SIGN PAINTER

City of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Chicago is seeking a Sign Painter to perform journey-level sign painting work, including design, layout, screen printing, and hand lettering or vinyl copy for traffic and municipal signs.

Responsibilities include preparing surfaces, operating sign-making equipment, applying vinyl graphics, and maintaining supplies. Work includes outdoor conditions with a 7:30AM–3:30PM schedule in Chicago, IL.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a U.S. Department of Labor registered Sign Painting apprenticeship program or equivalent, OR
• Two years of journey level experience as a Sign Painter, OR
• Six years of journey level Sign Painter experience

Responsibilities

• Review requisitions and work orders to plan sign painting work
• Ensure supplies and materials are available for assignments
• Prepare surfaces and apply paint, vinyl, or stencils to signs
• Operate computers and sign-making equipment for layout
• Create and apply vinyl graphics and silk screens on signs

Skills

Sign painting

Computerized layout

Silkscreen

Vinyl graphics

Education

Sign Painting apprenticeship training program

Journeyman status

Tools

Laminator

Silk screener

Engraver

Vinyl cutting tools

Painters grip

Measuring tools

Job description

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

SIGN PAINTER

Department of Transportation (CDOT)

Division of Sign Management

Number of Positions: 2

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $48.16/HOURLY

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with the SIGN PAINTERS - LOCAL 830 BARGAINING UNIT #25 (BU 25).

Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

BID INSTRUCTIONS

1. Check the box on your profile titled "Currently employed by the City of Chicago"
2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled 'payee/employee number')
3. Select your correct bargaining unit

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 9/2/2026

Under supervision, performs journey level sign painter work in the design, computer and/or hand layout, screen printing and hand lettering or vinyl copy of traffic and municipal signs including airport signage, fleet equipment and banners; and performs related duties as required

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Gathers and reviews requisitions and work orders to assess work required and to determine most appropriate preparation and application methods
• Ensures adequate supplies of tools, equipment and materials are available to complete sign painting assignments
• Cleans and prepares surfaces to ensure paint, stencils and/or vinyl materials will adhere properly
• Operates computers and computerized sign making equipment to layout lettering for traffic and municipal signs
• Uses free hand or measuring devices to paint letters, numbers and/or symbols and to apply vinyl graphics on signs and municipal equipment
• Creates stencils for silk screening work by designing and spacing lettering styles and patterns
• Creates silk screens to reproduce designs and shapes and applies onto signs and banners
• Pours paint into silk screen frame on screen printing press and operates press or dips paint rollers in paint and draws across stencils to transfer design to various surfaces in order to produce signs and banners
• Operates heavy duty heat and pressure sensitive applicator equipment to apply and compress reflective sheeting onto traffic signs
• Creates and applies vinyl graphics onto wooden, aluminum and metal sign blanks and banners
• Operates laminating machine for related sign painting projects and tasks
• Cleans trade equipment and work site after completion of sign painting assignments
• Prepares work activity reports
• May prepare art work and painting on large foam presentation boards

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.

Location: 3458 S. Lawndale Ave

Chicago, IL 60623

Days: Monday - Friday

Hours: 7:30AM - 3:30PM

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Successful completion of a U.S. Department of Labor registered Sign Painting apprenticeship training program and journeyman status, OR
• Successful completion of a company or industry sponsored apprenticeship training program as a Sign Painter, PLUS two (2) years of journey level experience as a Sign Painter, OR
• Six (6) years of journey level experience as a Sign Painter

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

• Some positions may require an OSHA 10 Card
• A valid State of Illinois driver's license is required
• Some positions may require an EPA Lead Abatement Certification

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Exposure to loud noise, fumes or dust
• Exposure to outdoor weather conditions
• May perform work using scaffolds and ladders

EQUIPMENT

• Standard office equipment (e.g., telephone, printer, photocopier, fax machine, calculator)
• Computers and peripheral equipment (e.g., personal computer, computer terminals, hand-held computer)
• Standard tools and equipment of the sign painting trade (e.g., laminator, silk screener, engraver, vinyl cutting tools, painters grip, taping knives, brushes, rollers, extension poles)
• Ladders, step stools and scaffolding
• Personal protective equipment (e.g., hard hat, shoes, glasses, gloves)
• Measuring tools (e.g., tape measure, ruler, calipers, measuring wheel)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Lifting (up to 50 pounds) is required
• Ability to sit, stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with one's body, arms, and/or legs
• Ability to operate applicable hand tools, power tools, and equipment

NOTE: APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM CERTIFICATE(S), JOURNEYMAN CARD, RESUME AND A VALID STATE OF ILLINOIS DRIVER'S LICENSE MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE TIME OF PROCESSING.

NOTE: To be considered for this position you must provide information about your educational background and your work experience. You must include job titles, dates of employment, and specific job duties. (If you are a current City employee, Acting Up cannot be considered.) If you fail to provide this information at the time you submit your application, it will be incomplete and you will not be considered for this position. There are three ways to provide the information: 1) you may attach a resume; 2) you may paste a resume; or 3) you can complete the online resume fields.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position does not require a test or interview. BIDDERS who successfully apply for the position, meet the minimum qualifications, and possess the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be hired in seniority order and according to C.B.A rules. External candidates who successfully apply for the position, meet the minimum qualifications, and possess the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be hired in lottery/random order.

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

• Previous experience in operating computers and computerized sign making equipment to layout lettering for traffic and municipal signs AND/OR to layout lettering for aircraft guidance signs meeting FAA standards.
• Previous experience in operating heavy duty heat and pressure sensitive applicator equipment to apply and compress reflective sheeting onto traffic signs
• An EPA Lead Abatement Certification

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 9/2/2026