Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (SOC 51-2031) earn a median $53,710 a year ($25.82 an hour) in the United States, with 34,000 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Ohio.
What engine and other machine assemblers do
Engine and other machine assemblers construct or rebuild complete machines, with engines and turbines as the leading examples, along with equipment used in construction, extraction, textile, and paper manufacturing. The assembler studies assembly drawings and specification manuals and plans the order in which parts go together. Heavy components are positioned by hand or with hoists and then aligned. The assembler sets and checks clearances between parts using calipers, gauges, and micrometers, and compares parts against stock lists and blueprints. Piping, fixtures, wiring, and electrical components are added to form subassemblies, sometimes with riveting or welding. When the machine is complete, it is run and tested to confirm that it works as designed and meets the customer's order. Parts are also laid out and drilled, reamed, tapped, or cut as needed, and rough spots are removed with hand or power tools so that pieces fit.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Air Conditioning Coil Assembler (AC Coil Assembler), Aircraft Engine Assembler, Aircraft Power Plant Assembler, Aircraft Powerplant Assembler, Assembler.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.51 | $21.75 | $25.82 | $36.02 | $37.38 | $27.78 | 34,000 |
| Annual | $38,500 | $45,230 | $53,710 | $74,920 | $77,750 | $57,790 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where engine and other machine assemblers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $21.73 | $29.65 | $35.94 | $38.13 | $38.17 | $32.92 | 3,430 | 0.62 | 2.83 |
| Annual | $45,200 | $61,680 | $74,750 | $79,320 | $79,400 | $68,470 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $18.58 | $27.77 | $35.00 | $50.23 | $51.81 | $37.26 | 370 | 0.10 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $38,650 | $57,760 | $72,800 | $104,470 | $107,770 | $77,500 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $28.52 | $28.91 | $33.73 | $38.28 | $38.74 | $33.16 | 160 | 0.23 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $59,330 | $60,140 | $70,150 | $79,620 | $80,580 | $68,980 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $24.40 | $26.38 | $30.49 | $31.89 | $41.75 | $31.52 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.26 |
| Annual | $50,740 | $54,860 | $63,420 | $66,320 | $86,850 | $65,560 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $22.30 | $23.62 | $29.48 | $38.65 | $42.00 | $30.95 | 170 | 0.10 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $46,380 | $49,120 | $61,320 | $80,400 | $87,360 | $64,370 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $17.67 | $21.46 | $29.31 | $36.43 | $37.38 | $28.76 | 5,030 | 1.14 | 5.22 |
| Annual | $36,750 | $44,630 | $60,950 | $75,770 | $77,750 | $59,820 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $21.73 | $29.65 | $35.94 | $38.13 | $38.17 | $32.92 | 3,430 | 0.62 | 2.83 |
| Annual | $45,200 | $61,680 | $74,750 | $79,320 | $79,400 | $68,470 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $18.26 | $18.64 | $22.00 | $28.10 | $45.99 | $26.30 | 2,750 | 0.56 | 2.55 |
| Annual | $37,980 | $38,780 | $45,750 | $58,450 | $95,660 | $54,710 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 2,520 | 1.19 | 5.45 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $19.09 | $21.34 | $22.57 | $25.17 | $31.21 | $23.84 | 1,960 | 0.85 | 3.88 |
| Annual | $39,700 | $44,390 | $46,950 | $52,340 | $64,920 | $49,590 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $33.99 | $36.78 | $49.29 | $51.81 | $51.81 | $45.78 | 210 | 0.10 | 0.45 |
| Annual | $70,690 | $76,500 | $102,530 | $107,770 | $107,770 | $95,210 | ||||
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | Hourly | $19.71 | $33.97 | $38.56 | $38.56 | $48.03 | $36.35 | 200 | 0.18 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $40,990 | $70,660 | $80,200 | $80,200 | $99,900 | $75,600 | ||||
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | Hourly | $18.39 | $23.41 | $38.54 | $38.54 | $38.54 | $32.24 | 90 | 0.92 | 4.19 |
| Annual | $38,250 | $48,690 | $80,170 | $80,170 | $80,170 | $67,060 | ||||
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | Hourly | $21.36 | $29.32 | $36.77 | $36.77 | $37.73 | $33.42 | 50 | 0.13 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $44,420 | $60,980 | $76,480 | $76,480 | $78,480 | $69,520 | ||||
| Toledo, OH | Hourly | $36.42 | $36.43 | $36.43 | $36.43 | $36.43 | $36.04 | 310 | 1.07 | 4.90 |
| Annual | $75,750 | $75,770 | $75,770 | $75,770 | $75,770 | $74,950 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $20.16 | $23.66 | $31.17 | $36.96 | $37.38 | $30.37 | 3,330 | 1.75 | 7.99 |
| Annual | $41,920 | $49,220 | $64,820 | $76,880 | $77,750 | $63,160 | ||||
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | Hourly | $19.09 | $22.57 | $22.57 | $22.57 | $28.48 | $23.88 | 1,020 | 2.34 | 10.69 |
| Annual | $39,700 | $46,950 | $46,950 | $46,950 | $59,240 | $49,680 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.35 | $17.35 | $22.42 | $24.74 | $39.35 | $24.26 | 660 | 0.11 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $36,080 | $36,080 | $46,620 | $51,460 | $81,850 | $50,460 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $18.98 | $19.69 | $23.86 | $23.86 | $29.72 | $23.71 | 540 | 0.12 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $39,480 | $40,950 | $49,630 | $49,630 | $61,830 | $49,310 | ||||
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | Hourly | $20.30 | $22.40 | $25.76 | $30.35 | $31.12 | $26.35 | 460 | 0.76 | 3.49 |
| Annual | $42,220 | $46,590 | $53,570 | $63,140 | $64,720 | $54,810 | ||||
Top industries employing engine and other machine assemblers
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing employ 56.1% of engine and other machine assemblers nationally (19,090 jobs) at a median $60,530 a year ($29.10 an hour), followed by Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (15.9%) and Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) (8.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336300 | 19,090 | 56.1% | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing NAICS 333600 | 5,420 | 15.9% | $46,070 | $22.15 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) NAICS 3330A1 | 2,920 | 8.6% | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336400 | 2,320 | 6.8% | $70,150 | $33.73 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 580 | 1.7% | $62,400 | $30.00 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (34,000). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $47,440 for engine and other machine assemblers in May 2021 and $53,710 in May 2025, with employment of 45,990 and 34,000.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $47,440 | $22.81 | 45,990 |
| May 2022 | $50,850 | $24.45 | 50,120 |
| May 2023 | $50,270 | $24.17 | 47,960 |
| May 2024 | $52,540 | $25.26 | 38,420 |
| May 2025 | $53,710 | $25.82 | 34,000 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
36 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio profile | $35.94 | $74,750 | $45,200 | $79,400 | 3,430 | 0.62 | 2.83 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $35.00 | $72,800 | $38,650 | $107,770 | 370 | 0.10 | 0.47 |
| 3 | New Hampshire profile | $33.73 | $70,150 | $59,330 | $80,580 | 160 | 0.23 | 1.05 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $30.49 | $63,420 | $50,740 | $86,850 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.26 |
| 5 | Connecticut profile | $29.48 | $61,320 | $46,380 | $87,360 | 170 | 0.10 | 0.46 |
| 6 | Michigan profile | $29.31 | $60,950 | $36,750 | $77,750 | 5,030 | 1.14 | 5.22 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | $28.28 | $58,820 | $39,520 | $76,960 | 270 | 0.09 | 0.41 |
| 8 | Arkansas profile | $26.26 | $54,620 | $36,010 | $60,590 | 70 | 0.06 | 0.26 |
| 9 | Idaho profile | $26.08 | $54,240 | $47,130 | $66,530 | 70 | 0.08 | 0.36 |
| 10 | Wisconsin profile | $26.08 | $54,240 | $39,220 | $80,170 | 860 | 0.29 | 1.33 |
| 11 | Arizona profile | $26.01 | $54,100 | $37,260 | $74,760 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| 12 | Florida profile | $25.32 | $52,660 | $37,690 | $73,320 | 800 | 0.08 | 0.37 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania profile | $25.00 | $52,000 | $39,120 | $64,090 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.07 |
| 14 | New Jersey profile | $24.47 | $50,910 | $44,200 | $79,720 | 140 | 0.03 | 0.15 |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $23.86 | $49,630 | $39,480 | $64,260 | 650 | 0.11 | 0.48 |
| 16 | Nebraska profile | $23.84 | $49,590 | $38,940 | $70,520 | 110 | 0.11 | 0.50 |
| 17 | Utah profile | $23.43 | $48,730 | $37,790 | $59,240 | 150 | 0.09 | 0.39 |
| 18 | Texas profile | $22.70 | $47,210 | $35,710 | $65,050 | 490 | 0.04 | 0.16 |
| 19 | South Carolina profile | $22.57 | $46,950 | $39,700 | $64,920 | 1,960 | 0.85 | 3.88 |
| 20 | Massachusetts profile | $22.54 | $46,880 | $36,260 | $82,700 | 500 | 0.14 | 0.63 |
| 21 | California profile | $22.51 | $46,810 | $36,080 | $73,990 | 1,170 | 0.06 | 0.29 |
| 22 | Tennessee profile | $22.50 | $46,810 | $42,690 | $62,450 | 430 | 0.13 | 0.60 |
| 23 | Missouri profile | $22.46 | $46,720 | $41,430 | $57,870 | 1,020 | 0.35 | 1.59 |
| 24 | Mississippi profile | $22.41 | $46,610 | $33,790 | $72,380 | 580 | 0.50 | 2.28 |
| 25 | New York profile | $22.34 | $46,460 | $41,210 | $59,360 | 1,330 | 0.14 | 0.63 |
| 26 | Colorado profile | $22.15 | $46,070 | $40,310 | $62,310 | ** | ** | ** |
| 27 | Iowa profile | $22.13 | $46,040 | $42,910 | $62,450 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.16 |
| 28 | South Dakota profile | $22.08 | $45,930 | $38,530 | $50,680 | 550 | 1.21 | 5.51 |
| 29 | North Carolina profile | $22.00 | $45,750 | $37,980 | $95,660 | 2,750 | 0.56 | 2.55 |
| 30 | Oklahoma profile | $21.67 | $45,060 | $31,010 | $68,620 | 130 | 0.08 | 0.36 |
| 31 | Kansas profile | $20.48 | $42,590 | $38,950 | $65,440 | ** | ** | ** |
| 32 | Kentucky profile | $19.99 | $41,580 | $38,410 | $48,350 | 1,180 | 0.59 | 2.70 |
| 33 | Maryland profile | $18.81 | $39,120 | $35,970 | $47,150 | 90 | 0.03 | 0.14 |
| 34 | Georgia profile | $18.53 | $38,540 | $37,010 | $65,060 | 410 | 0.08 | 0.38 |
| 35 | Virginia profile | $17.32 | $36,030 | $32,750 | $62,530 | 570 | 0.14 | 0.64 |
| – | Alabama profile | * | * | * | * | 2,520 | 1.19 | 5.45 |
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-2031 Engine and Other Machine Assemblers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-2031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-2031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.