Cake Decorator Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a cake decorator. Feel free to use our cake decorator job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a cake decorator.
Who is a Cake Decorator?
Beautiful cakes are created by cake decorators. These are bakers who specialize in decorating and making cakes for any occasion.
The centerpiece of dessert tables is often the cake. They must look stunning as such. Custom cakes are baked and decorated by decorated according to the customer’s specifications. Each customer receives a product that is unique and visually stunning.
A cake decorator can transform an ordinary cake into a dream of color and design. Cake decorators can create everything from large-scale animal cakes to real flowers. Many cake decorators combine two of their greatest passions, a love for sweets and an appreciation of art.
Many pastry chef programs include cake decorating. Formal pastry chef programs can take many years to complete and may result in certificates or degrees. Craft shops, community colleges, and cooking stores often offer classes in cake decoration for home bakers of all skill levels. There are many resources available to help a decorator, whether they want to learn how to make flower petals or create a wedding cake for 200.
Sometimes a cake decorator can also be a baker. Although most people can follow a recipe, many decorators specialize in decorating and frosting cakes. No matter how skilled the decorator is at baking the cake, the taste of the finished product is just as important as the design. It doesn’t matter how beautiful the cake looks if it tastes bad. Many decorators work with pastry chefs or bakers to make their cakes great.
Most cake decoration involves laying down a layer of frosting or icing. You can use buttercream or fondant as soft icing. Buttercreams can leave a more uneven and textured look, while fondant, or rolled chocolate, can provide a smooth canvas for cake decorators.
Decor can be added after the first coat of frosting or icing is applied. An experienced cake decorator can use icing to create shapes and designs out of fondant, chocolate, or candies. Tiered cakes are created by stacking layers or balancing cakes across different levels and supports. You can make cakes in the shape of animals or items by gluing them together, cutting them down, and adding layers. A decorator can be a construction worker or an artist. However, their creativity is limited by only their imagination.
One option for a cake decorator is to choose to specialize in one type of cake decoration. Some prefer to specialize in wedding cakes. These can be very elaborate and large. Others boast of their ability to create whimsical and amazing cakes that fit any theme. A seasoned decorator can accept orders based on her ideas, just as an artist might. Friends and family will be asking for specific requests if you’re a skilled home baker.
A professional cake decorator works as a pastry and baking artist and designs and decorates baked goods. You can use different frostings or other toppings to decorate cookies, cakes, pies, and pastries. They often create custom designs for customers. They can work in cafes, restaurants, and hotels, as well as start their businesses.
The hands of cake decorators are always at work. You can find a wide variety of images and designs on pastries or cakes that they create. They decorate cakes and pastries for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, or anniversaries. Because of their high demand on different occasions, many cake decorators specialize in wedding cakes. These professionals are skilled in baking and work with frostings, fillings, and other baking ingredients every day. They mix colors and icings, create images and shapes, and decorate cakes with various edible materials. To be a successful cake designer, creativity is your number one priority. You must be able to think outside the box and push the boundaries of creativity in cake design. Customers want to be satisfied with the final product. Cake decorators continue to develop new designs.
The first step in designing a cake is baking it. Mixing ingredients requires the use of commercial-quality baking equipment and tools. The batter is then transferred into pans. Once it has cooled, the cake is baked in the oven for the required time. The designer will then begin assembling the final product after the cake has cooled.
To achieve the desired look, you may need to stack one or more cakes on top of each other. To achieve a multi-tiered presentation, cake stands or other similar products can be used. After the cake is completed, a cake designer can decorate it.
He or she may use a variety of tools to decorate cakes, including molds, spatulas, and decorating pens. Frosting, or fondant, is applied to the cake and molded into the desired shape. The frosting or fondant can be modified by cake designers to make a customized cake according to the customer’s instructions.
The cake can be picked up by the customer or delivered to the recipient once it’s finished. The cake is packaged for transportation and delivered to the desired location. Designers make sure that the cakes arrive safely at the requested location on the time and date specified.
Cake Decorator Job Description
Below are the cake decorator job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a cake decorator job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a cake decorator include the following:
- Consulting with customers to discuss cake design ideas and cake decorating tips for specialty cakes.
- Designing and decoration of cakes to customer specifications
- Decorating regular bakery items following established bakery standards.
- Assisting the baking staff in the production of standard bakery items.
- Making different types of frosting, icing, and cake fillings depending on the type of cake and customer preference.
- Making sure that display fridges are clean, polished, and fully stocked.
- Taking inventory of baking and decorating materials and ordering new stock as needed.
- Cleaning and sanitizing all areas, ovens, and baking and decorating tools.
- Using best practices when applying frosting, fondant, or other bases
- Using piping bags and tips to apply flowers, characters, symbols, and words.
- Working with the manager and baker to create seasonal recipes and designs
- Keeping your workspace clean
- Cleaning up and organizing decorating tools
- Keeping track of your inventory and order supplies
- Training less-experienced and newly hired cake artists
- Baking pastries, cakes, cookies, and other baked goods can be helped
- Decorating and designing cakes in various styles
- Supervising other members of the team
- Calculating the cake price based on design requirements
- Providing suggestions for suitable cake designs and decorations
- Maintaining an inventory of cake decorating ingredients and items
- Assisting the Pastry Cook in decorating and filling cakes
- Respecting safety and health standards
- Creating appealing and artistic cake designs
- Ordering custom cakes
- Examining the shelf life for cake decorations, colors, and accessories
- Using modeling and decorating techniques to create intricate designs
The following are other important tasks:
- Performing Non-Production Duties
Many cake decorators are responsible for more than just their roles in the production of cakes. It is essential to maintain food safety and cleanliness. Decorators are expected to clean up after their workstations. Cake decorators are often employed in bakeries and supermarkets to serve customers or cash registers. Pastry chefs may alternate between cake decorating and other sweets.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED
- Experience in baking and cake decorating.
- You can use a variety of cake decorating tools and instruments.
- Ability to stand for prolonged periods
- Detail-oriented.
- Creative and artistic.
- Basic numeracy skills.
- Excellent time management skills.
Essential Skills
- Attention to detail
Professionals must pay close attention to details to ensure that their designs are precise and clean. They can also create stunning pieces of art by paying attention to details.
- Time management
Cake decorators must have great time management skills. They need to be able complete multiple designs in a given shift while also balancing other responsibilities. In addition to fulfilling regularly scheduled designs, they must also complete custom orders and special orders within the deadline.
- Creativity
These professionals are creative and can create beautiful designs to complement the baked goods that they decorate. To make the goods look as attractive as possible, they also apply their knowledge of color, shape, and other aesthetic principles.
- Ability to work independently
Cake decorators must be able to work alone to create decorations, handle custom orders, manage inventory, and operate machinery and tools. They may be required to work independently as part of a larger team to ensure that the products are completed on time.
- Collaboration
Cake decorators must be comfortable working with customers, managers, bakers, and other members of a baking team. They might collaborate with other bakery staff to develop the best designs and recipes, or they may work with customers to create the perfect baked goods for their patrons.
- Communication
Professionals in baking should communicate effectively with one another to better understand their customers’ needs and collaborate with other professionals.
- Organization
Cake decorators need to be organized so that they can organize their space, track inventory, manage supplies, and set deadlines for regular and custom orders.
How to Become a Cake Decorator
- Get your high school diploma or GED.
Most employers require that candidates have completed high school or a GED. This qualification shows your ability in science, math, and interpersonal communication. High school students should take classes in chemistry, home economics, and cooking. These skills will help them become professional cake decorators.
Employers may prefer experience to formal education. Apprenticeships and entry-level jobs may be available for candidates with relevant experience, but no high school diploma.
- Learn baking and decorating skills
You can take online classes or workshops at your local community center before you start formal education in baking or decorating. Online courses can help you learn the skills necessary to start your cake decorating business or get an apprenticeship. These courses will help you decide if this career path suits you.
- You can earn a certificate or diploma in pastry or baking arts
You can take a pastry and baking arts class at a community college or trade school. These programs require you to take both theoretical and practical courses to learn.
They include:
- International cuisines and baking art
- Baking and cooking
- Decoration techniques
- Management of the kitchen and bakery
You may be awarded an associate, bachelor’s, or professional certificate depending on which program you choose. Employers will appreciate this qualification as it shows that you can bake and decorate basic recipes as well as have learned advanced techniques. Employers may prefer formal education. Make sure you confirm the education and training requirements for your role.
- Take up an apprenticeship
Apprenticeships at a cafe, bakery, or commercial baking establishment can give you hands-on experience in professional techniques, best practices, and unique recipes. As part of a team, you will decorate under the supervision and maintain equipment and inventory. Apprenticeships offered by some employers may not require formal education. However, restaurants and bakeries that are renowned for their pastry arts training may prefer to hire apprentices. This role may be called apprentice baker, trainee, or apprentice decorator.
An apprenticeship can also be pursued through an industry association like the American Culinary Federation (ACF). The ACF hosts an apprenticeship and training program. It follows strict guidelines regarding education, training, and work experience. The ACF offers several apprenticeship programs that can help you become a better chef. However, the pastry cook program is a 4,000-hour program that will give you practical experience and instruction on the best techniques and cuisines for pastry arts.
- Get professional experience
You can apply for roles in a bakery, cafeteria, restaurant, hotel, or catering company as a cake decorator instead of an apprenticeship. An entry-level role as a baker can be applied for and you will progress to becoming a cake decorator.
- Get specialized certification
Industry organizations offer many certifications that can be used to improve and display your skills, learn about workplace sanitation requirements, and enhance your customer service skills. A certification can help you advance your career, get prestigious roles in baking, or become an executive pastry chef. It also increases your earning potential.
- To open your own business, you might consider taking business classes
You can enroll in online business administration courses at a local college or university if you have little to no formal education in the culinary arts, pastry arts, or kitchen management. To gain skills in human resources management, accounting, and other essential aspects of running a business, you can pursue a diploma or certification in business administration.
Where to Work as a Cake Decorator
Some cake designers have their own bakery where they bake their cakes. Others work in established restaurants, cafes, hotels, and catering businesses.
Cake Decorator Salary Scale
On average, cake decorators earn $31,226 annually in the United States. Your ability to earn a living can depend on your formal education, your years of experience, and your industry and employer type.