How to hire a stitcher

How to hire a stitcher, step by step

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

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the stitcher you need to hire. Certain stitcher roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect stitcher also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

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

   Type of Stitcher	Description	Hourly rate
   Stitcher		$10-27

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Stitching
   • Costume Shop
   • Industrial Sewing Machines
   • Costumes
   • RAN
   • Double Needle
   • Machine Operation
   • Coats
   • Oiling
   • Serger
   • Assembly Line
   • Spindles
   • Repair Tags
   • Equipment Maintenance

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage costume crew and coordinate costumes during productions.
   • Perform hand collating of short-run projects, checking correct sequence of order, stapling, power stitching, or binding.
   • Stamp cloths and inspect parachutes.
   • Prepare furs and design natural fur coats.
   • Inspect finish product and do finishing touches.
   • Used serger, single, and double stitch industrial machines.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, stitchers' average salary in utah is 40% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level stitchers earn 61% less than senior-level stitchers.
   • Certifications. A stitcher 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 stitcher's salary.

   Average stitcher salary

   $35,863yearly

   $17.24 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level stitcher salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 29, 2025

4. Writing a stitcher job description

   A job description for a stitcher 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 stitcher job description:

   Stitcher job description example

   Who We Are:
   Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today. At New Balance, We Got Now.
   
   Job Description
   HIRING IMMEDIATELY!!Made in the U.S.A.New Balance's Maine Factories (Norridgewock, Norway and Skowhegan) will marry today with tomorrow - enabling NB to build footwear of today using forward looking technology. Fusing our unparalleled craftsmanship with new manufacturing technology will broaden our ability to provide consumers exciting new footwear.In addition to competitive starting wages, we offer:Standard 40 hour workweek: Mon-Fri 6:30am to 3:00pmWeekly pay periods Performance-based pay increases Access to our comprehensive benefits package On the job training - no manufacturing experience is required JOB MISSION:New Balance's Stitching position encompasses many operations that may be performed exclusively or on a rotational basis. Requires the performance of a variety of relatively complex hand stitching patterns performed using a stitching machine and hand-held tools that contribute to completing the product. Work is performed in a team environment - focused on safety, quality and productivity standards towards meeting customer demands. MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:Performs work according to established procedures and processes - executes tasks to the materials and parts of the shoe utilizing various tools and machinery, and adherence to standard work cycles.Willingness to support a changing environment, flexibility to cross train and rotate to various jobs and duties towards achieving departmental and business goals. Makes suggestions to improve the process and displays motivation and initiative to improve skills and job knowledge.Supports NB quality expectations/standards and takes ownership for meeting them. Ensures work quality before passing onto customers.Follows NB policies and demonstrates responsibility for attendance, safety requirements, PPE and reporting of accidents and near misses.Maintain a high level of quality per our internal & external customer requirements Ability to work on complex jobs in a fast paced, quality focused environment where we build 600 pair of shoes in an 8-hour shift. Ability to read a spec sheet to verify threads and bobbins with the ability to identify sizes on the part. Ability to learn and adhere to start up and shutdown procedures (TPM) and making simple machine/mechanical adjustments to their workstation.REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSHigh school diploma/GEDThe ability to read, understand and comprehend written or oral instruction and the ability to communicate effectively with others. Must be a team player!Requires hand and eye coordination along with depth perception (layered materials), good peripheral vision, ability to see incoming /outgoing work stations and precision work - clear vision as close as 11 inches for tasks Standard 40-hour workweek applies; willing to adjust work schedule to meet a reasonable amount of overtime based on business need Use of personal protective equipment is required Good manual dexterity skills (eye, hand and feet coordination) Must be able to perform repetitive upper extremity motions and repetitive forceful grip/pinch requiring both hands, frequent reaching, good range of motion of fingers, hands, wrists and elbows Ability to stand and balance using foot pedals requiring both feet throughout an 8-hour shift; moving from role to role or sedentary standing Ability to work in a fast-paced production line environment (building 600 pair of shoes in an 8-hour shift) while completing a variety of sewing/stitching and hand-finishing processes safely with a sense of urgency and attention to detail Ability to lift light to moderate amounts of weight
   
   Regular Associate Benefits:
   Our products are only as good as the people we hire, so we make sure to hire the best and treat them accordingly. New Balance offers a comprehensive traditional benefits package including three options for medical insurance as well as dental, vision, life insurance and 401K. We also proudly offer a slate of more nontraditional perks - opportunities like online learning and development courses, tuition reimbursement, $100 monthly student loan support and various mentorship programs - that encourage our associates to grow personally as they develop professionally. You'll also enjoy a yearly $1,000 lifestyle reimbursement, 4 weeks of vacations, 12 holidays and generous parental leave, because work-life balance is more than just a buzzword - it's part of our culture.
   Learn more about our Benefits
   
   Temporary associate benefits will be communicated separately.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer:
   New Balance provides equal opportunities for all current and prospective associates and takes affirmative action to ensure that employment, training, compensation, transfer, promotion and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment are provided without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, handicap, genetic information and/or status as an Armed Forces service medal veteran, recently separated veteran, qualified disabled veteran or other protected veteran.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right stitcher 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 stitcher job on Zippia to find and recruit stitcher 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 stitchers, 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.

   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 stitcher

   Once you've found the stitcher candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new stitcher. 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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