Production

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators

Assemblers and fabricators build finished products and the parts that go into them.

28/100
#161 of 825
$44,650
median pay, U.S.
1.4M
employed (2024)
-0.1%
growth, 2024–34
156,300
openings per year
High school diploma or equivalent
typical entry education

Is miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators a good career?

It scores 28/100 and ranks #161 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • High volume of openings — about 156,300 a year
  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Pays below the U.S. median wage ($44,650 vs $61,390)
  • Employment is projected to decline (-0.1% through 2034)

What miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators earn between $37,380 and $51,200 a year.

Best-paying states

$50,330
Hawaii statewide
$49,630
Alaska statewide
$49,390
Nevada statewide
$49,050
Iowa statewide
$48,920
Washington statewide
$48,260
Kentucky statewide
$47,950
California statewide
$47,720
North Dakota statewide
$47,250
New Hampshire statewide
$46,940
$20k $50k $80k

Best-paying metros

01 Lafayette, LA $64,950
02 Jackson, MS $63,170
03 Lafayette, IN $63,140
04 San Francisco, CA $60,250
05 Lexington, KY $59,730
06 Spartanburg, SC $59,300
07 Oshkosh, WI $57,260
08 Nashville, TN $56,400

Strongest employment concentration

01 Michigan 112,310
02 California 98,390
03 Texas 93,650
04 Ohio 93,480
05 Indiana 85,610
06 Illinois 76,460

Live miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators jobs

No live miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators openings will appear here — each shown against the $44,650 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

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How to become a miscellaneous assemblers and fabricator

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Outlook
Employment is projected to grow decline through 2034.

Education

Assemblers and fabricators typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation.

Training

Workers typically receive several months of on-the-job training, sometimes including employer-sponsored technical instruction.

Skilled assemblers and fabricators may need special training or an associate’s degree, depending on the employer. For example, workers in electrical, electronic, and aircraft and motor vehicle products manufacturing typically need postsecondary education. Apprenticeship programs are also available.

Licenses, certifications & registrations

Cerifications demonstrate competence and professionalism and may help a candidate advance in the occupation.

In addition, many employers, especially those in the aerospace and defense industries, require electrical and electronic assembly workers to have certifications in soldering.

Advancement

Experienced assemblers and fabricators may advance to become a supervisor or manager.

Important qualities

Color vision. Assemblers and fabricators who make electrical and electronic products must distinguish different colors, because the wires they often work with are color coded.

Dexterity. Assemblers and fabricators should have a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination, as they must grasp, manipulate, and assemble parts and components that are often very small.

Mechanical skills. Assemblers and fabricators must have a working knowledge of basic machinery to use programmable motion-control devices, computers, and robots on the factory floor.

Physical stamina. Assemblers and fabricators must be able to stand for long periods and do repetitive tasks. Some assemblers, such as those in the aerospace industry, must frequently bend or climb ladders when assembling parts.

Physical strength. Assemblers and fabricators must be able to lift heavy components or pieces of machinery.

Technical skills. Assemblers and fabricators must understand technical manuals, blueprints, and schematics for manufacturing a range of products and machines.

Related occupations

High school diploma or equivalent · $51,330 median
High school diploma or equivalent · $65,380 median
Questions about becoming a miscellaneous assemblers and fabricator
How much do miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators make?

The national median wage is $44,650 a year, with the middle half earning between $37,380 and $51,200 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 28 of 100 and ranks #161 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -0.1% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a miscellaneous assemblers and fabricator?

The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.

Where do miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators earn the most?

Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($50,330). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34 · OOH-2024-34. How we score careers →