Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators Salary

The median miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators salary in the United States is $44,650 per year ($21.47/hour). Salaries range from $33,280 at the entry level to $64,880+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 1,405,030 miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 0.1% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary
$44,650
per year
Hourly Rate
$21.47
per hour
Employment
1,405,030
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$33,280
25th percentile
$37,380
Median
$44,650
75th percentile
$51,200
90th percentile
$64,880

Job Growth (2024-2034)

-0.1%
Decline

Annual Openings

156,300
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

High school diploma or equivalent

Training Needed

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for miscellaneous assemblers and fabricatorss.

Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators build finished products on the factory floor at auto plants (Ford Dearborn, GM Detroit-Hamtramck, Toyota Georgetown), aerospace lines (Boeing Renton 737 / Everett 777 / Charleston 787), EV producers (Tesla Fremont + Austin Gigafactory), medical device (Medtronic Warsaw, Stryker Kalamazoo), electronics (Foxconn, Flex, Jabil), and appliances (Whirlpool, GE Appliances). The work is standardized around written work instructions (WI), calibrated torque specs, first-piece inspection, and takt-time pacing. Median $44,650; p10 $33,280 for entry hand-assembly; p90 $64,880 for aerospace and medical-device leads with A&P, IPC-A-610, or J-STD-001 credentials. UAW and IAM contracts push the top of the range at legacy Detroit and Boeing plants. Employment 1.4M nationwide β€” one of the largest single occupations in U.S. manufacturing.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Reading work instructions & travelers
Follow the WI verbatim β€” step, torque, sequence, part number, revision level. Any deviation gets flagged before the piece moves to the next station. Travelers stay with the unit and get signed off every operation.
Torque application (Nm / ft-lb / in-lb)
Use calibrated click wrenches, DC electric drivers, and pulse tools. Torque spec is on the WI; calibration decals stay current; verify with a torque audit tool at the shift start. Cross-thread or over-torque scraps the part.
IPC-A-610 & J-STD-001 (electronics)
Solder joint acceptability, lead protrusion, wicking, cold joints, ICT-visible defects. Class 2 for consumer, Class 3 for aerospace / medical. J-STD-001 certification for hand-soldering.
ESD grounding & control
Wrist strap continuity check every shift, heel straps in walkable areas, ESD smock, ionizers over high-density boards. One un-grounded touch on a Class 3 board is a rework or scrap.
First-piece inspection & poka-yoke checks
Every changeover: first piece off the line goes to Quality for FAI-lite sign-off before running production. Fixtures with mistake-proofing (poka-yoke) β€” asymmetric slots, color-coded fasteners, go/no-go gauges β€” prevent wrong-part builds.
Kanban replenishment & 5S
Two-bin kanban at the station, empty-bin trigger to material handler, no cardboard on the floor, tool-shadow boards, red-tag zone for damaged tooling. Andon cord or pull-cord to stop the line for any abnormality β€” Toyota Production System discipline.
Basic hand tools & powered assembly tools
Nutrunners, DC electric screwdrivers, pneumatic impact drivers, riveters (blind + solid), staking presses, torque wrenches, cordless drills, deburring tools, calipers, feeler gauges.
Lean production & kaizen
Andon response, standard work, cycle-time balancing, kaizen event participation β€” small-group problem-solving to shave seconds off the takt. Suggested improvements often get $50-500 rewards at Toyota and Ford.

How to Become a Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators

  1. 1
    Finish high school or a GED; take shop / welding / electronics if available
    No degree required for most assembly seats. High-school shop, JROTC, or a vocational-tech track (BOCES, ROP, or a state-funded CTE program) gives a strong resume push over blank applicants.
  2. 2
    Apply directly to the plant or through a staffing agency (Kelly, Aerotek, Adecco, Manpower)
    Most Ford, GM, Toyota, Boeing, Tesla, and Medtronic hires start via temp-to-hire β€” 90 days on the line, then the plant converts. Direct-hire is more common at non-union plants (Toyota, Tesla, Southern auto).
  3. 3
    Pass drug screen, background check, and physical assessment
    Pre-employment tests: lift 40-50 lb repeatedly, stand 10 hours, pass a color-vision test (electronics), pass a hearing test (aerospace / drop-hammer areas). Drug panels are standard; some plants test on hire and randomly.
  4. 4
    Complete plant onboarding (2-4 weeks paid training)
    Safety orientation, LOTO (lockout/tagout), ergonomics, WI training, tool certification, first-piece process. Aerospace and medical device add clean-room protocol, IPC-A-610 or J-STD-001 hands-on soldering practical, and FOD (Foreign Object Debris) awareness.
  5. 5
    Move into skilled-trade or lead roles after 2-5 years
    Bid on higher-skill positions: Q-lead / group lead ($60-75k), quality inspector ($55-70k), maintenance apprentice ($70-90k after apprenticeship). UAW and IAM plants use seniority-driven bid systems; non-union plants promote on performance and attendance.

Career Progression

Entry Assembler / Production Associate
0-2 yrs$33-42k ($16-22/hr; UAW / IAM $22-28/hr after probation)
  • β€’Run one to three stations on a moving line to takt time (typically 45-90 seconds per unit)
  • β€’Follow the work instruction verbatim, apply torque per spec, hand off signed traveler
  • β€’Perform first-piece inspection at every changeover; escalate any defect via andon
  • β€’Maintain 5S at station; replenish kanban bins; complete daily start-of-shift checklist
Next: Sr Assembler / Line-Balance Operator at 2-4 years, with proven attendance + zero-defect track record.
Sr Assembler / Multi-Station Operator
2-5 yrs$40-55k ($20-26/hr; UAW / IAM $26-32/hr)
  • β€’Cross-trained on 4-6 stations; float where absenteeism or model-mix demands
  • β€’Train new hires; sign off the trainee's first 30-60-90 day checklists
  • β€’Own kaizen suggestions; participate in cycle-time balancing events
  • β€’Handle rework at the station; escalate systemic defects to Quality Engineering
Next: Group Lead / Team Leader at 4-8 years, or bid into Quality Inspector / Maintenance Apprentice.
Group Lead / Team Leader (Toyota TL, Ford GL)
5-10 yrs$52-72k ($25-35/hr non-exempt; UAW / IAM $32-40/hr)
  • β€’Run a team of 6-12 assemblers on one zone of the line
  • β€’Own shift-start meetings, absentee coverage, andon response, safety leadership
  • β€’Balance the line to takt; run daily kaizen huddles; own zone KPIs (safety, quality, delivery, cost, morale)
  • β€’Interface with Quality, Maintenance, and Materials on line-down issues
Next: Production Supervisor / Group Leader II at 8-12 years, or move to Q / ME / Skilled Trades.
Production Supervisor / Skilled Trades / Q-Lead
8+ yrs$62-95k (salaried supervisor $70-95k; skilled-trades journeyman $85-120k+ with OT)
  • β€’Supervisor: own a shift on a zone (30-100 employees); hit safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets; handle discipline and coaching
  • β€’Skilled trades: run electrical, mechanical, or robotics maintenance β€” journeyman after 3-4 year apprenticeship
  • β€’Q-lead: audit FAI, coach IPC-A-610 / J-STD-001 rework, run MRB (Material Review Board)
  • β€’Aerospace / medical: FAA A&P or GDT depth commands $95-130k at Boeing / Lockheed / Medtronic senior seats
Next: Area Manager / Value-Stream Manager / Skilled-Trades General Foreman ($100-160k+).

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through how you handle a torque callout on a work instruction.technical
Read the WI: spec, tool, part revision. Check the tool's calibration decal β€” expired means swap it out and log it. Set the click torque to spec (or verify the DC driver program). Run the fastener to the callout; the click or the shut-off is the confirmation. Sign the traveler. If the fastener strips, cross-threads, or the tool short-cycles, red-tag the part, don't try to save it β€” mark it for MRB. The interviewer wants to hear that you never eyeball torque and never re-work a suspect fastener without QA sign-off.
Q2. Tell me about a time you pulled the andon cord.behavioral
STAR. Situation: I saw two consecutive units come out of the prior station with a bracket clocked 90Β° off. Task: catch it before another 15 units built on top of a defect. Action: pulled the andon; team lead came over within 30 seconds; we traced it to a fixture that had slipped after a die change. Result: 12-minute line stop, but we saved ~20 units of rework and the ME team put a poka-yoke pin in the fixture that afternoon. Interviewers screen for people who trust the andon β€” Toyota, Ford, GM, and Tesla all fire supervisors who punish andon pulls.
Q3. How do you keep quality high when the line is running at takt?situational
Standard work is the answer β€” every station has a documented cycle, and I hit the same motion the same way every time. First-piece inspection at every changeover. Verify torque tool calibration at start of shift. Never skip a WI step to keep up. If I'm falling behind takt, pull the andon; don't cut corners. Legacy plants (Ford, GM, Boeing) and lean plants (Toyota, Honda) both screen for the same answer: the operator who trades quality for speed is the operator who scraps a $2,000 subassembly.
Q4. Why do you want to work on the line?culture
Honest answers that land: I like building things I can see leave the plant. I want a job with a clear standard β€” I know when I've done it right. I like the pay and benefits (UAW / IAM contracts, GM tuition reimbursement, Toyota profit-sharing). I want a career path β€” skilled trades, maintenance, quality, or supervision. Avoid: 'I just need a job.' Interviewers know that answer costs them 30-90 days of training before you leave for a warehouse role.
Q5. Describe your attendance record.closer
The single most important interview question in manufacturing β€” no exaggeration. Attendance and on-time are the top-two reasons hires wash out at 90 days. Answer with specifics: 'I had one call-off in the last 12 months due to a documented medical issue, otherwise zero unplanned absences. I aim to be on the floor 10 minutes before shift start.' If you have gaps, name them, name what changed, and don't dwell.

Resume Template β€” Entry Assembler / Production Associate (0-2 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Entry Assembler / Production Associate (0-2 yrs)
  • β–ΈRan multi-station body-shop line at 62-second takt; hit 99.4% first-time-through quality across 12,400 units in FY24.
  • β–ΈCross-trained on 4 stations in first 90 days; earned zero-defect bonus 2 quarters running.
  • β–ΈZero unplanned absences and zero safety recordables over 14 months on the line.
  • β–ΈIPC-A-610 Class 2 certified + LOTO qualified + forklift Class 1 certified.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Attendance issues β€” every plant tracks call-offs on a points system; 3-4 points in 90 days ends the probation.
  • βœ—Cannot pass a torque or ESD audit on the first attempt β€” signals that WI adherence is loose.
  • βœ—Speed-over-quality mindset β€” trying to hit takt by skipping WI steps or fake-signing travelers.
  • βœ—Cell phone on the line β€” instant termination at Toyota, Tesla, Boeing, and every medical-device cleanroom.
  • βœ—Cannot read a torque callout, revision level, or basic tape-measure fractions.
  • βœ—Blames prior employer for firings or attendance points instead of naming what they changed.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Union plant vs non-union: UAW at Ford / GM / Stellantis pays $28-36/hr top-out plus profit-sharing ($8-14k/yr) β€” that's a $15-25k premium over a non-union transplant.
  • βœ“Aerospace (Boeing, Lockheed, GE Aerospace): IAM contracts pay $30-42/hr top-out; IPC / J-STD certifications add $2-4/hr differential.
  • βœ“Medical device (Medtronic, Stryker, J&J): clean-room and GDP training add a differential; night-shift adds 10-15%.
  • βœ“Shift differential: 2nd shift +5-8%, 3rd shift +10-15%, weekend shift +15-20% at most plants.
  • βœ“Overtime: mandatory OT at 40 hrs common; time-and-a-half after 40, double-time after 12 hrs in a day at some UAW plants.
  • βœ“Skilled-trades apprenticeship: 3-4 year path, ~7,000 hours, pays $85-120k as journeyman. Ask about apprenticeship slots at time of hire.
  • βœ“Sign-on: Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, and Southern-state Toyota / Honda plants have offered $2-5k sign-on for hard-to-fill shifts.

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  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
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Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$37K
$50Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

District of Columbia
$50K
+13%
Hawaii
$50K
+11%
Alaska
$49K
+11%
Nevada
$49K
+10%
Iowa
$49K
+10%
Washington
$48K
+8%
Kentucky
$48K
+7%
California
$48K
+7%
North Dakota
$47K
+6%
New Hampshire
$47K
+5%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
District of Columbia$50,330+12.7%
Hawaii$49,630+11.2%
Alaska$49,390+10.6%
Nevada$49,050+9.9%
Iowa$48,920+9.6%
Washington$48,260+8.1%
Kentucky$47,950+7.4%
California$47,720+6.9%
North Dakota$47,250+5.8%
New Hampshire$46,940+5.1%
1–10 of 51

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Lafayette, LA$64,950+45.5%
Jackson, MS$63,170+41.5%
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN$63,140+41.4%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$60,250+34.9%
Lexington-Fayette, KY$59,730+33.8%
Spartanburg, SC$59,300+32.8%
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI$57,260+28.2%
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN$56,400+26.3%
Grand Island, NE$55,120+23.4%
Lansing-East Lansing, MI$55,120+23.4%
1–10 of 382
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators earning $44,650/year would need 1335 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1433 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators salary trend (2011–2024) β†’