Occupation · SOC 51-2022
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
Assemble or modify electrical or electronic equipment, such as computers, test equipment telemetering systems, electric motors, and batteries.
Median wage
$43,570
$32,270–$63,490
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
1,874,550
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
2 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringOperations MonitoringActive ListeningCritical ThinkingCoordination
Knowledge areas
Production and ProcessingMechanicalDesignEnglish LanguageMathematics
Technology & tools
Analytical or scientific softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Read and interpret schematic drawings, diagrams, blueprints, specifications, work orders, or reports to determine materials requirements or assembly instructions.Assemble electrical or electronic systems or support structures and install components, units, subassemblies, wiring, or assembly casings, using rivets, bolts, soldering or micro-welding equipment.Adjust, repair, or replace electrical or electronic components to correct defects and to ensure conformance to specifications.Position, align, or adjust workpieces or electrical parts to facilitate wiring or assembly.Explain assembly procedures or techniques to other workers.Clean parts, using cleaning solutions, air hoses, and cloths.Drill or tap holes in specified equipment locations to mount control units or to provide openings for elements, wiring, or instruments.Fabricate or form parts, coils, or structures according to specifications, using drills, calipers, cutters, or saws.Confer with supervisors or engineers to plan or review work activities or to resolve production problems.Inspect or test wiring installations, assemblies, or circuits for resistance factors or for operation, and record results.Mark and tag components so that stock inventory can be tracked and identified.Measure and adjust voltages to specified values to determine operational accuracy of instruments.Complete, review, or maintain production, time, or component waste reports.Distribute materials, supplies, or subassemblies to work areas.Pack finished assemblies for shipment, and transport them to storage areas, using hoists or handtrucks.Instruct customers in the installation, repair, or maintenance of products.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Schematic drawings and basic diagrams — read and identify key symbols under direct supervision on the assembly floor.Hand tools and fastening hardware — use to attach components and subassemblies following step-by-step work orders in a production setting.Electrical parts and workpieces — position and align to designated markings using jigs and fixtures under close instructor guidance.Soldering iron and basic micro-welding equipment — apply to connect wiring points following demonstrated technique on supervised practice boards.Cleaning solutions, air hoses, and cloths — use to clean electronic parts according to posted safety and cleanliness protocols in the shop.Assembly specifications and bills of materials — locate and retrieve correct components from inventory bins with supervisor verification.Near-vision inspection tasks — perform visual checks on completed connections to flag obvious defects before passing to a senior assembler.Drill press and handheld drill — operate to create mounting holes in designated equipment locations under direct technician oversight.Measurement tools such as calipers and rulers — use to verify part dimensions against written specifications during supervised fabrication tasks.Office suite and word processing software — access work orders and assembly instructions from shared drives in a manufacturing facility network.
developing
Blueprints and wiring diagrams — interpret independently to determine correct materials sequence and assembly routing on routine production jobs.Electrical and electronic subassemblies — install into support structures using rivets, bolts, and soldering equipment with minimal oversight on the production line.Defective electronic components — identify, remove, and replace using standard repair procedures to restore assemblies to specification tolerances.Alignment and adjustment tasks — perform on workpieces and wiring harnesses using precision fixtures to meet dimensional and electrical requirements.Drill and tap operations — execute in specified equipment locations to mount control units, selecting correct bit sizes from job traveler instructions.Coils and formed parts — fabricate to blueprint dimensions using drills, cutters, and saws within acceptable tolerance ranges on production runs.Spreadsheet software — enter production data and track component usage counts for daily output reporting in an ERP-linked environment.Assembly anomalies and out-of-spec conditions — recognize and escalate using established nonconformance reporting channels in the quality system.Active listening during shift briefings — apply to capture process updates and relay accurate task priorities to co-workers at the bench.Cleaning and part-preparation steps — complete consistently across varying component types to maintain contamination-free assemblies on a mixed-product line.
proficient
Complex schematics and multi-layer wiring diagrams — analyze autonomously to resolve ambiguities and determine correct assembly sequence for non-standard builds.Full electrical and electronic system assemblies — complete from raw components to finished unit across the entire production scope without supervisory direction.Root-cause analysis of recurring defects — conduct using critical thinking and inductive reasoning to recommend corrective actions that reduce rework rates.Precision alignment and micro-welding operations — perform on high-tolerance subassemblies, maintaining arm-hand steadiness standards required for aerospace or medical-grade work.Industrial control and development environment software — configure and use to test assembled units against functional performance parameters before final inspection.Fabricated parts and custom structures — produce to tight caliper specifications using the full range of shop tooling, adapting methods when standard approaches fall short.ERP and production scheduling software — navigate to coordinate materials requirements, flag shortages, and ensure on-time completion of complex work orders.Cross-functional quality monitoring — apply operations monitoring skills to track assembly-line metrics and initiate process adjustments that sustain conformance targets.Judgment calls on borderline components — make using written comprehension of engineering change orders and own technical experience without escalation.Assembly procedures and troubleshooting logic — explain clearly to peer assemblers and technicians to resolve production bottlenecks in real time.
advanced
Assembly procedures and training curricula — develop and standardize across the production department to build team competency and reduce onboarding time.Schematic interpretation standards and work-instruction templates — author and maintain so that all skill levels can access accurate, current assembly guidance.Defect-reduction initiatives — lead by applying systematic critical thinking and production-data analysis to drive measurable quality improvements across product lines.New product introduction builds — coordinate from prototype to pilot production, aligning materials, tooling, and assembler skill development to meet launch schedules.Junior and mid-level assemblers — mentor and evaluate, providing structured feedback that accelerates progression toward independent proficiency on complex assemblies.Capital tooling and equipment decisions — inform by assessing production needs, technology capabilities, and cost trade-offs in consultation with engineering and management.Enterprise resource planning and industrial control systems — leverage across production and quality functions to optimize workflow, inventory accuracy, and output reporting.Safety and ergonomics standards for the assembly floor — establish and enforce, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and reducing injury rates over time.Cross-departmental collaboration with engineering, procurement, and quality — lead to resolve systemic assembly challenges that exceed single-team authority or expertise.Organizational performance targets for production efficiency and first-pass yield — set, communicate, and track, translating strategic goals into actionable assembler-level objectives.
Also known as
349 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Missile And Space Systems Electronic Maintenance Helper, ALCM (Air Force 2M011B)Aircraft Avionics Technician, F-35 (Marine Corps 6338)Small Battery Plate AssemblerElectrical Accessories AssemblerCoping Machine AssemblerRefuel/Bomber Aircraft Maintenance (Air Force 2A5X4)Electronics Technician, Nuclear Power (Navy ETN)Aircraft Electronic Identification (IFF) IMA Technician (Navy I15A)Refuel/Bomber Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice, B-1 (Air Force 2A534E)Refuel/Bomber Aircraft Maintenance Helper, B-21 (Air Force 2A514H)Electrical and Radio Mock-Up MechanicRefuel/Bomber Aircraft Maintenance Helper, B-52 (Air Force 2A514D)Airlift/Special Mission Aircraft Maintenance Helper, C-17 (Air Force 2A511D)Aviation Electronics Intermediate Level Technician (Navy 002410)Aircraft Communications/Navigation/Radar System Technician, EA-6 (Marine Corps 6313)Aerospace Ground Equipment (Air Force 2A6X2)Tactical Data Systems Technician (Marine Corps 5974)Plate Assembler, Small BatteryStem MounterAvionics Test Station, Components, And Electronic Warfare Systems Helper, B-1/E-8/F-15 Avionics Systems (Air Force 2A011M)Automobile Lights AssemblerCathode Ray Tube Salvage ProcessorMissile And Space Systems Maintenance Helper (Air Force 2M012)Airlift/Special Mission Aircraft Maintenance Helper, C-20/C-21/C-22/C-37/C-40/E-4/VC-25 (Air Force 2A511A)Tactical Aircraft Maintenance (5th Generation) Journeyman, F-35 (Air Force 2A357B)Electrical Systems Helper (Air Force 3E011)Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician, KC-130 (Marine Corps 6336)Wire BenderMotor-And-Generator-Brush MakerTransformer MakerRemotely Piloted Aircraft Maintenance Helper, MQ-1/MQ-9 (Air Force 2A318A)Electric-Motor AssemblerAvionics Test Station, Components, And Electronic Warfare Systems Apprentice, B-1/E-8/F-15 Avionics Systems (Air Force 2A031M)Tube Assembler, Cathode RayCommunication/Navigation/Cryptographic/Countermeasures Systems Technician, IMA (Marine Corps 6483)Remotely Piloted Aircraft Maintenance Craftsman (Air Force 2A378)Wafer-Line WorkerMissile And Space Systems Electronic Maintenance Apprentice (Air Force 2M031)Wire Harness AssemblerRefuel/Bomber Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice, B-52 (Air Force 2A534D)