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Electrical, electronic and electromechanical assemblers: pay, job outlook and how to get in

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$45,850median pay per year, or $22.04 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $35,350lowest 10% earn less
  2. $38,38025th percentile
  3. $45,850median
  4. $51,67075th percentile
  5. $62,950top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for electrical, electronic and electromechanical assemblers was $45,850 a year in May 2025[1]. A high school diploma is the typical education needed to enter[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5%[5]
Openings per year
25,900[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[2]

How much do electrical and electronic assemblers make?

The median pay was $45,850 a year, or $22.04 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $47,660 a year, or $22.92 an hour[7].

Across all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job sat below that figure.

Here are the annual percentiles[3]:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][8] $35,350 $17.00
25th[3][8] $38,380 $18.45
Median[1] $45,850 $22.04
75th[3][8] $51,670 $24.84
90th[3][8] $62,950 $30.27

A percentile is a boundary, not a starting salary. For example, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,350[3][9]. BLS publishes percentile wages and not a starting salary[9].

These wages cover full-time and part-time workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median annual wage among the 48 states with published data, at $52,480[11]. New Hampshire came next at $49,020, then Vermont at $48,830[11]. At the other end of the list, Nevada had a median of $37,110[11].

California had the most jobs, with 37,660[12]. Texas had 15,440, Illinois 13,550, Pennsylvania 13,440 and New York 12,700[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Idaho Falls, ID had the highest median at $86,330[13]. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA followed at $62,200, and Athens-Clarke County, GA at $58,560[13].

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area had the most jobs, at 13,740, with a median of $45,670[14]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN came second with 9,750 jobs and a median of $41,160[14].

Show median pay in 48 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[11]$52,4806,160
New Hampshire$49,0202,930
Vermont$48,830460
California$48,08037,660
Delaware$47,880610
Montana$47,730190
Maryland$47,7201,050
Minnesota$47,7206,750
Colorado$47,6604,300
Oregon$47,6403,530
Maine$47,240580
Kentucky$47,2202,020
Massachusetts$47,13011,580
Ohio$46,97010,670
Utah$46,9402,220
Nebraska$46,810810
Missouri$46,7703,120
South Carolina$46,2104,670
Arkansas$46,2001,500
Arizona$46,1104,650
New Jersey$45,8006,300
Pennsylvania$45,60013,440
Wyoming$45,520120
Wisconsin$45,4708,700
New York$45,40012,700
Connecticut$45,0803,580
North Carolina$45,0806,780
Iowa$44,8804,000
Virginia$44,6604,930
Texas$44,41015,440
Michigan$44,3507,270
Kansas$43,5203,110
Georgia$43,4106,190
Mississippi$43,2701,620
South Dakota$43,180980
Indiana$42,8108,220
North Dakota$42,790450
Illinois$42,47013,550
Tennessee$42,2301,980
Oklahoma$41,0202,840
West Virginia$40,260560
Idaho$39,9801,430
Florida$39,0909,100
Alabama$38,1804,960
Louisiana$37,930380
Rhode Island$37,550820
New Mexico$37,210540
Nevada$37,1101,470

How to become an electrical or electronic assembler

The path is short. Based on BLS Employment Projections[2]:

The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile covers a wider group of assembler and fabricator jobs, so these training details describe that group[15]. It says workers typically get several months of on-the-job training, sometimes with technical instruction from the employer[16]. Skilled assemblers may need special training or an associate's degree, depending on the employer[17]. Apprenticeship programs are also available[17].

Many employers, especially in aerospace and defense, require soldering certifications for electrical and electronic assembly workers[18]. CareerOneStop has information on certifications[18].

The handbook also lists qualities that help[19][20][21][22]:

What the work involves

The handbook text describes the wider assembler group, not only this job[15]. It points to these demands of the work:

Where assemblers work

Again, this comes from the wider handbook profile[15]. Manufacturing plants are the usual workplace, and conditions differ by plant and industry[25]. Power tools have made many hard tasks easier, but the work can still mean long periods of standing, sitting or working on ladders[25].

Transportation equipment manufacturing was the largest employer of the wider group, at 25%[26]. Full-time work is typical, and some workers are on shifts that can include evening, weekend and night work[27].

OEWS counted about 246,970 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[28]. In Employment Projections data, 0% of these workers were self-employed in 2025[29].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to rise 5% between 2025 and 2035, going from roughly 246,300 jobs to 258,700, a change of 12,400[5]. Across all occupations, BLS projects 3.5% growth over the same period[30]. These counts include self-employed workers[5].

About 25,900 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings count more than new jobs. They also include jobs that open when people retire or move to other occupations[6].

Each year, 4.3% of workers leave the labor force and 5.5% move to a different occupation[31].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest a job with a short path in. It asks for a high school diploma, no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[2]. The median pay of $45,850 is below the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][4]. Employment is projected to grow faster than the 3.5% rate for all occupations[5][30]. The handbook describes physical demands such as standing for long periods and lifting heavy parts[23][22]. Entry requirements can vary by industry and employer[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much do electrical and electronic assemblers make an hour?
The median was $22.04 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $22.92[1][7].
What education do you need to be an electrical or electronic assembler?
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry education, with no related work experience needed[2].
How long does training take?
The handbook profile for the wider group says several months of on-the-job training is typical[16][15].
Is this job in demand?
BLS projects 5% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 25,900 openings a year[5][30][6].
Which state pays assemblers the most?
Washington had the highest median annual wage, at $52,480[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers in the US was $45,850 per year and $22.04 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers: 10th percentile $35,350, 25th percentile $38,380, 75th percentile $51,670, 90th percentile $62,950. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 246,300 to 258,700 jobs (a change of +12,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 25,900 openings for Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers was $47,660 per year and $22.92 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers: 10th percentile $17.00, 25th percentile $18.45, 75th percentile $24.84, 90th percentile $30.27. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers jobs: California 37,660; Texas 15,440; Illinois 13,550; Pennsylvania 13,440; New York 12,700. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Idaho Falls, ID $86,330; Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $62,200; Athens-Clarke County, GA $58,560; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $58,370; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $56,400; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $55,230; Boulder, CO $55,220; Reading, PA $54,350. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 13,740 (median $45,670); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 9,750 (median $41,160); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 9,530 (median $48,060); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 8,760 (median $46,620); San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 7,320 (median $55,230); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 5,420 (median $45,930). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Assemblers and Fabricators" covers Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of assemblers and fabricators in 2025: Transportation equipment manufacturing 25%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 246,970 people were employed as Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  29. BLS Employment Projections: 0% of Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers: 4.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.