Pastry Chef
Quick facts
- Pay
- $31.00 - $34.00 per hour
- Type
- Full-time
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Hospitality — 57 open jobs
- Apply
- Free to apply — never pay anyone for a job offer or visa sponsorship
Job description
Overview Founded in 2016, Un je ne sais Quoi… is an independent French pâtisserie and café located in the heart of Washington, D.C., known for its traditional French craftsmanship, refined pastries, and signature Merveilleux. We are looking for an experienced and passionate Pastry Chef to join our team, oversee daily pastry production, and maintain our high standards of quality and consistency.
Responsibilities
- Prepare a wide range of traditional French pastries, including éclairs, tarts, Saint-Honoré, entremets, Paris-Brest, and other French specialties.
- Ensure consistent quality, freshness, taste, and presentation.
- Organize and manage daily production efficiently while minimizing waste.
- Supervise, train, and support the pastry team in a positive and collaborative environment.
- Monitor inventory, ingredient usage, and production needs.
- Contribute to the development of new recipes and seasonal creations.
- Maintain excellent standards of cleanliness, organization, and food safety.
Qualifications
- Formal pastry education or certification, such as a French CAP or BP, an Associate Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts, a diploma from an accredited U.S. culinary or pastry school, or an equivalent qualification.
- Minimum 5 years of professional experience in an artisanal pastry kitchen.
- Previous experience supervising and training a team.
- Excellent knowledge of classic French pastry techniques.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently.
- Creativity, reliability, adaptability, and a team-oriented attitude.
- Professional English proficiency is required.
Position Details & Benefits
- Location: Washington, D.C., USA
- Position: Full-time
- Schedule: 5 days per week, with 2 days off
- Paid Vacation: 10 days per year
- Paid parking: paid entry in the parking of the building
- Compensation: Based on experience and qualifications
- Career Growth: Opportunity for professional development, increased responsibilities, and advancement within our growing company.
- Visa Assistance: Support for an eligible one-year U.S. work visa program may be available for international candidates. Applicable costs may be shared where legally permitted.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send your resume, a brief cover letter, and photos of your pastry creations to: ujnsq.job@gmail.com Subject: Pastry Chef Application – Washington, D.C.
Join our team and bring your expertise, creativity, and passion for authentic French pastry to Washington, D.C. Be part of a growing French pâtisserie where your skills, ideas, and commitment can lead to exciting opportunities for professional advancement.
Pay: $31.00 - $34.00 per hour
Expected hours: No less than 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
Visa sponsorship record
No public sponsorship records foundWe didn't find H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 or green card (PERM) filings under the name Un je ne sais Quoi... in the Department of Labor and USCIS data. That doesn't mean the job can't be sponsored — the company may file under a different legal name, be new to sponsorship, or sponsor a visa that isn't in these datasets (for example H-2B or J-1).
Tip: ask the recruiter early, in writing, which visa they sponsor and whether they cover the legal and filing fees.
Which visas can work for this job
Occupation: Chefs And Head Cooks (SOC 35-1011).
- H-2B / H-2A (seasonal and temporary work)
Temporary non-agricultural (H-2B) or agricultural (H-2A) jobs. The employer files a labor certification and petition; you apply for the visa at a US consulate. H-2B has a yearly cap of 66,000 (plus supplemental visas); H-2A has no cap.
- EB-3 “other workers” green card
Permanent residence for jobs that need less than 2 years of training. Waits for this category are long (often several years).
- H-1B
H-1B needs a role that requires at least a bachelor's degree, so it's usually not an option here.
Salary vs prevailing wage
Level II (qualified)Chefs And Head Cooks · Washington (state median of areas). Annual prevailing wages set by the Department of Labor (OFLC).
| Level | Prevailing wage | H-1B lottery odds* |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | $50,315 | ~15% |
| Level II | $59,613 | ~31% |
| Level III | $69,139 | ~46% |
| Level IV | $78,374 | ~61% |
This job pays $64,480–$70,720 a year (converted from an hourly rate, 2,080 hours) — that's Level II (qualified). In the wage-weighted H-1B lottery a Level II registration gets 2 entries; estimated selection chance about 31%.
* Odds are DHS projections for the FY2027 wage-weighted lottery (actual results vary by year and employer). Since the FY2027 cap season the H-1B lottery is weighted by wage level: Level I = 1 entry, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4. The level is set by the offered wage against the prevailing wage for the occupation and worksite. Separately, a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions for workers outside the US was announced in 2025; as of September 2026 a federal court ruling keeps it unenforceable while appeals continue — check the current status.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor OFLC disclosure data (H-1B/H-1B1/E-3 LCA, PERM), OFLC prevailing wage data, USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub, E-Verify participating employers. Data loaded: LCA FY2024–FY2026, PERM, USCIS Data Hub, OFLC wages; updated 2026-10-03. Employers are matched by name, so records of companies with similar names can occasionally be mixed up. This is general information, not legal advice — talk to an immigration attorney about your case.