How to hire a sculptor

How to hire a sculptor, step by step

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

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your sculptor 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 sculptor 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a sculptor 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 sculptor that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of sculptor salaries for various roles:

   Type of Sculptor	Description	Hourly rate
   Sculptor	Craft and fine artists use a variety of materials and techniques to create art for sale and exhibition. Craft artists create handmade objects, such as pottery, glassware, textiles, and other objects that are designed to be functional... Show more	$26-66
   Technical Illustrator	Technical illustrators create drawings or illustrations for various technical documentation through digital technology. Aside from being familiar with IT and design software, they have strong creativity and imaginative skills to provide illustrations that express an idea or concept... Show more	$14-43

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Fine Arts
   • Sketch
   • CAD
   • Surface Models
   • Scan Data
   • Design Concepts
   • Apple
   • ZBrush
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Art Directors
   • Maya
   • CNC

   Responsibilities:

   • Update website and Facebook pages, manage all social media, develop marketing materials, manage production/event scheduling and client contracts.
   • Create original sculpture from brass and copper.
   • Create 3-D sculptures base on an original artist sketch.
   • Sculpt 3d heads in Zbrush for custom bobblehead dolls.
   • Direct freelance artists, copywriters, and in-house production designers as well as in-house photography studio in promotional advertising.
   • Assist with data entry of inventory using BPCS.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, sculptors' average salary in arkansas is 36% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sculptors 60% less than senior-level sculptors.
   • Certifications. A sculptor 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 sculptor's salary.

   Average sculptor salary

   $88,887yearly

   $42.73 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level sculptor salary

   $56,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average sculptor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$104,336	$50
   2	New Jersey	$99,709	$48
   3	Michigan	$93,604	$45
   4	New York	$93,600	$45
   5	Arizona	$84,272	$41
   6	North Carolina	$80,874	$39
   7	Washington	$80,792	$39

   Average sculptor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$145,665	$70.03	1
   2	General Motors	$106,405	$51.16
   3	International Trucks	$106,343	$51.13
   4	Navistar	$103,618	$49.82
   5	PRO Unlimited	$96,998	$46.63
   6	Jeff Koons	$92,726	$44.58
   7	Pokémon	$92,167	$44.31
   8	Funko	$89,646	$43.10
   9	Linkage	$88,019	$42.32
   10	Nissan	$87,169	$41.91
   11	The Jim Henson Company	$84,758	$40.75
   12	City	$65,968	$31.72
   13	Hilton	$57,880	$27.83
   14	Aerotek	$56,717	$27.27

4. Writing a sculptor job description

   A sculptor 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. Below, you can find an example of a sculptor job description:

   Sculptor job description example

   Navistar is currently looking for Senior Digital Sculptor. This position is responsible for creating Class-A surfaces for the exterior/interior of an automotive vehicle.
   Responsibilities
   
   + Work closely with automotive design staff to develop 3D surface models for supporting design theme reviews
   
   + Interpret 2-D sketches and scan data to create high quality Class-A CAD surfaces, incorporating package and feasibility information from engineers
   
   + Use Autodesk Alias and/or Unigraphics software to build and release Class-A production intent surfaces for tooling
   
   + Utilize knowledge of design process and standards
   
   Minimum Requirements
   
   + Associate's degree
   
   + At least 1 year of industrial design experience
   
   OR
   
   + At least 2 years of industrial design experience
   
   Additional Requirements
   
   + Qualified candidates, excluding current Navistar employees, must be legally authorized on an unrestricted basis (US Citizen, Legal Permanent Resident, Refugee or Asylee) to be employed in the United States. Navistar does not anticipate providing employment related work sponsorship for this position (e.g., H-1B status)
   
   Desired Skills
   
   + Minimum 2 years of Class-A surface creation experience in the automotive industry
   
   + Proficient in the use of Autodesk Alias AutoStudio software or similar for building Class-A automotive surfaces.
   
   + Team player with high level of interpersonal skills to work effectively with others
   
   + Knowledgeable in the use 3D visualization software, such as VRED, Unreal, or Maya
   
   + College degree with a major in Industrial Design strongly preferred OR equivalent demonstrated industry experience
   
   + Able to work in high-pressure environments and meet tight deadlines
   
   Company Overview
   
   Navistar is a purpose-driven company, reimagining how to deliver what matters to create more cohesive relationships, build higher-performing teams and find solutions where others don't.
   
   Navistar is the Lisle, Illinois-based parent company of International brand commercial trucks and engines, IC Bus brand school and commercial buses, all-makes OnCommand Connection advanced connectivity services, aftermarket parts brands Fleetrite , ReNEWed and Diamond Advantage and Brazilian manufacturer of engines and gensets MWM Motores Diesel e Geradores.
   
   With a history of innovation dating back to 1831, Navistar has more than 12,000 employees worldwide and is part of TRATON SE, a global champion of the truck and transport services industry.
   
   Accelerating the Impact of Sustainable Mobility
   
   Visit us at www.Navistar.com to discover more about our organization
   
   Navistar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.
   
   #ridewithnavistar

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find sculptors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   To find sculptor candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit sculptors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 sculptor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the sculptor 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.

   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.)

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