Baker
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Why this shortage: Retention gap
Snapshot
Median salary
A$103,300
Full-time annual
People employed
18,700
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
Shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Prepares and bakes bread loaves, rolls, biscuits and other baked goods.
Specialisations
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Weighs and measures ingredients according to recipes
- Mixes ingredients to form dough or batter using electric mixers or by hand
- Operates machines which roll, knead, shape and mould dough, slice bread and cut biscuits
- Coordinates the forming, loading, baking, unloading, depanning and cooling of batches of bread, rolls and other products
- Decorates and garnishes baked goods as required
- Orders and maintains inventory of baking supplies and ingredients
- Maintains the cleanliness of equipment and operation of a bakery before production runs to ensure compliance with work health and safety regulations
- May take orders from customers and handle payments
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
34%
Female rate
28%
Median age
36
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+3%
1,013 projected jobs
to 2035
+8%
2,759 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 3
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Official VET pathways
Certificate III in Bread Baking
Occupation ready
Certificate III in Baking
Occupation ready
Certificate I in Baking
Pre-vocational
Certificate II in Baking
Pre-vocational
Certificate III in Patisserie
Progression pathway
Certificate II in Cookery
Progression pathway
Certificate III in Catering
Specialised training
Certificate III in High Volume Baking
Specialised training
Certificate IV in Baking
Specialised training
Related study options
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Postgraduate & Master
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Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
91
ACT · May 2026
5
VIC · May 2026
120
NT · May 2026
1
SA · May 2026
25
NSW · May 2026
116
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Baker.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Melbourne - West
1,356 estimated employed
- 1
Melbourne - West
1,356 employed
VIC
+2.81%
year on year
- 2
Melbourne - South East
1,242 employed
VIC
+10.89%
year on year
- 3
Gold Coast
1,211 employed
QLD
-17.45%
year on year
- 4
Melbourne - Inner
1,040 employed
VIC
+2.36%
year on year
- 5
Perth - North West
950 employed
WA
-13.16%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
13,315
Moved in from another occupation
1,750
Moved to another occupation
1,665
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
4
points
- 2
4
points
- 3
3
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
2
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 322131
- Last updated
- 2026-01-23
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2025 Shortage List + ABS EEH May 2025
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: verified.