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Electronics manufacturing
Jabil, Flex, Foxconn
Home / All Jobs / Trades / Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
These workers put together electrical, electronic, and electromechanical parts by hand and with small tools, then check that everything fits, connects, and works the way it should. The job stands out because tiny mistakes can cause a whole unit to fail, so the work mixes careful assembly with constant inspection and repairs. The tradeoff is straightforward: it is accessible without a degree, but the pay is modest and the pace can be repetitive, detail-heavy, and unforgiving.
Also known as Electronics AssemblerElectrical AssemblerElectromechanical AssemblerPCB AssemblerAssembly Technician
Median Salary
$44,040
Mean $45,930
U.S. Workforce
~261K
29.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4.6%
261.4K to 273.3K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~261K workers, with a median annual pay of $44,040 and roughly 29.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 261.4 K in 2024 to 273.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Assembly Trainee and can progress toward Lead Assembler or Quality Specialist. High-value skills usually include Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, and Monitoring, paired with soft skills such as Attention to detail, Reading comprehension, and Critical thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Assemble small electrical and electronic parts into finished units, using hand tools, soldering equipment, or small welding tools.
- Line up wires, parts, and housings so components fit correctly before fastening them together.
- Measure, drill, cut, or tap parts to create mounting points and openings for controls, wiring, or instruments.
- Check finished pieces for defects, fix broken or out-of-spec components, and make sure the product meets the required standards.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Assemble small electrical and electronic parts into finished units, using hand tools, soldering equipment, or small welding tools.
02 Line up wires, parts, and housings so components fit correctly before fastening them together.
03 Measure, drill, cut, or tap parts to create mounting points and openings for controls, wiring, or instruments.
04 Check finished pieces for defects, fix broken or out-of-spec components, and make sure the product meets the required standards.
05 Read assembly instructions and work with supervisors or engineers when a production problem comes up.
06 Clean parts and prepare components so they are ready for the next step in the assembly process.
Industries That Hire
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Aerospace and defense
Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon
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Automotive and electric vehicles
Tesla, Ford, General Motors
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Medical devices
Medtronic, Abbott, Boston Scientific
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Consumer electronics
Apple, Dell, HP
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field without a degree, and the most common education level is a high school diploma at 53.71%.
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The job usually requires only moderate-term on-the-job training, so people can learn the work without a long apprenticeship.
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There are about 29.6 thousand annual openings, which means steady turnover and regular hiring even when growth is modest.
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The work is hands-on and concrete: you can see the part, build the unit, and test whether it functions correctly.
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It can be a good entry point into manufacturing quality, test, or lead roles because you learn how defects happen and how to prevent them.
Challenges
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Pay is not especially high for the amount of precision required, with a median annual wage of $44,040 and a mean of $45,930.
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Growth is only 4.6% over ten years, so the occupation is not expanding quickly and advancement can be slow.
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The work is repetitive and detail-heavy, which can be tiring for hands, eyes, and attention over a full shift.
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A lot of assembly work is vulnerable to automation, robotics, and offshoring, which can limit long-term job stability in some plants.
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There is a real career ceiling unless you build extra skills in quality control, troubleshooting, or supervision.
Career Progression
Assembly Trainee
0-1 years
$31K-$37K
Learns basic tools, part identification, safety rules, and how to follow simple build instructions under close supervision.
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assembler
1-4 years
$40K-$49K
Builds components, makes small repairs, and checks work against specifications; this tier covers the core role and includes the $44,040 median pay.
Senior Assembler THIS ROLE
4-7 years
$49K-$57K
Handles more complex assemblies, catches defects earlier, and may train newer workers or help solve line problems.
Lead Assembler or Quality Specialist
7+ years
$57K-$67K
Coordinates work, reviews quality issues, and works with engineers or supervisors to keep production moving and reduce scrap.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 53.71% of workers in this role.
Some college courses in electronics or manufacturing
A smaller share of workers, 14.27%, report this level of education, often to build comfort with wiring, measurement, and technical drawings.
Post-secondary certificate in electronics assembly or soldering
About 9.48% of workers have this kind of training, which can help job seekers show hands-on skills before they are hired.
Employer training or an IPC soldering certificate
This is a practical alternative path for people who want to learn the work quickly, especially since the role requires moderate-term on-the-job training.
Key Skills
Technical
Operations Monitoring 64%
Quality Control Analysis 61%
Monitoring 60%
Precision Hand Tools, Calipers & Micrometers 58%
Soldering, Micro-Welding & Rework Tools 58%
Assembly Drawings, Schematics & Wiring Diagrams 57%
ESD Protection, Component Handling & Inspection 56%
Soft Skills
Attention to detailReading comprehensionCritical thinkingJudgment and decision makingActive listeningSpeaking Job Outlook and Trends
+4.6%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
29.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 261.4K to 273.3 K over the next decade, representing 4.6% growth. Around 29.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.