How many sign shops are in North Carolina, and what do they pay?
North Carolina against the states around it
| # | State | Sign shops | Employees | Avg pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Illinois | 3,509 | $71,991 | |
| 7 | Ohio | 3,293 | $58,165 | |
| 8 | North Carolina | 2,202 | $56,026 | |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 2,935 | $65,763 | |
| 10 | Michigan | 1,978 | $60,365 |
The full ranking of all 51 states is on the home page. The most shops: Texas with 713. U.S. total: 7,581 shops, 76,480 employees, $63,399 average pay.
Putting up a sign in North Carolina
What these shops charge is set by the square foot for most sign types, with materials, finishing and installation on top. For a sense of the going rate, PrinterFlo's sign price calculator prices a sign or banner by size and material in two clicks; the pay figures above are what that revenue supports.
Questions
How many sign shops are in North Carolina?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 258 sign manufacturing establishments in North Carolina in 2024 (annual average, private employers), ranking North Carolina 8 of 51 states. Together they employed 2,202 people, about 8.5 per shop.
How much do sign makers make in North Carolina?
Average annual pay across North Carolina's sign shops was $56,026 in 2024, 12% below the U.S. sign industry average of $63,399. That is total payroll divided by employment, so it blends fabricators, designers, installers and owners on payroll.
What counts as a sign shop in these figures?
An establishment with payroll classified under NAICS 339950, Sign Manufacturing: businesses whose main activity is making signs, including electric and non-electric signs, channel letters, printed banners and vehicle graphics. Print shops, engravers and installation contractors classified under other codes are not included, and neither are owner-only shops with no employees.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), annual averages, private ownership, NAICS 339950 Sign Manufacturing, North Carolina, 2024 and 2023 annual averages, read September 22, 2026. Average pay = total annual wages ÷ annual average employment. Ranks computed from the 51 states with a published establishment count.