SIGN TECHNICIAN 3

Code: 41843 State Competitive Range: C16 (FY 2027) Work week 40: FLSA coveredOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $52,308.32 - $75,954.22/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under the general supervision of a Crew Supervisor, Signs in the Department of Transportation, does highly skilled work in the fabrication, reconditioning, installation, replacement, and repair of traffic signs, including sign support structures for various types of highway signs; operates, adjusts, and maintains necessary equipment; takes the lead over a segment crew; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Takes the lead of a small group of employees when assigned to perform less complex fabrication, repair, and installation of highway signs in accordance with work orders and NJDOT specifications.
• Fabricates, installs, and reconditions signs and sign support structures.
• Takes the lead in assembling and disassembling signs and their structures including ground mounts, cantilevers, overheads, and bridge mounts.
• Works from heights up to 75 feet from an aerial platform truck or similar equipment to repair, replace, and install signs and sign support structures.
• Assists in the performance of priority repairs.
• Operates the equipment required for installation of signs, including power actuated and pneumatic tools.
• Takes the lead in operating, maintaining, and conducting minor repairs and adjustments to cranes, air compressors, power take-off pumps, drills, and other kinds of equipment, including general truck safety maintenance.
• Uses appropriate safety precautions when installing traffic control and other signs, especially work zone safety measures.
• Operates and maintains appropriate letter cutting machinery necessary for the electronic cutting and application of reflective letters and sign faces.
• Takes the lead in operating and maintaining computer assisted and electronic sign making equipment used in the design of signs.
• Enlarges scale-sized drawings from the Standard Highway Signs Manual to full-sized patterns using drafting instruments.
• Does the work involved in silk screen process printing of various types of highway signs, including the fabrication of silk screens and the hand cutting of screen stencils using several types of stencil film.
• Takes the lead in operating and maintaining several pieces of equipment used in the screen printing of signs; mixes inks to the proper consistency for screen process printing.
• Does the work involving the layout of highway signs using electronically cut reflective letters and die-stamped metal letters, which includes the layout of various sizes of signs, with attention to letter space and overall spacing.
• Does other printing work as required.
• Paints traffic signs by hand, with stencils, or by the silk screen process in accordance with standard illustrations.
• Does the hand lettering on varied types of highway signs, using pounce patterns and letter fonts.
• On occasion, mixes inks to the proper consistency for hand lettering and uses the free-hand method of lettering various items.
• Keeps records of materials used, time spent, and work completed.
• Performs snow removal and ice control work at any time of day or night as required.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in the assembly, installation, replacement, reconditioning, and repair of highway signs, including sign support structures; and the fabrication, reconditioning, and assembly of highway signs utilizing large-scale production techniques.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the methods, materials, and practices of sign printing, fabrication, installation, and support structures.
• Knowledge of laying out letters to form town names using optical spacing techniques with attention to overall spacing and correct spelling.
• Knowledge of the current Department standards, the Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and Standard Highway Signs Manual.
• Knowledge of the methods used in the preparation of direct silk screens.
• Knowledge of appropriate safety precautions.
• Ability to work from an aerial platform truck or similar equipment, up to a height of 75 feet, and to fabricate, erect, and recondition signs, support structures, and effect repairs.
• Ability to lead workers in performing the fabrication, installation, and repair of various highway sign and sign support structures.
• Ability to hand cut film, positives, and/or stencils.
• Ability to operate and maintain several pieces of equipment used in the preparation of silk screens.
• Ability to operate the various screen printing equipment and related processes.
• Ability to paint and letter with facility using various types of brushes.
• Ability to mix inks to their proper color and consistency.
• Ability to read, interpret, and work from sketches, penciled layouts, and specifications.
• Ability to lay out letters to form town names using optical spacing techniques with attention to overall spacing and correct spelling.
• Ability to lay out signs according to current Department standards using the Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and Standard Highway Signs Manual.
• Ability to interpret plans and drawings pertaining to traffic signs.
• Ability to keep basic records.
• Ability to utilize various types of drawing instruments including a compass, square, and triangle.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

A segment crew is defined as a subset of the entire crew compliment.

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Satisfactory completion of thirty (30) semester credit hours in Graphic Arts, Drafting, or Computerized Assisted Drafting Design may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.

<b>LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION:</b>

Appointees must possess and maintain a current certification as a Powered Industrial Truck Operator issued by the New Jersey Department of Transportation or possess a current Coaching the Lift Truck Operator 2 certification or its equivalent.

Appointees must possess a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and applicable endorsements for the class and type of vehicle being operated.

The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles they operate, and the Powered Industrial Truck Operator certification, Coaching the Lift Truck Operator 2 certification, or an equivalent certification, rests with the Appointing Authority.