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Chocolate Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Lindt and Sprungli

Chocolate Technologist

San Leandro, CA · On-site

$83K - $108K/yr

Job Summary The Chocolate Technologist is someone with a background in Product Development that ideally has at least 3-5 years of experience in the chocolate industry taking products from concept to ...

Lindt and Sprungli

Chocolate Technologist

San Leandro, CA · On-site

$83K - $108K/yr

Job Summary The Chocolate Technologist is someone with a background in Product Development that ideally has at least 3-5 years of experience in the chocolate industry taking products from concept to ...

Lindt and Sprungli

Chocolate Technologist

San Leandro, CA · On-site

$83K - $108K/yr

Job Summary The Chocolate Technologist is someone with a background in Product Development that ideally has at least 3-5 years of experience in the chocolate industry taking products from concept to ...

Lindt and Sprungli

Chocolate Technologist

San Leandro, CA · On-site

$83K - $108K/yr

Job Summary The Chocolate Technologist is someone with a background in Product Development that ideally has at least 3-5 years of experience in the chocolate industry taking products from concept to ...

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All JobsChocolate JobsChocolate Jobs in California

Chocolate information

See California salary details

$11

$20

$39

How much do chocolate jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for chocolate in California is $20.87, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $21.83 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a chocolate maker?

Chocolate makers are professionals who oversee the process of turning raw cacao beans into finished chocolate products. They are responsible for selecting quality beans, roasting, grinding, refining, and tempering the chocolate to achieve the desired flavor and texture. Chocolate makers may work in artisanal chocolate shops, large-scale factories, or as independent craft chocolatiers. Their work requires a blend of culinary skill, attention to detail, and creativity to produce unique chocolate varieties. They also need to stay updated on food safety standards and trends in the chocolate industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a chocolatier, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chocolatier, you need expertise in culinary techniques, chocolate tempering, and recipe development, often supported by formal pastry or culinary training. Familiarity with specialized kitchen equipment, food safety certifications, and chocolate molding tools is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and excellent time management are vital soft skills for excelling in this craft. These skills ensure the production of high-quality, innovative chocolate products while maintaining safety and efficiency in a professional kitchen.

What are some common challenges faced by chocolatiers when working with chocolate in a professional kitchen?

Chocolatiers often face challenges such as maintaining precise temperature control during tempering to achieve the right texture and gloss, and preventing chocolate from seizing or blooming due to humidity or temperature fluctuations. Working in a fast-paced kitchen environment also requires strong organizational skills to manage multiple chocolate creations simultaneously. Additionally, collaborating with pastry chefs and other kitchen staff is crucial to ensure that chocolate products align with menu requirements and presentation standards.

What is the difference between Chocolate vs Pastry Chef?

AspectChocolatePastry Chef
CredentialsOften requires culinary training, specialized chocolate coursesRequires culinary school, pastry-specific certifications
Work EnvironmentChocolate shops, confectionery factories, specialty boutiquesBakery kitchens, restaurants, hotels
Industry UsageFocuses on chocolate products, confections, sculpturesBroader pastry items like cakes, tarts, and desserts

Chocolate specialists focus primarily on creating confections and sculptures from chocolate, often requiring specialized training. Pastry Chefs have a broader scope, preparing various baked goods and desserts. While both roles require culinary skills and work in similar environments, their focus areas differ significantly, making them distinct careers within the culinary industry.

What are popular job titles related to Chocolate jobs in California?

For Chocolate jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Chocolate jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Chocolate jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Chocolate jobs?

Cities in California with the most Chocolate job openings:

Chocolate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chocolate job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 52% Full Time, and 48% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $43,405 per year, or $20.9 per hour.

Apprentice Chocolate Maker

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Dandelion Chocolate
Food and Drink Manufacturing • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Dandelion Chocolateexternal

$26.25/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

Location: 16th Street Factory
Job Title: Apprentice Chocolate Maker
Level: L2
Hours: Full-time, $26.25/hour
Department: Production Team
Report: Production Manager
Apprentice Chocolate Maker
About Us
Dandelion Chocolate is a bean-to-bar chocolate factory in San Francisco's Mission District. We make chocolate from only two ingredients, cocoa beans and cane sugar, and travel to origins as often as we can to build good, trusting relationships with the producers who grow and ferment the beans we buy. We're always on the search for good cocoa beans, and now we're looking for an Apprentice Chocolate Maker to help our production team scale up and craft our single origin chocolate.
About You
You should love chocolate as much as we do, but you don't have to know everything - we'll teach you everything we know. After adequate shadowing and hands-on training, you will join our production team in their daily routine - roasting, cracking, sorting and winnowing cocoa beans, then tempering and molding chocolate bars. This is a physical job, but it's a labor of love. This is an opportunity to be part of the team working at our large factory on 16th Street where we are scaling up our processes and production, while striving to make some of the world's best chocolate.
You must be comfortable working with machinery and willing to go with the flow as processes change and develop and to work independently as well as with our team of chocolate makers. We prefer that candidates have worked in the food and beverage/culinary or manufacturing industry, as it helps with the pace and demands of this position. This full-time role starts at $26.25/hour with an increase after training. We're looking for someone who is eager to learn about chocolate, has a positive outlook, and likes to get their hands dirty.
Responsibilities
  • Production: Learning and performing all steps of chocolate making: sorting cocoa beans, roasting, winnowing, starting batches, refining and conching, tempering, grinding, and foiling, wrapping and labeling bars. Contribute towards our daily goals of sorting 550 kg of cocoa beans, roasting 8-10 roasts a day, tempering 7000 bars, and making sure we hit our target of 13+ conches a week. You can walk through the factory with a Senior Chocolate maker and be able to describe our processes and procedures per station and talk about how chocolate is made.
  • R&D and Quality: Tasting and evaluating chocolate bars for flavor and quality. You can tell if the flavor or consistency of a batch is slightly off. You can blindly tell where at least 7 chocolate bars country of origins are. You actively participate in Continuing Chocolate Education classes and stay curious about learning more about chocolate.
  • Sanitation & Maintenance: Cleaning and maintaining our production facility, including machines. You assist in projects such as the washing of bar molds, bins, sweeping the floor, and using the bucket washer. You know how to operate all of our chocolate machines safely, and are familiar with all of our machine SOPs and order of procedures.
  • Team: Work with the team to hit our daily production goals. You have a positive attitude even when things don't always go as planned and your team wants to work with you again and again.
  • Guest facing: While this role does not require leading tours, we frequently have tour groups coming through to visit the factory, crews filming, and many curious guests around the factory. Be a welcoming presence at the factory while being mindful of safety.
  • Other tasks as necessary. You stay curious and ask lots of questions, you are always willing to help and see projects through.

Requirements
  • Weekend availability: Available from 7:30am-4pm, with one weekend day (either Saturday or Sunday).
  • Positive outlook: Even among shifting priorities or broken machines, you are able to keep a healthy perspective and remain positive.
  • Kitchen know-how: Prior experience working in a commercial kitchen or production facility preferred, especially with a team. Comfortable with repetitive tasks.
  • Physical aptitude: This position requires that you be moving on your feet for most of the day and to occasionally lift objects up to 50-pounds. Must be able to stand, bend, squat, and use hands for tasks requiring both fine and gross motor skills.

Benefits
The benefits and perks continue beyond a robust chocolate education. Dandelion Chocolate constantly invests in our people and culture. All team members receive heavily subsidized medical, vision, and dental benefits as well as the option to enroll in our 401k program. All team members receive paid vacation time, holiday pay, and paid sick time. In addition, our team members enjoy commuter benefits, FSAs, chocolate tasting opportunities, and a range of opportunities to grow and develop within the company.
How to Apply
Dandelion is growing and we are invested in employees who take ownership over their role and are interested in contributing in a bigger way with us. If you are interested, we'd like to see your resume and a cover letter (optional) that includes a short description of your favorite food experience or influence. Keep in mind that we value passion, attitude, and hard work, so tell us what inspires you to want to join our production team.

Apply