Engine and Other Machine Assemblers earn a median of $53,710 per year ($25.82/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 17.0% through 2035, with about 2,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-2031
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Engine and Other Machine Assembler in four numbers
- Median pay
- $53,710a year, or $25.82/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $39KTop 10% $78K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -17.0%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−17%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −17% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,10033,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202533.5K
- Projected 203527.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 33.5K Projected 2035 27.8K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school11.2%
- High school64.1%
- Certificate12.9%
- Some college4.7%
- Master's7.2%
Highest education held by engine and other machine assemblers Segment Value Less than high school 11.2% High school 64.1% Certificate 12.9% Some college 4.7% Master's 7.2%
Also advertised as: Assembler, Assembly Line Worker, Cell Technician, Engine Assembler, Engine Builder, Field Service Technician.
Pay
How much do Engine and Other Machine Assemblers make?
Every engine and other machine assembler in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$53,710
Middle half earn $45,230 to $74,920
- 10th
- $38,500
- 25th
- $45,230
- 75th
- $74,920
- 90th
- $77,750
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $38,500 |
| 25th | $45,230 |
| Median | $53,710 |
| 75th | $74,920 |
| 90th | $77,750 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $53,710
- Median hourly wage
- $25.82/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $57,790
- People employed
- 34,000
Versus all US occupations
At $53,710, Engine and Other Machine Assemblers earn 5% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $2,730 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 12% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $77,750 or more while the bottom 10% earn $38,500, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 26% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Ohio pays the most at $74,750, and still leads at $80,572 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Engine and Other Machine Assemblers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Ohio | $74,750 | $80,572 | 3,430 |
| 2Washington | $72,800 | $68,029 | 370 |
| 3New Hampshire | $70,150 | $67,345 | 160 |
| 4Oregon | $63,420 | $61,358 | 110 |
| 5Connecticut | $61,320 | $59,183 | 170 |
| 6Michigan | $60,950 | $63,346 | 5,030 |
| 7Minnesota | $58,820 | $59,642 | 270 |
| 8Arkansas | $54,620 | $62,827 | 70 |
| 9Idaho | $54,240 | $56,799 | 70 |
| 10Wisconsin | $54,240 | $57,644 | 860 |
Job outlook
Is Engine and Other Machine Assembler a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -17.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | −17% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Engine and Other Machine Assemblers to change -17.0% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 5,700 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,100 openings are projected each year, 6.3% of the 33,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of assemblers and fabricators is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 177,500 openings for assemblers and fabricators are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of assemblers and fabricators varies by occupation (see table).
Getting in
How to become an Engine and Other Machine Assembler
The education and qualifications typically needed to enter these occupations vary by industry and employer. Although a high school diploma is enough for most jobs, experience and training are needed for advanced assembly work.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as engine and other machine assemblers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)64.1%
- Post-Secondary Certificate12.9%
- Less than a High School Diploma11.2%
- Master's Degree7.2%
- Some College Courses4.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 64.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 12.9% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 11.2% |
| Master's Degree | 7.2% |
| Some College Courses | 4.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Engine and Other Machine Assembler do?
Construct, assemble, or rebuild machines, such as engines, turbines, and similar equipment used in such industries as construction, extraction, textiles, and paper manufacturing.
Assemblers and fabricators build finished products and the parts that go into them. They use handtools and machines to make vehicles, toys, electronic devices, and more.
Day-to-day tasks
- Rework, repair, or replace damaged parts or assemblies.
- Position or align components for assembly, manually or using hoists.
- Remove rough spots and smooth surfaces to fit, trim, or clean parts, using hand tools or power tools.
- Fasten or install piping, fixtures, or wiring and electrical components to form assemblies or subassemblies, using hand tools, rivet guns, or welding equipment.
- Read and interpret assembly blueprints or specifications manuals, and plan assembly or building operations.
- Inspect, operate, and test completed products to verify functioning, machine capabilities, or conformance to customer specifications.
- Set and verify parts clearances.
- Verify conformance of parts to stock lists or blueprints, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most assemblers and fabricators work full time. Some assemblers and fabricators work in shifts, which may require evening, weekend, and night work.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Active Learning2.4
- Writing2.3
- Mathematics2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 2.4 |
| Writing | 2.3 |
| Mathematics | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.4
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Operation and Control2.9
- Equipment Maintenance2.9
- Troubleshooting2.9
- Repairing2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Operation and Control | 2.9 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 2.9 |
| Troubleshooting | 2.9 |
| Repairing | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Engine and Other Machine Assembler?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Engine and Other Machine Assembler |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional4.4
- Investigative2.7
- Artistic1.2
- Enterprising1.1
- Social1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Engine and Other Machine Assembler
O*NET related occupations
- Production
Aircraft Structure, Surface, Rigging, and Systems Assembler
$65,380median a year
Most earn $47K to $108K
−5.6%High school - Production
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler
$45,930median a year
Most earn $35K to $63K
+4.6%Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairer
$56,210median a year
Most earn $37K to $85K
+4.4%High school - Production
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assembler
$45,930median a year
Most earn $35K to $63K
+4.6%Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
More production careers
Median annual pay, with engine and other machine assemblers highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Engine and Other Machine Assembler$53,710
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Engine and Other Machine Assembler | $53,710 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Engine and Other Machine Assembler appears on
Questions
Engine and Other Machine Assembler: frequently asked questions
How much do Engine and Other Machine Assemblers make?
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers earn a median of $53,710 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 5% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $25.82/hr. The middle half earn between $45,230 and $74,920. The top 10% earn $77,750 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Engine and Other Machine Assembler?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Engine and Other Machine Assemblers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 64.1% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Engine and Other Machine Assembler a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 17.0% over 2025–2035, a loss of 5,700 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Engine and Other Machine Assembler do?
Assemblers and fabricators build finished products and the parts that go into them. A core O*NET task: rework, repair, or replace damaged parts or assemblies. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Engine and Other Machine Assemblers the most?
The highest state medians for Engine and Other Machine Assemblers are Ohio ($74,750), Washington ($72,800), New Hampshire ($70,150) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Engine and Other Machine Assembler?
O*NET scores Engine and Other Machine Assemblers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.