The high end food industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 10 years, and is one of the fastest growing industries. The average pastry chef salary has shared that upward trend, and is at one of the highest points it has ever been. Even in harsh economic times, the food industry is one of the industries that has the highest rate of employment.

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Pastry_Chef/Salary/by_Industry (United States)

http://www.pastrychefguild.net/events.html (Canada)