How to hire a printing estimator

How to hire a printing estimator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step printing estimator hiring guide:

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

Post a printing estimator job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The printing estimator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a printing estimator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a printing estimator that fits the bill.

   This list presents printing estimator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Printing Estimator	Description	Hourly rate
   Printing Estimator	Cost estimators collect and analyze data in order to estimate the time, money, materials, and labor required to manufacture a product, construct a building, or provide a service. They generally specialize in a particular product or industry.	$15-31
   Estimator Project Manager	An estimator project manager is responsible for analyzing cost estimates by gathering cost information from suppliers and other third-party vendors. An estimator project manager must have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills, especially with measurement accuracy and evaluating important project metrics... Show more	$25-49
   Estimating Manager	An estimating manager will oversee the day-to-day activities of the estimating department. Your duties typically include implementing technical estimating procedures and standards and overseeing the project estimator's work... Show more	$29-71

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Client Specifications
   • Production Process
   • Customer Service
   • Cost Estimates
   • Customer Specifications
   • CSR
   • Print Projects
   • PSI
   • Wide Format
   • Web Press
   • Management System
   • Quality Results

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the estimating of a commercial & industrial plumbing and mechanical contracting business.
   • Coordinate sourcing efforts when need to provide final RFQ.
   • Obtain measurements, photos and documentation to process remotely Xactimate estimates to submit for insurance and customer approval.
   • Facilitate all product installation and replacement of equipment; including scheduling electrical, plumbing, roofing, and crane operator subcontractors.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your printing estimator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A printing estimator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, printing estimators' average salary in alabama is 53% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level printing estimators 52% less than senior-level printing estimators.
   • Certifications. A printing estimator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a printing estimator's salary.

   Average printing estimator salary

   $46,578yearly

   $22.39 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level printing estimator salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

4. Writing a printing estimator job description

   A printing estimator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a printing estimator job description:

   Printing estimator job description example

   At SproutLoud our people and culture are central to our success. You’ll find an environment that is 100% jerk free, where people share the values of putting clients first, being accountable, caring about your team and the quality of your work, inspiring others, and growing in your level of expertise and professional development. SproutLoud won the 2022 Top Workplace award, marking the 9th time the company has been recognized as one of the best employers in South Florida, based on anonymous employee feedback.
   
   SproutLoud is a Software plus Services platform that services the local marketing needs of large organizations. Called Through-Channel Marketing Automation (TCMA), we help our clients manage their brands and distribute their marketing resources locally - through sales channels, franchisees, chain-retail locations, dealer networks, value-added reseller (VAR) programs, and field employees/offices - with a comprehensive distributed marketing solution. SproutLoud solutions manage brand compliance, increase speed to market, automate manual tasks, and provide robust reporting and business intelligence.
   
   Identified by Forrester Research as the Third Stage for sales and marketing leaders, SproutLoud is on the forefront of the TCMA industry. We need a great team to help us execute - so come join us!
   
   The Print Estimator is a full-time position and a critical team member responsible for providing support
   
   for the Purchasing Team. This includes obtaining cost estimates for print, direct mail, and promotional
   
   items and develop pricing for all clients. This individual is also responsible for supporting our clients and
   vendors by managing the purchasing and coordination of our network programs. This individual will
   communicate with Production Coordinators, Client Relationship Managers, and Business Development
   staff regarding job specs, costs, and production methods. This person will also be responsible for
   maintaining pricing worksheets for all clients, analyzing existing pricing for consistency and
   competitiveness, and other administrative tasks as detailed below. Responsibilities: Product pricing to include: offset, digital and web print, promotional items, apparel, large format, signage, vehicle wraps, kitting, fulfillment, freight and warehousing Manage direct mail programs and kitting projects including coordinating with Clients, Internal CRM Teams, Account Executives, Production Team and Vendors Project Management for printing, fulfillment and inventory projects, including purchase orders, proofing, delivery and warehousing requirements Work closely with all stakeholders to gather information regarding projects and consult regarding print capabilities and piece design Manages projects independently to ensure Vendors are meeting agreed upon production schedules, timelines, and quality standards Build relationships with Clients and consult with them for printing projects and network programs to create effective solutions Use job management software (P3) to estimate, manage, track, award, and invoice jobs to Vendors Use internal Zendesk system to manage, track job status, assign activities across various departments, and store job files that will be required to close jobs Manage Vehicle Graphic vendors, client communication and orders for custom inquiries and installation charges Required: Must reside in South Florida 5 years experience in Print Management and Print Buying/Estimating Strong understanding of Print manufacturing workflows and vendor capabilities Strong interpersonal communication skills and organization skills 3-5 years experience in mail services, kitting, fulfillment, logistics and data management Basic knowledge of USPS and Canada Mail Requirements as it pertains to Print specifications Strong analytical skills Strong math and computer skills, proficient in MS Excel, Google sheets Organized, detail oriented, self motivated and problem solver Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects Ability to learn new technologies, processes, software and computers quickly Quick Learner What do we offer Joining a 9X Award Winning Best Place to Work - 5 consecutive years Phenomenally high e-NPS scores - just check out the career portion of our website An opportunity to join an industry leader with solid growth (and aspirations to become much bigger). No Jerks on your team The ability to work on a truly innovative product that evolves with our market’s needs. The ability to work and grow among a team of fun, kind and passionate people. A prime location in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Medellin, Colombia; and, Monterrey, Mexico Competitive salary scaled to your experience 17-23 days of PTO; Sick leave as you need it 401k plan with 3% matching 1 month sabbatical at 6 years Medical, Vision and Dental Insurance Plans A fast-paced environment where you can make your mark! The ability to work and grow among an incredible team Our values Delight the Customer: We understand that consistently meeting expectations creates a positive experience. Be the Force of Change: Continuous improvement is a shared responsibility. And it starts with you. Jerk Free: We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We are humble with no hidden agendas. We demonstrate respect and integrity. Do What You Say: Follow-up and follow-through. We hold ourselves and each other to this standard. One-Mission; One Team: We always work together, within and across teams, to accomplish our mission. Interview process Our five steps recruiting process lasts a total of 2 weeks: Step 1 - Meet and greet with a recruiter or hiring manager; followed by some brief assessments Step 2 - Top-Grading, 2-hour interview with 2 Hiring Managers Step 3 - In-person meetings (one day in total) with your peers, direct reports and/or team leads Step 4 - (Position Dependent) An activity or exercise to understand how you think Step 5 - Reference checks Powered by JazzHR W4pswhHzhE

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right printing estimator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with printing estimators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit printing estimators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with printing estimator 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 printing estimator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the printing estimator 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a printing estimator?