How to hire a decorator

How to hire a decorator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step decorator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a decorator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new decorator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a decorator job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your decorator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a decorator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A decorator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, decorators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of decorators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Decorator	Description	Hourly rate
   Decorator	Painting and coating workers paint and coat, often with machines, a wide range of products, including cars, jewelry, and ceramics.	$11-20
   Cake Decorator	A cake decorator is responsible for designing cakes for special occasions, following the clients' specifications and special requests. Cake decorators directly communicate with the client for their orders, suggesting decorations based on the event's theme, and delivering the item securely... Show more	$10-20

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Product Knowledge
   • In-Home
   • Bakery Products
   • Safety Regulations
   • Display Cases
   • Store Sales
   • Wedding Cakes
   • Trade Shows
   • Wedding Receptions
   • Customer Specifications
   • Customer Complaints
   • Unload Trucks
   • Inventory Control

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain cleanliness and area sanitation in accordance with company practices and regulatory requirements.
   • Develop mixed bake and decorate specialty cakes and cupcakes.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your decorator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A decorator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, decorators' average salary in georgia is 47% less than in maine.
   • Seniority. Entry-level decorators earn 47% less than senior-level decorators.
   • Certifications. A decorator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a decorator's salary.

   Average decorator salary

   $15.45hourly

   $32,136 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level decorator salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a decorator job description

   A job description for a decorator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a decorator job description:

   Decorator job description example

   Our mission is to touch and enhance lives through the joy that is Krispy Kreme, not only in our doughnut shops but also in grocery and convenience stores.
   What will you do?
   
   You'll inspire customer wonder by inspecting our doughnuts to make sure they meet all our quality and food safety standards before packing them up gently for their journey to grocery shelves. You'll also add filling, icing and other toppings like sprinkles to make them look and taste delicious. You'll help clean and maintain the work area, so it stays safe and sanitary. You'll also learn all about how our doughnuts are made and how to operate the equipment. You'll check labeling of our packages and help in other ways when asked by your leader.
   
   On the move
   
   This is a role for people who can't stand to sit still during the day. Get ready to get moving while you pack doughnuts! This may include things such as carrying and lifting boxes or cleaning supplies, sweeping, and mopping. You'll need to be able to lift a decent amount of weight, up to 25 pounds, and occasionally 50 pounds. The retail shop can be warm inside as well as a bit noisy, with all that equipment producing delicious doughnuts.
   
   What makes you a great fit?
   
   You have 2-4 years of experience working in a food manufacturing or similar environment, doing food packing or processing. You can pack up our doughnuts gently without crushing them. You can communicate with fellow Krispy Kremers effectively and know how to stay organized. You can read and do basic math. You can move around and are dependable- we need to make sure our customers get their sweet treats! If you have a high school diploma or GED, that's ideal too.
   
   NY ONLY: Subject to any legally required accommodations and applicable state or local law, Krispy Kreme requires all employees in NYC to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of hire.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right decorator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your decorator job on Zippia to find and recruit decorator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with decorator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new decorator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the decorator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new decorator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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