Head Cake Decorator
$14.50 - $18.50/hr
Every cake we make is baked fresh and hand-decorated to order -- wedding cakes, birthdays, showers ... Decorate custom cakes to order specs -- piping, lettering, borders, and detail work * Build tiered ...
Head Cake Decorator
$14.50 - $18.50/hr
Every cake we make is baked fresh and hand-decorated to order -- wedding cakes, birthdays, showers ... Decorate custom cakes to order specs -- piping, lettering, borders, and detail work * Build tiered ...
Head Cake Decorator
$30 - $40/hr
Every cake we make is baked fresh and hand-decorated to order -- wedding cakes, birthdays, showers ... Decorate custom cakes to order specs -- piping, lettering, borders, and detail work * Build tiered ...
Quick apply
Head Cake Decorator
$30 - $40/hr
Every cake we make is baked fresh and hand-decorated to order -- wedding cakes, birthdays, showers ... Decorate custom cakes to order specs -- piping, lettering, borders, and detail work * Build tiered ...
Hand Lettering information
See Minneapolis, MN salary details
$10.54 - $11.88
3% of jobs
$11.88 - $13.23
9% of jobs
$13.23 - $14.58
7% of jobs
$15.15 is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$14.58 - $15.92
14% of jobs
$15.92 - $17.27
9% of jobs
The median wage is $18.04 / hr.
$17.27 - $18.61
15% of jobs
$18.61 - $19.96
15% of jobs
$20.35 is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$19.96 - $21.30
13% of jobs
$21.30 - $22.65
5% of jobs
$22.65 - $24
6% of jobs
$24 - $25.34
4% of jobs
$10
$18
$25
How much do hand lettering jobs pay per hour?
As of Jul 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for hand lettering in Minneapolis, MN is $18.15, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.05 and $20.34 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What are some common challenges hand lettering artists face when working on client projects?
Hand lettering artists often encounter challenges such as interpreting a client's vision accurately, managing revisions, and meeting tight deadlines. Balancing creative expression with brand guidelines or specific client requirements can be demanding. Additionally, hand letterers must ensure their work translates well across various mediums, such as digital and print, which sometimes requires adapting their techniques or using specialized software.
What can I do with hand lettering?
A hand lettering artist can create custom designs for branding, signage, greeting cards, and decorative art. This role often involves working with tools like pens, brushes, and digital software, and may require a portfolio to showcase skills for freelance or employment opportunities.
What is the average salary of a calligrapher?
The average salary of a calligrapher varies depending on experience, location, and whether they work freelance or for a company. Typically, calligraphers earn between $20,000 and $50,000 annually, with skilled professionals or those with a strong portfolio potentially earning more. Many also supplement income through workshops, commissions, or selling their work.
What is hand lettering?
Hand lettering is the art of drawing letters by hand, rather than using pre-existing fonts or typefaces. Unlike traditional calligraphy, which relies on specific strokes and tools, hand lettering focuses on creating custom letterforms and unique designs for each piece. Artists often use pencils, pens, markers, or brushes to craft decorative words or phrases for things like signs, invitations, logos, and artwork. Hand lettering allows for a high level of creativity and personalization, making each project unique.
What is the difference between Hand Lettering vs Calligraphy?
| Aspect | Hand Lettering | Calligraphy |
|---|---|---|
| Skills & Techniques | Drawing and designing custom letterforms by hand, often with digital tools | Creating decorative, stylized writing with specific brush or pen strokes |
| Tools & Materials | Pencils, markers, digital tablets | Brush pens, dip pens, ink |
| Work Environment | Design studios, freelance, digital platforms | Art studios, wedding invitations, formal events |
| Industry Usage | Branding, logos, custom artwork | Wedding invitations, certificates, formal documents |
While both Hand Lettering and Calligraphy involve beautiful lettering, Hand Lettering focuses on creating custom letterforms through drawing and design, often combining digital and traditional tools. Calligraphy emphasizes stylized writing with specific strokes and tools, typically used for formal or decorative writing. Understanding these differences helps clients choose the right artist for their project.
Can you make money hand lettering?
Hand lettering can be a profitable career or side income for skilled artists, especially through freelance work, selling custom pieces, or creating products like prints and signage. Success depends on skill level, marketing, and building a client base, with many artists earning income by offering services or selling their work online or locally.
What careers use handwriting analysis?
Careers that use handwriting analysis include forensic document examiners, who analyze handwriting for legal cases, and graphologists, who assess personality traits for employment or psychological evaluations. These roles require strong attention to detail, knowledge of writing patterns, and often certification or training in document examination or graphology.
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Hand Lettering Artist, and why are they important?
To thrive as a Hand Lettering Artist, you need a strong foundation in typography, drawing skills, and design principles, often supported by a portfolio of creative work. Familiarity with digital illustration tools like Adobe Illustrator, Procreate, and traditional materials such as brush pens and paper is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and patience are essential soft skills for producing unique and polished lettering pieces. These skills and qualities are important because they enable artists to create visually appealing and professional work that meets client or project needs.
What are popular job titles related to Hand Lettering jobs in Minneapolis, MN? For Hand Lettering jobs in Minneapolis, MN, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Hand Lettering jobs in Minneapolis, MN look for? The top searched job categories for Hand Lettering jobs in Minneapolis, MN are:
What cities near Minneapolis, MN are hiring for Hand Lettering jobs? Cities near Minneapolis, MN with the most Hand Lettering job openings:
Job description
About Us
Queen of Cakes is a family-owned custom cake bakery serving Edina and the greater Twin Cities since 2003. Every cake we make is baked fresh and hand-decorated to order — wedding cakes, birthdays, showers, corporate events, and everything in between. Decorating is the heart of what we do, and we're looking for a talented cake decorator who can bring our customers' designs to life beautifully and consistently.
The RoleAs a Master cake decorator, you'll be the artist behind our finished cakes — icing, filling, stacking, and decorating each one to its order specifications. This is a craft-forward role for someone with a strong decorating hand who takes pride in flawless finishes and loves the creative variety of a custom shop where no two cakes are alike.
What You'll Do- Fill, ice, and finish cakes with smooth, clean buttercream
- Decorate custom cakes to order specs — piping, lettering, borders, and detail work
- Build tiered and sculpted cakes with proper structure and stability
- Work with fondant: covering, accents, and decorative elements
- Must be fully proficient in fondant and sculpting cakes
- Match colors and designs to customer references and approved sketches
- Produce sugar flowers and decorative pieces as needed
- Maintain consistency and quality across every order
- Manage your decorating schedule to meet pickup and delivery deadlines
- Keep a clean, organized, food-safe workspace
- Flawless design
- Collaborate with the team on custom designs and special requests
- Professional cake-decorating experience (custom or production bakery preferred)
- Strong buttercream finishing and piping skills
- Fondant and tiered/sculpted cake experience required
- A sharp eye for detail, proportion, and color
- Ability to follow design specs while bringing your own craftsmanship
- Strong time management in a high-volume, deadline-driven shop
- Reliable, team-oriented, and open to creative feedback
- Food safety knowledge (ServSafe a plus)
- Weekend availability as needed for our busy seasons
A culinary or baking & pastry certificate/degree is a plus but not required — decorating skill and reliability matter most.
Why Join Queen of Cakes- Established, respected name with 20+ years in the Twin Cities
- Creative, craft-focused work — every cake is a new design
- Supportive, family-owned team environment
- Steady full-time hours
Apply through Culinary Agents with your resume. A portfolio or photos of your cake-decorating work is required — we'd love to see your finishing, piping, and design range.
About Queen Of Cakes
Sourced by ZipRecruiter
Industry
Food and drink manufacturing
Company size
11 - 50 Employees
Headquarters location
Minneapolis, MN, US