Pastrycook
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Why this shortage: Retention gap
Snapshot
Median salary
A$103,300
Full-time annual
People employed
6,800
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
Regional shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Prepares and bakes buns, cakes, pastries and desserts in a kitchen.
Specialisations
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Weighs and measures ingredients according to recipes
- Makes, mixes, kneads, shapes and moulds dough for various pastries and desserts
- Prepares pastry fillings
- Bakes buns, cakes, pastries and desserts, monitoring oven temperatures and product appearance
- Decorates and finishes pastries, cakes and desserts with icing, glaze or other toppings
- Orders and maintains inventory of pastry supplies and ingredients
- Maintains the cleanliness of equipment and operation of a kitchen to ensure compliance with work health and safety regulations
- Collaborates with other kitchen staff to coordinate pastry production
- May package finished pastries for sale
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
44%
Female rate
63%
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 Cake and Pastry
Occupation ready
Certificate III in Patisserie
Occupation ready
Certificate IV in Patisserie
Occupation ready
Certificate I in Baking
Pre-vocational
Certificate II in Baking
Pre-vocational
Certificate I in Hospitality
Pre-vocational
Certificate II in Cookery
Progression pathway
Certificate III in Baking
Progression pathway
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
Progression pathway
Certificate III in Asian Cookery
Progression pathway
Certificate IV in Baking
Specialised training
Certificate III in Bread Baking
Transferable skills
Related study options
Bachelor
Compare university ROIBachelor of Hospitality Management
2 years · CRICOS record while university page is verified
Bachelor of Business (International Hotel Management)
3 years · CRICOS record while university page is verified
Bachelor of Health Science (Dermal Therapies)
3 years · CRICOS record while university page is verified
Postgraduate & Master
Compare university ROIReal jobs right now
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 Pastrycook.
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
4,685
Moved in from another occupation
785
Moved to another occupation
745
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
2
points
- 5
2
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 322431
- 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.