diff --git a/packages/pdf/src/semantic/issue-fixtures.test.tsx b/packages/pdf/src/semantic/issue-fixtures.test.tsx
index 254b9f772..c513847f4 100644
--- a/packages/pdf/src/semantic/issue-fixtures.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/pdf/src/semantic/issue-fixtures.test.tsx
@@ -239,6 +239,21 @@ describe("semantic issue fixtures", () => {
 		expect(mergedStyle(findText(document, "Analytical Engines")).fontWeight).not.toBe("400");
 	});
 
+	it("preserves the first character of a section heading with a leading text padding (#3380)", async () => {
+		const data = buildIssueFixture();
+		data.sections.experience.title = "Experience";
+		data.metadata.page.hideSectionIcons = false;
+
+		const element = createElement(ResumeDocument, { data, template: "onyx" }) as unknown as Parameters<typeof pdf>[0];
+		const instance = pdf(element);
+		await vi.waitFor(() => expect(instance.container.document).not.toBeNull());
+		const document = instance.container.document as HostNode;
+		const heading = findText(document, "Experience");
+
+		expect(heading).toBeDefined();
+		expect(mergedStyle(heading).paddingLeft).toBe(1);
+	});
+
 	it("renders descriptor filtering and stable item order instead of remapping raw arrays", async () => {
 		const data = buildIssueFixture();
 		data.sections.skills.items = ["First", "Hidden", "Last"].map((name, index) => ({
diff --git a/packages/pdf/src/templates/shared/sections.test.ts b/packages/pdf/src/templates/shared/sections.test.ts
index 4066b381d..8df871ebf 100644
--- a/packages/pdf/src/templates/shared/sections.test.ts
+++ b/packages/pdf/src/templates/shared/sections.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { getSectionHeadingTextStyle } from "./sections";
 
 const source = readFileSync(fileURLToPath(new URL("./sections.tsx", import.meta.url)), "utf8");
 
@@ -24,6 +25,11 @@ describe("ItemTitle", () => {
 });
 
 describe("SectionShell", () => {
+	it("keeps heading text safety padding separate from container padding", () => {
+		expect(getSectionHeadingTextStyle({ paddingLeft: 0 })).toEqual([{ paddingLeft: 1 }]);
+		expect(getSectionHeadingTextStyle({ paddingLeft: 6 })).toEqual([{ paddingLeft: 1 }]);
+	});
+
 	it("keeps section and heading style rules when section heading icons are hidden", () => {
 		expect(source).toContain(
 			"const resolvedSectionStyle = composeStyles(sectionStyle, sectionRuleStyle, resolved.style)",
diff --git a/packages/pdf/src/templates/shared/sections.tsx b/packages/pdf/src/templates/shared/sections.tsx
index 2cf112319..7b191b443 100644
--- a/packages/pdf/src/templates/shared/sections.tsx
+++ b/packages/pdf/src/templates/shared/sections.tsx
@@ -188,8 +188,8 @@ const defaultSectionHeadingContainerStyle = {
 	columnGap: 4,
 } satisfies Style;
 
-const getSectionHeadingTextStyle = (...styles: StyleInput[]): Style[] =>
-	composeStyles(...styles).map(
+export const getSectionHeadingTextStyle = (...styles: StyleInput[]): Style[] => {
+	const textStyles = composeStyles(...styles).map(
 		({
 			borderBottomWidth: _borderBottomWidth,
 			borderLeftWidth: _borderLeftWidth,
@@ -211,6 +211,13 @@ const getSectionHeadingTextStyle = (...styles: StyleInput[]): Style[] =>
 		}) => textStyle,
 	);
 
+	if (textStyles.length === 0) return [{ paddingLeft: 1 }];
+
+	const lastIndex = textStyles.length - 1;
+	const lastTextStyle: Style = { ...textStyles[lastIndex], paddingLeft: 1 };
+	return [...textStyles.slice(0, lastIndex), lastTextStyle];
+};
+
 const useSectionItemsContext = () => use(SectionItemsContext);
 
 export const SemanticTextRuns = ({