Who doesn't love to gorge on fresh, delicious, succulent pastries? Sure all of us do! However, how many of us pause to think about all the hard work that goes into making a sweet delicacy such as a pastry? A pastry chef is a person who sees to the baking and making of pastries and other desserts. This job requires immense creativity and impeccable culinary skills amongst other qualifications. Duties and Responsibilities The job description of a pastry chef differs according to the establishment for which he works, as well as his designation. While some establishments employ only a single pastry chef, large hotels and restaurants may have an entire staff dedicated to desserts, complete with an executive pastry chef, assistant pastry chef, bakers etc. Generally speaking, a pastry chef is responsible for handling the entire kitchen for desserts and baked goods. He has to come up with unique dessert recipes which then go on to become the signature desserts of the establishment in which they work. A pastry chef is responsible for a recipe right from its conception to actual execution. He collaborates with the management regarding the idea of a dessert recipe, prepares test samples, makes appropriate changes and only then finalizes the recipe. A lot of creative thinking and hard work goes into this process. A pastry chef is also concerned with the costing of baked products and desserts. Besides, he has to keep a track of inventory and other kitchen supplies. A pastry chef must also excel in preparation of various festive delicacies, holiday special dishes and other seasonal desserts. As desserts are prepared using lots of fresh fruits and seasonal produce, a pastry chef must be able to come up with delicious recipes involving the seasonal products. Besides, the pastry chef must also be able to present the dish in an attractive way. This includes peeling and cutting fruits in an attractive way and using pleasing colors for the recipe. Some pastry chefs also specialize in multi-tiered wedding cakes. This is an extremely skillful job requiring a lot of intricate designs and decorations. An attention to detail is a must have quality for chefs specializing in this area. Salary Range As mentioned above, the duties and responsibilities of a pastry chef vary as per the establishment for which he works. Similarly, the salary range is also highly influenced by the establishment. Besides, experience is a key deciding factor for a pastry chef's salary. After completing a diploma in culinary science and specializing in dessert and pastry making, young pastry chefs can start working as apprentices under senior pastry chefs. Eventually, they can move up the career ladder by taking up responsibilities of an assistant pastry chef and finally an executive pastry chef. Pastry chefs working for smaller to medium establishments without a separate kitchen for desserts may earn about $24,000 per annum during the early years of their career. Within 5 to 9 years he may double his income by earning up to $48,000. An executive pastry chef's salary is about $57,000 in larger establishments, whereas an assistant pastry chef's salary is about $34,000, for the same establishment. The entry-level salary is maximum in the states of Colorado and New York. The job of a pastry chef involves a lot of hard work. His day often starts as early as 4 a.m, as breakfast pastries, rolls, and muffins need to be served fresh. Those working with larger establishments or on cruises may have to put up with erratic working hours. Hence, those wishing to enter this field must be prepared to work in such working conditions.