Commercial Bakeries — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the commercial bakeries industry earns $55,529 per year ($26.70/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$55,529
Avg Annual Pay
142,340
Total Employees
4,254
Total Establishments
33
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Commercial Bakeries Workers Earn?

At $55,529/year (equivalent to $26.70/hour for a full-time worker), commercial bakeries wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical commercial bakeries business employs 33 people. These are larger operations where staffing represents a major cost center and management complexity.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

15.7%

For the average commercial bakeries business generating $11.7M/year with 33 employees at $55,529 each, total payroll represents roughly 15.7% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a commercial bakeriesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $72,188/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 33 employees = ~$1,832,457/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $26.70/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $11.7M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Commercial Bakeries revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do commercial bakeries employees make?
The average commercial bakeries employee earns $55,529 per year, which is equivalent to $26.70/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the commercial bakeries industry?
The commercial bakeries industry employs 142,340 workers across 4,254 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 33 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).