

Participate in sales. You may oversee sales and displays of baked goods.

Hire staff. You may hire, train and supervise staff.

Read the full Baker Profile (60kb pdf).

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