Assembler salary
Typical pay is $24.00/hr. Based on 15 job postings from the last 12 months.
What the range looks like
- 10th percentile Entry level / starting out
- $19.40/hr
- 25th percentile Below typical
- $20.88/hr
- Median Half earn more, half earn less
- $24.00/hr
- 75th percentile Above typical
- $25.96/hr
- 90th percentile Experienced / specialised
- $29.65/hr
Source: 15 LocalWork job postings nationwide from the last 12 months that stated pay. Advertised pay, not verified earnings.
See what's hiring now
22 open assemblers on LocalWork right now.
What an assembler does
Assemblers and fabricators put together products and components on manufacturing lines, from electronics to vehicles to furniture.
Day-to-day duties
- Assemble components to specification
- Use hand and power tools and jigs
- Read work instructions and diagrams
- Inspect your own work for defects
- Meet line rate and quality targets
Skills employers look for
- Manual dexterity
- Following written instructions precisely
- Consistency across a long shift
- Basic measurement
Requirements Entry level
- No formal education usually required
- Repetitive hand and arm work
- Shift work including nights
- Some roles need vision or dexterity testing
How to get started
- 1 Apply directly — commonly entry level
- 2 Learn multiple stations and products
- 3 Move to lead or quality inspection
- 4 Train into machining or maintenance
Job outlook: Follows manufacturing activity and clusters in industrial regions. Aerospace, medical device and automotive assembly pay above general manufacturing.
Common questions about assemblers
How much does an assembler make?
The median pay for an assembler nationally is $24.00 an hour — about $49,920 a year full time. That is based on 15 job postings on LocalWork from the last 12 months that stated pay, so it reflects what employers are advertising rather than verified earnings. Half of the roles pay more than this and half pay less, so treat it as the middle of the market rather than a target.
What is the pay range for assemblers?
Most assemblers nationally earn between $19.40 an hour and $29.65 an hour — that is the 10th to the 90th percentile. The spread usually reflects experience, shift, certifications and employer size more than anything else.
How much do entry-level assemblers make?
Pay at the bottom of the range — roughly what someone starting out can expect — is around $19.40 an hour. A quarter of assemblers earn below $20.88 an hour, so the first year or two typically sits in that band. This is a role employers routinely fill with people who have no prior experience.
What do the highest-paid assemblers earn?
The top 10% of assemblers nationally earn about $29.65 an hour or more, roughly 1.2× the median. Getting there usually means experience plus something specific — certifications, supervisory duties, specialised skills or premium shifts.
What does an assembler do?
Assemblers and fabricators put together products and components on manufacturing lines, from electronics to vehicles to furniture. Day to day, that means assemble components to specification, use hand and power tools and jigs, read work instructions and diagrams and inspect your own work for defects.
How do you become an assembler?
The usual route is: (1) apply directly — commonly entry level, (2) learn multiple stations and products, (3) move to lead or quality inspection, (4) train into machining or maintenance. Employers typically look for no formal education usually required, repetitive hand and arm work and shift work including nights.
Do you need a certification to work as an assembler?
Usually not. Most employers hire assemblers without a specific licence, and train on the job.
Are assemblers in demand?
There are currently 22 open assemblers listed on LocalWork. Follows manufacturing activity and clusters in industrial regions. Aerospace, medical device and automotive assembly pay above general manufacturing.
Where are assemblers most in demand?
See the metro and rural areas with the highest concentration of this work, ranked from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
Similar roles
Pay figures are estimates for guidance only, not an offer or guarantee. Advertised ranges come from job postings on LocalWork; government figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay depends on experience, certifications, shift and employer.