Salary Range for Cake Decorators
If you are creative, have an eye for detail and are good with your hands, cake decorating could be the job for you. Cake decorators' salaries vary, as with any other job, and depend largely on how a number of factors interplay.
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Employee vs. Owner/Independent Contractor
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As an employee of a bakery, you will most likely earn an hourly wage. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most cake decorators earn between $9.46 and $14.60 per hour (Reference 1). Independent cake decorators, such as those who operate from their home, and owners of bakeries have the freedom to set their own prices for each cake they decorate, but must also cover the expenses to run their business. That salary is often inconsistent and depends upon the cake decorator's ability to attract clients.
Experience & Reputation
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Skilled cake decorators will obviously earn more money than their less experienced colleagues, in part because they have an established reputation and receive repeat business, as well as referrals from previous customers. Maintaining a positive, professional image and putting forth your best effort with each cake you decorate can help you to build a reputation that will allow you to increase your future earning potential.
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Location
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Where you live and work also plays a role in how much you can earn as a cake decorator. Larger cities, more affluent neighborhoods, and areas without much competition can all garner higher wages for cake decorators. Conversely, a small town with an already established bakery may be able to support an independent cake decorator who works from home but perhaps not two bakeries. Evaluating the area in which you're trying to find work will help you determine if cake decorating can be a full-time career or part-time supplemental income.
Season & Types of Cakes
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Certain times of the year are very busy for bakeries and cake decorators, most notably the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and the "wedding season" from around May to August. Some bakeries and cake decorators earn the bulk of their annual income during these times since cakes are in high demand. Wedding cakes especially, due to their size and the often complex designs desired by couples, generate more revenue.
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