Entry Level Bakery Assistant Jobs
New grad bakery assistant jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where hands-on practice, a food-handling certification, or even a home baking portfolio can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Retail and Distribution & Wholesale, with employers like Meijer, Giant Eagle, and Hy-Vee hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 12+ Entry Level Bakery Assistant jobs
Job Title: Bakery Department Manager
Department: Bakery
FLSA: Salary
Revision Date: 07/2026
About Hy-Vee
At Hy-Vee, we believe the shortest distance between two people is a smile. We’re seeking people with a passion for customer service, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to being part of a team that strives to make our customers’ lives easier, healthier and happier.
The Role and Why It’s Important
At Hy-Vee, our Bakery Department Managers are the heartbeat of one of our most beloved departments. In this role, you’ll set the tone for everything — from the quality of the products on the shelf to the experience customers have when they walk through your department. You’ll lead a team, build relationships, and make sure every visit to the bakery leaves customers smiling.
If you’re someone who leads by example, takes pride in quality, and loves creating an environment where both your team and customers feel valued, this role was made for you.
What You’ll Do
No two shifts are exactly the same, but here’s what you can expect:
- Set and uphold department standards for customer service, cleanliness, sanitation, team relations, and overall profitability
- Build a friendly, welcoming atmosphere by encouraging your team to greet and engage with customers and leading by example
- Assist customers with finding products, reaching items, carrying heavy purchases, and going the extra mile to make their visit a great one
- Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate department employees, and handle performance and disciplinary matters as needed
- Coordinate scheduling, daily work plans, and department goals in partnership with store leadership
- Oversee ordering, replenishment, pricing, invoicing, and bookkeeping for the department
- Analyze weekly and monthly sales trends, prepare ad projections, and plan promotions and displays
- Ensure proper product temperatures, storage procedures, and freshness standards to minimize shrink
- Understand and troubleshoot bakery equipment and coordinate maintenance as needed
- Conduct department inventory and manage product pre-orders
- Maintain compliance with Hy-Vee’s dress code, hygiene standards, and all company policies
- Assist in other store areas and take on special projects as needed
- You’ll receive direction and support from: District Store Director, Store Manager, and Assistant Managers of Perishables, Store Operations, and Health Wellness Home
Your Skills
To be successful in this role, you’ll need to be able to:
- Deliver outstanding customer service and inspire your team to do the same
- Lead, motivate, and develop a team in a fast-paced retail environment
- Solve practical problems and make sound decisions with a variety of variables
- Use basic math skills, including fractions, decimals, and percentages
- Communicate clearly, both in writing and verbally, with customers, employees, and vendors
- Handle confidential information, including employee compensation, sales data, and inventory reports, with discretion
Education and Experience
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- One or more years of related bakery or retail management experience preferred
- Completion of sanitation courses or on-the-job training in food safety is a plus
Physical Requirements
- Ability to frequently lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing 100 pounds or more, with or without mechanical assistance
- Continuously stand and walk on hard surfaces for extended periods
- Where applicable to the role: ability to operate pallet jacks, forklifts, or similar material-handling equipment (required operator certification must be completed prior to independent use)
- Work in cooler or freezer environments for extended periods
- Where applicable to the role: ability to safely use sharp knives and blades to cut, trim, or grind product
- Where applicable to the role, and in accordance with applicable age and legal requirements: operate a cardboard baler or compactor
- Where applicable to the role: perform repetitive motions associated with dough mixing, scaling, and proofing
- Ability to unload, lift, stock, and rotate incoming truck freight and merchandise
Working Environment
This is a fast-moving, hands-on role where no two days are the same. You may work in areas with temperature changes or damp conditions, which is pretty typical for a bakery environment. The role involves working with and around standard bakery and store equipment and may include exposure to electrical equipment, cleaning products, or solvents. Safety is always a priority, and training is provided to help ensure a safe and supportive work environment.
The anticipated annual starting wage for this position is $41,860.00 to $52,520.00 depending on experience. For information on company benefits visit Benefits | Hy-Vee.
Are you ready to smile, apply today.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.
Job Title: Bakery Department Manager
Department: Bakery
FLSA: Salary
Revision Date: 07/2026
About Hy-Vee
At Hy-Vee, we believe the shortest distance between two people is a smile. We’re seeking people with a passion for customer service, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to being part of a team that strives to make our customers’ lives easier, healthier and happier.
The Role and Why It’s Important
At Hy-Vee, our Bakery Department Managers are the heartbeat of one of our most beloved departments. In this role, you’ll set the tone for everything — from the quality of the products on the shelf to the experience customers have when they walk through your department. You’ll lead a team, build relationships, and make sure every visit to the bakery leaves customers smiling.
If you’re someone who leads by example, takes pride in quality, and loves creating an environment where both your team and customers feel valued, this role was made for you.
What You’ll Do
No two shifts are exactly the same, but here’s what you can expect:
- Set and uphold department standards for customer service, cleanliness, sanitation, team relations, and overall profitability
- Build a friendly, welcoming atmosphere by encouraging your team to greet and engage with customers and leading by example
- Assist customers with finding products, reaching items, carrying heavy purchases, and going the extra mile to make their visit a great one
- Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate department employees, and handle performance and disciplinary matters as needed
- Coordinate scheduling, daily work plans, and department goals in partnership with store leadership
- Oversee ordering, replenishment, pricing, invoicing, and bookkeeping for the department
- Analyze weekly and monthly sales trends, prepare ad projections, and plan promotions and displays
- Ensure proper product temperatures, storage procedures, and freshness standards to minimize shrink
- Understand and troubleshoot bakery equipment and coordinate maintenance as needed
- Conduct department inventory and manage product pre-orders
- Maintain compliance with Hy-Vee’s dress code, hygiene standards, and all company policies
- Assist in other store areas and take on special projects as needed
- You’ll receive direction and support from: District Store Director, Store Manager, and Assistant Managers of Perishables, Store Operations, and Health Wellness Home
Your Skills
To be successful in this role, you’ll need to be able to:
- Deliver outstanding customer service and inspire your team to do the same
- Lead, motivate, and develop a team in a fast-paced retail environment
- Solve practical problems and make sound decisions with a variety of variables
- Use basic math skills, including fractions, decimals, and percentages
- Communicate clearly, both in writing and verbally, with customers, employees, and vendors
- Handle confidential information, including employee compensation, sales data, and inventory reports, with discretion
Education and Experience
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- One or more years of related bakery or retail management experience preferred
- Completion of sanitation courses or on-the-job training in food safety is a plus
Physical Requirements
- Ability to frequently lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing 100 pounds or more, with or without mechanical assistance
- Continuously stand and walk on hard surfaces for extended periods
- Where applicable to the role: ability to operate pallet jacks, forklifts, or similar material-handling equipment (required operator certification must be completed prior to independent use)
- Work in cooler or freezer environments for extended periods
- Where applicable to the role: ability to safely use sharp knives and blades to cut, trim, or grind product
- Where applicable to the role, and in accordance with applicable age and legal requirements: operate a cardboard baler or compactor
- Where applicable to the role: perform repetitive motions associated with dough mixing, scaling, and proofing
- Ability to unload, lift, stock, and rotate incoming truck freight and merchandise
Working Environment
This is a fast-moving, hands-on role where no two days are the same. You may work in areas with temperature changes or damp conditions, which is pretty typical for a bakery environment. The role involves working with and around standard bakery and store equipment and may include exposure to electrical equipment, cleaning products, or solvents. Safety is always a priority, and training is provided to help ensure a safe and supportive work environment.
The anticipated annual starting wage for this position is $41,860.00 to $52,520.00 depending on experience. For information on company benefits visit Benefits | Hy-Vee.
Are you ready to smile, apply today.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Distribution & Wholesale
Entry Level Bakery Assistant Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level bakery assistant job?
Focus on demonstrating hands-on readiness: a food handler's certification, any volunteer or school baking experience, and a willingness to work early morning shifts all give you an edge at this stage. Employers hiring entry level bakery assistants typically look for reliability, basic food safety knowledge, and a genuine interest in baked goods production over a long work history.
Which companies hire entry level bakery assistants?
Companies hiring entry level bakery assistants right now include Meijer, Giant Eagle, and Hy-Vee, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this level, hiring tends to come from grocery chains, artisan bakeries, and food production facilities that build their teams by training candidates on the job.
Are there remote entry level bakery assistant jobs?
Yes, though most bakery assistant work is hands-on and on-site by nature. About 0% of entry level bakery assistant openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those roles typically involve tasks like order coordination, customer communications, or social media content rather than production work.
Are these new grad bakery assistant jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior roles that explicitly welcome little or no professional experience. A new grad friendly posting typically states it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts internship or volunteer work as a credential, or values a baking portfolio over a formal employment history.
Which industries hire the most entry level bakery assistants?
Entry Level bakery assistant roles concentrate in Retail and Distribution & Wholesale, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive entry level hiring because they rely on steady production volume and regularly onboard new team members they can train in-house on equipment, recipes, and food safety standards.