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Hand Lettering Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Hand Lettering information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$11

$19

$27

How much do hand lettering jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for hand lettering in Seattle, WA is $19.79, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.39 and $22.16 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?

AspectHand LetteringCalligraphy
Skills & TechniquesDrawing and designing custom letterforms by hand, often with digital toolsCreating decorative, stylized writing with specific brush or pen strokes
Tools & MaterialsPencils, markers, digital tabletsBrush pens, dip pens, ink
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, freelance, digital platformsArt studios, wedding invitations, formal events
Industry UsageBranding, logos, custom artworkWedding 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 Seattle, WA? For Hand Lettering jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Hand Lettering jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Hand Lettering jobs in Seattle, WA are:
Infographic showing various Hand Lettering job openings in Seattle, WA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $41,166 per year, or $19.8 per hour.
Silk Screener Decorative Panels B - 79805

Silk Screener Decorative Panels B - 79805

Boeing

Everett, WA

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement

Posted 16 days ago


Boeing rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 606 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

35th of 534 rated manufacturers


Job description

Silk Screener Decorative Panels B - 79805

Company:

The Boeing Company

Boeing Commercial Airplanes is excited to offer opportunities for a Silk Screener Decorative Panels B to join our Joint and Installation team in Everett Washington.

Join our innovative team as a Silk Screener for Decorative Panels. In this dynamic position, you will set up and execute multicolor silk screen printing operations, ensuring precise alignment and registration to create stunning instrument panels. Your expertise in mixing and matching paints will guarantee that each print meets our high standards for color consistency and clarity. Collaborating closely with various departments, you will coordinate the distribution of decals and maintain an organized inventory, all while adhering to safety regulations for hazardous materials. If you are passionate about combining creativity with technical skill in a fast-paced environment, we invite you to be a part of our mission to deliver exceptional decorative solutions.

You will play a critical role in upholding our commitment to safety and quality standards, ensuring that all operations meet regulatory compliance and operational excellence. If you are detail-oriented, possess strong technical skills, and thrive in a collaborative environment, we invite you to apply and be a part of our mission to deliver excellence in aviation.

Position Responsibilities:

  • Set up and perform multicolor decorative silk screen printing operations according to established procedures.

  • Align and adjust the silk screen to achieve proper contact and registration, applying paint using the squeegee method.

  • Layout, locate, and apply lettering on various instrument panels using silk screening and related processes.

  • Liaise with the Decal Area and other departments to coordinate changes, distribution of decals, and maintain perpetual inventory.

  • Work from blueprints, specifications, and verbal instructions to complete assignments accurately.

  • Clean silk screens and maintain tools and equipment to ensure quality printing.

  • Mix and match paint to established color samples, ensuring consistency and accuracy.

  • Obtain work orders and necessary materials, including inks and substrates, while adhering to safety data sheet guidelines.

  • Perform hand setup for contact printing, including loading silk screens and applying ink to substrates.

  • Operate the silk screen machine, managing the printing process for multiple colors and ensuring quality control.

  • Check ink color using a color spectrometer and make adjustments as needed to match specifications.

  • Perform rework and touch-ups on decorative interior parts using appropriate tools and techniques.

  • Handle and dispose of hazardous materials in compliance with safety regulations.

  • Maintain records of work performed and refile work packets in the ink room filing cabinet.

  • Communicate with team leaders and supervisors regarding job progress, issues, and assistance needed.

Physical Demands and Potential Hazards:

  • Perform physical tasks that include lifting weights ranging from 10-15 lbs. to 15-35 lbs.

  • Engage in various movements such as reaching, handling, turning, twisting, lifting, lowering, climbing, balancing, bending, kneeling, crouching, and squatting.

  • Work in environments that may involve contact with metals, solvents, and coolants.

  • Operate in proximity to moving parts and tools, sharp cutters, and potential slipping hazards.

  • Adapt to varying noise levels and atmospheric conditions.

  • Utilize personal safety gear to protect face/eyes, hands/arms, and feet while performing job duties.

This position is expected to be 100% onsite. The selected candidate will be required to work onsite at one of the listed location options.

This position must meet Export Control compliance requirements, therefore a "US Person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. 120.62 is required. "US Person" includes US Citizen, US National, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee

Current Boeing employees working in Puget Sound must submit an Employee Request Transfer (ERT) to be considered in the eligible candidate pool. Resumes of current Puget Sound Boeing employees submitted via Careers at Boeing will not be considered.

Basic Qualifications:

Relevant experience can include academic qualifications, military service, or other industry-related roles.

  • 1+ years of experience silk screen printing.

  • Experience mixing and color matching water based inks.

  • Experience handling and disposing of hazardous materials per government regulations.

  • Ability to recognize colors.

  • Ability to walk constantly throughout the workday; stand 6-8 hours per day; climb or work from stairs/steps up to 8 hours per day; climb ladders; bend and twist frequently up to six hours per day; squat and kneel.

  • This position requires you to wear eye, hearing, foot, hand, respirator and other personal protective equipment/safety gear at all times.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Perform ink formulation (e.g. measure ink by weight, machine mix ink, apply ink to test specimen, dry in oven).

  • Experience working with overhead crane.

  • Enrolled in a Boeing partnered manufacturing related high school or community and technology college academic program

Typical Education & Experience:

High school graduate or GED preferred

Conflict on Interest:

Successful candidates for this position must successfully complete the Company's Conflict of Interest (COI) assessment process.

Relocation:

  • Relocation assistance is not a negotiable benefit for this position. Candidates must live in the immediate area or relocate at their own expense.

Drug Free Workplace

Boeing is a Drug Free Workplace where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies.

Union Representation Statement:

This is an hourly position governed by the International Association of Machinists (IAM-751) Collective Bargaining agreement.

Shift Work Statement:

  • This position is for a variety of shifts

Total Rewards & Pay Transparency:

At Boeing, we strive to deliver a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent. Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.

The Boeing Company also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work.

The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

Summary pay range: $25.32/hour, with potential to earn up to 50.24/hour in accordance with the terms of the relevant collective bargaining agreement.

Language Requirements:

English

Education:

Not Applicable

Relocation:

Relocation assistance is not a negotiable benefit for this position.

Export Control Requirement:

Safety Sensitive:

Security Clearance:

This position does not require a Security Clearance.

Visa Sponsorship:

Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.

Contingent Upon Award Program

This position is not contingent upon program award

Shift:

Shift 4 (United States of America)

Stay safe from recruitment fraud! The only way to apply for a position at Boeing is via our Careers website. Learn how to protect yourself from recruitment fraud - Recruitment Fraud Warning

Boeing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

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