Business expert Yassin Aberra identifies five categories where signing bonuses have become standard, from nursing to manufacturing roles.
What’s Happening: Business expert Yassin Aberra identifies five job categories currently offering the highest signing bonuses, with healthcare and nursing leading at nearly 18% of job ads featuring sign-on bonuses, followed by logistics, dental, airline maintenance, and manufacturing roles.
Why This Matters: For job seekers, understanding which sectors offer competitive signing bonus packages provides significant leverage during career planning and negotiations.
Signing bonuses, once rare perks reserved for executive recruitment, have become increasingly common across industries facing persistent worker shortages. In highly competitive fields, these upfront payments can reach thousands of dollars, helping companies attract candidates who might otherwise choose different opportunities.
Yassin Aberra, Founder and CEO of Social Market Way, a digital marketing agency specialising in SEO and lead generation strategies, shares his insight on the trend.
“Signing bonuses have shifted from rare perks to standard practice in many industries,” says Aberra. “Understanding which sectors offer the most competitive packages can give job seekers a significant advantage when planning their next career move.”
Healthcare leads the pack
The healthcare sector dominates when it comes to signing bonuses. According to Becker’s Hospital Review, roughly 17.9% of US job advertisements in healthcare and nursing included a welcome or sign-on bonus as of 2024, representing one of the highest rates across all industries.
Hospitals have responded to staffing challenges by offering substantial packages to attract and retain nurses. Some facilities publicly advertise combined sign-on and retention bonus packages that can total tens of thousands of dollars for registered nurses willing to commit to multi-year contracts.
“Healthcare organisations are willing to invest heavily upfront because the cost of understaffing far exceeds the expense of a generous signing bonus,” says Aberra. “For nurses and healthcare professionals, this creates real leverage during negotiations.”
Logistics roles compete hard
Delivery drivers, warehouse workers, and other logistics professionals are seeing strong signing bonus offers. According to Indeed Hiring Lab, about 3.7% of all US job postings in December 2024 mentioned a sign-on bonus, which remains well above pre-pandemic levels. The research specifically notes that signing bonuses are most common in in-person roles, including driver and logistics positions.
Major employers in freight, delivery, and warehousing have used these incentives to recruit workers amid persistent labour shortages. Bonuses typically range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the role and location.
“What makes logistics attractive is the combination of steady demand and relatively accessible entry requirements,” Aberra explains. “Companies need bodies on the ground, and they’re willing to pay to get them there quickly.”
Allied health expands reach
Beyond traditional nursing, the broader medical and allied health field has turned to signing bonuses. Sectors such as dental, medical technicians, and allied health saw a notable portion of job advertisements featuring sign-on bonuses as part of a broader trend in healthcare and medical staffing.
This suggests that hard-to-fill roles across the entire healthcare spectrum are commanding upfront payments. Dental hygienists, radiology technicians, and physical therapy assistants are among the positions where signing bonuses have become more standard.
“Allied health roles require specific training and certification, which creates scarcity,” says Aberra. “Employers recognise that qualified candidates have options, so they sweeten the deal from day one.”
Airlines need technicians
Skilled technicians in the airline and transportation industries can also expect signing bonuses. Recent reports show that several airlines and related firms offer sign-on bonuses for maintenance technicians, ramp workers, and ground service staff. These bonuses can reach $10,000 or more depending on the role and location.
The transportation and airline support sector relies on these incentives to fill skilled positions and high-turnover roles. With air travel demand remaining strong, the competition for qualified maintenance and ground crew has intensified.
“Airlines can’t afford delays due to staffing shortages,” Aberra notes. “A well-timed signing bonus helps them maintain operational standards while building a reliable workforce.”
Manufacturing adapts
Even traditional industrial jobs are now offering signing bonuses to compete for workers. Certain manufacturers and industrial employers advertise sign-on bonuses for machinists, maintenance technicians, and shop floor workers as part of their hiring packages.
Whilst the bonus amounts in manufacturing may be lower than in high-skilled sectors, the presence of these incentives shows how tight labour markets have affected even traditional blue-collar employment. Employers who once relied solely on competitive hourly wages now add signing bonuses to stand out in a crowded field.
“Manufacturing has had to adapt to new realities,” says Aberra. “The signing bonus signals to potential employees that the company values their commitment from the start.”
Strategic Negotiation Advice
Job seekers should approach signing bonuses strategically rather than viewing them as free money, according to Aberra. Most bonuses come with conditions such as staying for a minimum period or meeting performance benchmarks. Leaving early could mean repaying the entire amount.
“During negotiations, don’t be afraid to ask about bonuses even if they’re not advertised,” he advises. “If a company is struggling to fill a role, they might have flexibility to offer one. You can also negotiate the structure by asking for a portion upfront and the rest after six months, which reduces risk for both sides.”
Aberra emphasises the importance of considering the total compensation package before accepting an offer.
“A smaller signing bonus with better long-term benefits, higher base salary, or stronger career growth opportunities might be worth more than a large one-time payment,” he says. “Think about where you’ll be in two or three years, not just on your first paycheck.”
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