How to hire a sign maker

How to hire a sign maker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sign maker hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your sign maker 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 sign maker 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 sign maker 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 sign maker that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of sign makers.

   Type of Sign Maker	Description	Hourly rate
   Sign Maker	Assemblers and fabricators assemble finished products and the parts that go into them. They use tools, machines, and their hands to make engines, computers, aircraft, ships, boats, toys, electronic devices, control panels, and more.	$12-24
   Warehouse Assembler	A warehouse assembler takes on several responsibilities. They are responsible for preparing work that needs to be accomplished by studying and following assembly instructions to put together parts... Show more	$12-17
   Metal Fabricator	A metal fabricator manipulates metal for construction and manufacturing companies. They are required to cut, shape, position and align different metals... Show more	$13-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Graphic Design
   • Vinyl Graphics
   • Aluminum
   • Vehicle Graphics
   • Custom Signage
   • Install Signage
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • CNC Router
   • Design Software
   • Computer Software
   • Vehicle Wraps
   • Stencils
   • Corel Draw
   • Visual Quality

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Demonstrate proper use and application of PPE.
   • Apply basic and finish coats to sign blanks.
   • Print graphics on corrugate plastic, PVC, foam board, etc.
   • Keep record of number of boxes and labels used for each product run.
   • Pick, pack, and receive materials for customer orders using RF scanner and operator headset
   • Apply primers and sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare aluminum and steel, for finish coats.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, sign makers' average salary in north carolina is 34% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sign makers earn 48% less than senior-level sign makers.
   • Certifications. A sign maker 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 sign maker's salary.

   Average sign maker salary

   $36,308yearly

   $17.46 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level sign maker salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

4. Writing a sign maker job description

   A good sign maker job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a sign maker job description:

   Sign maker job description example

   The successful candidate has:

   • Sign Installer 3+ years experience
   • Sign Production 3+ years experience

   We offer these benefits:

   • Generous compensation above industry average
   • Paid time off – vacation and sick days
   • Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance provided at no charge for employee.
   • Participation in bonus program
   • 401K retirement plan with matching program.

   The successful candidate is:

   • Self-starter, disciplined and safety oriented.
   • Works with management and support teams to satisfy customers and installs projects in line with company’s vision and values.
   • Responsible for final stages of signage projects.
   • Must be customer focused with a friendly, welcoming disposition and exceptional organizational skills.
   • Has a Can Do attitude that enjoys the details of projects.

   We look for a talented person who can perform these duties:

   • Sign production
   • Sign installation, interior and exterior
   • Consult/interface with customers
   • Maintain cleanliness and organization of manufacturing/production area
   • Assist in maintaining company signage equipment
   • Accurately keep track of electronic and paper records related to jobs
   • Learn new technologies, skills and techniques as the company grows
   • Has experience or willing to learn to use a bucket truck/aerial lift.

   
   FASTSIGNS of Long Beach is part of a network of over 760 FASTSIGNS centers, worldwide. We are a small business and veteran owned. We love a challenging and fun environment and look forward to growing our team!

   This franchise is independently owned and operated by a franchisee. Your application will go directly to the franchisee, and all hiring decisions will be made by the management of this franchisee. All inquiries about employment at this franchisee should be made directly to the franchise location, and not to FASTSIGNS Corporate.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find sign makers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any sign makers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level sign makers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit sign makers, 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 sign maker

   Once you've selected the best sign maker candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new sign maker. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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