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Timing device assembler: pay, job outlook and how to become one

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

$62,620median pay per year, or $30.11 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $27,880lowest 10% earn less
  2. $29,04025th percentile
  3. $62,620median
  4. $72,74075th percentile
  5. $78,270top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Timing device assemblers and adjusters earned a median of $62,620 a year in May 2025[1]. It is a very small occupation, with about 250 wage and salary jobs[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-6.1%[5]
Openings per year
0[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do timing device assemblers and adjusters make?

The median pay was $62,620 a year, or $30.11 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $56,720 a year, or $27.27 an hour[8]. The median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980[4]. So the median here is above that reference.

The range is wide[3]:

Point in the range Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[3][9] $27,880 $13.41
25th percentile[3][9] $29,040 $13.96
Median[1] $62,620 $30.11
75th percentile[3][9] $72,740 $34.97
90th percentile[3][9] $78,270 $37.63

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $27,880[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10]. The figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11]. Only about 250 people held these jobs, so the numbers describe a small group[2].

Pay by state

BLS published a state median for only one state. Pennsylvania had a median of $71,770 a year[12]. No other states are listed, so a ranking is not possible.

Show median pay in 1 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Pennsylvania[12]$71,770n/a

How to become a timing device assembler or adjuster

The typical path looks like this[7]:

The training details below come from a BLS profile for assemblers and fabricators, which covers a wider group of occupations than this one[14]. That profile says workers typically get several months of on-the-job training, sometimes with technical instruction from the employer[15]. It also says skilled assemblers may need special training or an associate's degree, depending on the employer, and that apprenticeship programs exist[16]. Many employers, especially in aerospace and defense, require electrical and electronic assembly workers to hold soldering certifications[17].

Experienced workers in the wider group may advance to supervisor or manager[18].

What timing device assemblers and adjusters do

These workers assemble or adjust timing devices to very tight tolerances, such as digital clocks and devices with electrical or electronic parts[19]. O*NET lists tasks that center on watches, clocks and similar timepieces[20]:

The wider assembler profile names dexterity, a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination as important, because parts are often very small[21].

Where they work

The following comes from the wider assemblers and fabricators profile, not this occupation alone[14]. Most of those workers are in manufacturing plants, and conditions vary by plant and industry[22]. Most work full time. Some work shifts that can include evenings, weekends and nights[23].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of timing device assemblers and adjusters to fall 6.1% from 2025 to 2035[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[24]. BLS lists about 200 jobs at both ends of that period[5], so the numbers are small. The projection counts include self-employed workers[5].

BLS names one factor. The share of these jobs decreases as production grows more efficient and demand shifts away from legacy timing devices[25]. The projections list about 0 openings a year[6]. Each year, 3.8% of workers leave the labor force and 6% move to a different occupation[26].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job with a high school entry requirement and moderate-term training on the job[7]. The median pay is above the all-occupations median[1][4], but the spread is wide, from $27,880 at the 10th percentile to $78,270 at the 90th[3]. The occupation is tiny, at about 250 jobs[2], and employment is projected to decline[5]. The projections list about 0 openings a year[6].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[27].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a timing device assembler make an hour?
The median was $30.11 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $13.41 and the 90th was $37.63[9].
What education do you need to be a timing device assembler?
A high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience typical[7].
How long does it take to become a timing device assembler?
BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training[7]. A wider BLS profile for assemblers and fabricators says several months[15].
Is timing device assembly in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 6.1% from 2025 to 2035[5]. BLS lists about 0 openings a year[6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters in the US was $62,620 per year and $30.11 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 250 people were employed as Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters: 10th percentile $27,880, 25th percentile $29,040, 75th percentile $72,740, 90th percentile $78,270. 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 Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters is projected to decline 6.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 200 to 200 jobs (a change of +0). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 0 openings for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters 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 Employment Projections, typical path into Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters: 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
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters was $56,720 per year and $27.27 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters: 10th percentile $13.41, 25th percentile $13.96, 75th percentile $34.97, 90th percentile $37.63. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. Median annual wage for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. O*NET 51-2061.00 survey of workers (16 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 91% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  14. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Assemblers and Fabricators" covers Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. 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: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. O*NET description of Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET task list for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters. O*NET OnLine
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  25. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters: Demand change, productivity change - share decreases as production continues to increase efficiency even as demand shifts away from legacy timing devices. BLS Employment Projections
  26. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters: 3.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  27. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

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.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.