Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators (SOC 51-2090) earn a median $44,650 a year ($21.47 an hour) in the United States, with 1,405,030 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators do
This combined category covers two groups of assembly workers: team assemblers and a residual set of assemblers and fabricators not classified elsewhere. Team assemblers share responsibility for building a whole product or a large component, and instead of repeating one task they rotate through most of the stations in the process. They check quality as they go, read work orders and drawings, divide assignments among themselves, and may help decide how the work is organized. Some also train newer colleagues or keep their area clean. The residual group holds assembly and fabrication work that does not match a more specific assembler code, so its duties vary with the product. Team leaders who are themselves members of the team are covered too, and some members supervise or train others. Because the category combines a team-based role with a catch-all group, job titles vary widely, from assembly line worker to assembly associate.
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: Assembler, Assembly Associate, Assembly Inspector, Action Finisher, Action Installer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.00 | $17.97 | $21.47 | $24.61 | $31.19 | $22.43 | 1,405,030 |
| Annual | $33,280 | $37,380 | $44,650 | $51,200 | $64,880 | $46,660 | ||
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 miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators 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 | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $20.23 | $22.39 | $24.20 | $27.07 | $30.96 | $25.07 | 80 | 0.12 | 0.01 |
| Annual | $42,080 | $46,580 | $50,330 | $56,310 | $64,400 | $52,150 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $17.72 | $20.48 | $23.86 | $34.00 | $35.89 | $26.55 | 420 | 0.68 | 0.07 |
| Annual | $36,850 | $42,590 | $49,630 | $70,720 | $74,640 | $55,230 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $17.30 | $18.66 | $23.75 | $29.89 | $33.55 | $25.35 | 220 | 0.66 | 0.07 |
| Annual | $35,980 | $38,810 | $49,390 | $62,180 | $69,770 | $52,740 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $17.42 | $21.36 | $23.58 | $30.32 | $30.63 | $24.48 | 11,290 | 7.28 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $36,230 | $44,430 | $49,050 | $63,070 | $63,710 | $50,920 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $17.09 | $20.56 | $23.52 | $25.19 | $28.65 | $23.18 | 19,540 | 12.53 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $35,560 | $42,760 | $48,920 | $52,400 | $59,590 | $48,210 | ||||
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 | $17.41 | $18.20 | $21.49 | $34.70 | $36.98 | $24.69 | 112,310 | 25.50 | 2.82 |
| Annual | $36,220 | $37,860 | $44,690 | $72,170 | $76,920 | $51,360 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.80 | $19.31 | $22.94 | $28.88 | $35.01 | $24.55 | 98,390 | 5.40 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $37,020 | $40,160 | $47,720 | $60,070 | $72,830 | $51,060 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $14.00 | $16.44 | $18.42 | $22.44 | $28.02 | $20.06 | 93,650 | 6.66 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $29,120 | $34,200 | $38,320 | $46,670 | $58,280 | $41,730 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $16.45 | $18.06 | $21.98 | $24.98 | $31.81 | $22.62 | 93,480 | 16.84 | 1.86 |
| Annual | $34,210 | $37,550 | $45,720 | $51,960 | $66,160 | $47,050 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $15.02 | $18.19 | $21.90 | $25.56 | $37.45 | $23.16 | 85,610 | 26.74 | 2.96 |
| Annual | $31,240 | $37,830 | $45,550 | $53,160 | $77,900 | $48,160 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Lafayette, LA | Hourly | $16.72 | $21.70 | $31.23 | $40.75 | $67.01 | $34.64 | 530 | 2.94 | 0.33 |
| Annual | $34,780 | $45,140 | $64,950 | $84,750 | $139,380 | $72,040 | ||||
| Jackson, MS | Hourly | $15.34 | $18.16 | $30.37 | $30.37 | $33.26 | $25.16 | 4,810 | 17.78 | 1.97 |
| Annual | $31,920 | $37,780 | $63,170 | $63,170 | $69,190 | $52,330 | ||||
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | Hourly | $17.67 | $22.23 | $30.35 | $34.55 | $34.55 | $27.03 | 6,280 | 61.48 | 6.80 |
| Annual | $36,750 | $46,230 | $63,140 | $71,860 | $71,860 | $56,230 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $21.59 | $25.41 | $28.97 | $36.53 | $36.70 | $29.59 | 17,700 | 7.46 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $44,900 | $52,840 | $60,250 | $75,990 | $76,340 | $61,560 | ||||
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | Hourly | $17.94 | $22.85 | $28.72 | $37.66 | $37.66 | $30.03 | 8,650 | 30.15 | 3.34 |
| Annual | $37,320 | $47,520 | $59,730 | $78,330 | $78,330 | $62,470 | ||||
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 | $17.79 | $19.00 | $23.67 | $36.39 | $37.28 | $27.21 | 55,100 | 28.93 | 3.20 |
| Annual | $37,000 | $39,510 | $49,240 | $75,700 | $77,550 | $56,600 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $16.43 | $17.89 | $20.99 | $23.83 | $29.61 | $22.13 | 47,970 | 10.63 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $34,160 | $37,210 | $43,650 | $49,560 | $61,580 | $46,020 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.68 | $18.87 | $22.21 | $25.81 | $30.97 | $23.53 | 33,310 | 5.31 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $36,770 | $39,250 | $46,190 | $53,680 | $64,410 | $48,930 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $14.52 | $16.66 | $18.43 | $22.44 | $29.67 | $20.51 | 31,310 | 7.73 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $30,200 | $34,640 | $38,340 | $46,670 | $61,720 | $42,650 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $18.20 | $20.98 | $22.69 | $25.48 | $29.16 | $23.41 | 29,570 | 15.15 | 1.68 |
| Annual | $37,850 | $43,630 | $47,200 | $53,000 | $60,650 | $48,680 | ||||
Top industries employing miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators
Employment Services employ 12.4% of miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators nationally (174,550 jobs) at a median $36,610 a year ($17.60 an hour), followed by Motor Vehicle Manufacturing (10.7%) and Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (9.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 174,550 | 12.4% | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing NAICS 336100 | 150,540 | 10.7% | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336300 | 129,460 | 9.2% | $43,620 | $20.97 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) NAICS 3330A1 | 113,500 | 8.1% | $47,150 | $22.67 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing NAICS 326100 | 61,280 | 4.4% | $39,450 | $18.96 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,405,030). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $36,590 for miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators in May 2021 and $44,650 in May 2025, with employment of 1,328,550 and 1,405,030.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $36,590 | $17.59 | 1,328,550 |
| May 2022 | $37,280 | $17.93 | 1,454,130 |
| May 2023 | $38,920 | $18.71 | 1,489,280 |
| May 2024 | $42,210 | $20.29 | 1,457,800 |
| May 2025 | $44,650 | $21.47 | 1,405,030 |
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
51 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 | District of Columbia profile | $24.20 | $50,330 | $42,080 | $64,400 | 80 | 0.12 | 0.01 |
| 2 | Hawaii profile | $23.86 | $49,630 | $36,850 | $74,640 | 420 | 0.68 | 0.07 |
| 3 | Alaska profile | $23.75 | $49,390 | $35,980 | $69,770 | 220 | 0.66 | 0.07 |
| 4 | Nevada profile | $23.58 | $49,050 | $36,230 | $63,710 | 11,290 | 7.28 | 0.81 |
| 5 | Iowa profile | $23.52 | $48,920 | $35,560 | $59,590 | 19,540 | 12.53 | 1.39 |
| 6 | Washington profile | $23.20 | $48,260 | $39,160 | $63,420 | 16,990 | 4.79 | 0.53 |
| 7 | Kentucky profile | $23.05 | $47,950 | $33,560 | $66,320 | 47,320 | 23.65 | 2.62 |
| 8 | California profile | $22.94 | $47,720 | $37,020 | $72,830 | 98,390 | 5.40 | 0.60 |
| 9 | North Dakota profile | $22.71 | $47,250 | $38,300 | $68,630 | 4,410 | 10.27 | 1.14 |
| 10 | New Hampshire profile | $22.57 | $46,940 | $36,000 | $62,590 | 6,130 | 8.97 | 0.99 |
| 11 | Minnesota profile | $22.56 | $46,920 | $37,360 | $61,130 | 44,810 | 15.19 | 1.68 |
| 12 | Oregon profile | $22.55 | $46,910 | $37,830 | $61,050 | 11,120 | 5.65 | 0.63 |
| 13 | Massachusetts profile | $22.46 | $46,720 | $35,660 | $60,110 | 11,600 | 3.19 | 0.35 |
| 14 | Missouri profile | $22.35 | $46,480 | $34,670 | $75,380 | 32,850 | 11.19 | 1.24 |
| 15 | Colorado profile | $22.19 | $46,150 | $37,370 | $61,170 | 9,180 | 3.19 | 0.35 |
| 16 | Maine profile | $22.10 | $45,970 | $36,130 | $61,980 | 3,910 | 6.11 | 0.68 |
| 17 | Ohio profile | $21.98 | $45,720 | $34,210 | $66,160 | 93,480 | 16.84 | 1.86 |
| 18 | Wisconsin profile | $21.96 | $45,670 | $36,500 | $59,860 | 46,360 | 15.76 | 1.74 |
| 19 | Indiana profile | $21.90 | $45,550 | $31,240 | $77,900 | 85,610 | 26.74 | 2.96 |
| 20 | South Carolina profile | $21.88 | $45,500 | $33,740 | $74,280 | 42,150 | 18.28 | 2.02 |
| 21 | Nebraska profile | $21.86 | $45,470 | $36,230 | $58,360 | 7,240 | 7.07 | 0.78 |
| 22 | Maryland profile | $21.85 | $45,450 | $35,400 | $65,180 | 6,880 | 2.49 | 0.28 |
| 23 | Kansas profile | $21.74 | $45,220 | $32,720 | $71,450 | 13,830 | 9.62 | 1.06 |
| 24 | Connecticut profile | $21.72 | $45,170 | $35,620 | $65,340 | 10,850 | 6.40 | 0.71 |
| 25 | Arizona profile | $21.67 | $45,080 | $36,930 | $59,330 | 23,540 | 7.27 | 0.80 |
| 26 | Louisiana profile | $21.67 | $45,070 | $31,200 | $73,910 | 3,400 | 1.76 | 0.19 |
| 27 | Montana profile | $21.61 | $44,940 | $35,050 | $59,340 | 1,510 | 2.95 | 0.33 |
| 28 | Virginia profile | $21.59 | $44,900 | $32,290 | $60,720 | 21,750 | 5.29 | 0.59 |
| 29 | Michigan profile | $21.49 | $44,690 | $36,220 | $76,920 | 112,310 | 25.50 | 2.82 |
| 30 | Tennessee profile | $21.46 | $44,630 | $33,930 | $78,460 | 58,760 | 17.92 | 1.98 |
| 31 | New York profile | $21.43 | $44,580 | $35,050 | $62,320 | 33,180 | 3.43 | 0.38 |
| 32 | Idaho profile | $21.26 | $44,210 | $35,380 | $57,920 | 5,890 | 6.87 | 0.76 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania profile | $21.23 | $44,160 | $31,530 | $61,480 | 57,780 | 9.53 | 1.05 |
| 34 | Illinois profile | $21.22 | $44,140 | $33,410 | $61,770 | 76,460 | 12.54 | 1.39 |
| 35 | Utah profile | $21.18 | $44,040 | $35,840 | $59,860 | 19,110 | 11.01 | 1.22 |
| 36 | Vermont profile | $21.14 | $43,980 | $35,100 | $60,420 | 1,380 | 4.53 | 0.50 |
| 37 | Delaware profile | $21.04 | $43,770 | $35,510 | $59,160 | 1,210 | 2.49 | 0.28 |
| 38 | South Dakota profile | $20.79 | $43,240 | $32,920 | $61,650 | 3,960 | 8.67 | 0.96 |
| 39 | Alabama profile | $20.53 | $42,700 | $29,050 | $69,780 | 53,280 | 25.21 | 2.79 |
| 40 | Wyoming profile | $19.58 | $40,720 | $33,160 | $60,460 | 1,200 | 4.26 | 0.47 |
| 41 | Oklahoma profile | $19.52 | $40,600 | $30,700 | $57,560 | 11,920 | 6.98 | 0.77 |
| 42 | Rhode Island profile | $19.51 | $40,590 | $31,200 | $60,510 | 2,790 | 5.57 | 0.62 |
| 43 | North Carolina profile | $19.39 | $40,330 | $30,600 | $60,330 | 46,670 | 9.44 | 1.05 |
| 44 | West Virginia profile | $19.16 | $39,850 | $28,410 | $51,230 | 3,480 | 4.96 | 0.55 |
| 45 | New Mexico profile | $18.91 | $39,340 | $31,410 | $60,130 | 1,550 | 1.78 | 0.20 |
| 46 | Mississippi profile | $18.79 | $39,070 | $29,130 | $63,170 | 16,800 | 14.45 | 1.60 |
| 47 | Florida profile | $18.46 | $38,410 | $30,020 | $55,170 | 42,060 | 4.24 | 0.47 |
| 48 | Texas profile | $18.42 | $38,320 | $29,120 | $58,280 | 93,650 | 6.66 | 0.74 |
| 49 | Georgia profile | $18.42 | $38,310 | $30,350 | $50,830 | 52,020 | 10.64 | 1.18 |
| 50 | New Jersey profile | $18.09 | $37,620 | $32,220 | $55,940 | 22,270 | 5.20 | 0.57 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $17.78 | $36,990 | $29,120 | $49,930 | 12,460 | 9.56 | 1.06 |
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 51-2090 Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators.
- 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 51-2092, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-2099, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-2092.00, 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.