What Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Team Assemblers this way: "Work as part of a team having responsibility for assembling an entire product or component of a product. Team assemblers can perform all tasks conducted by the team in the assembly process and rotate through all or most of them, rather than being assigned to a specific task on a permanent basis. May participate in making management decisions affecting the work. Includes team leaders who work as part of the team."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Rotate through all the tasks required in a particular production process"; "Determine work assignments and procedures"; "Perform quality checks on products and parts"; "Shovel, sweep, or otherwise clean work areas"; "Review work orders and blueprints to ensure work is performed according to specifications".
BLS publishes one pay figure for a group of related occupations here. The group covers Team Assemblers and Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other, so the wage numbers on this page describe all of them together.
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is high school diploma or equivalent. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is moderate-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 1,403,500 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 1,418,400 in 2035, an increase of 14,900 jobs (+1.1%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 138,700 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 9.9% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $44,650, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators earn the most
Across the 27 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $38,362 in Texas to $50,246 in Kansas, a gap of $11,884 (1.31 times). 14 of those 27 states average above the BLS national median of $44,650 and 13 average at or below it.
Indiana employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 160,860, which is 10.8% of the 1,482,770 counted across them. Michigan follows with 105,830.
Highest-paying states
Kansas ($50,246), California ($48,704) and Washington ($48,388) lead the ranking, while Texas ($38,362) and Florida ($39,022) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators: pay against the cost of living
We compare 55 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Spartanburg County, SC (Spartanburg, SC) at $27,527. The weakest market is Kings County, NY, where the basics cost $8,481 more than take-home pay.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 52 of the 55 markets and falls short in 3. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 23.2% and 101.1% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (51-2000) include Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers and Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers.
Frequently asked questions about Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
How much do Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $44,650. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $38,362 to $50,246.
Which state pays Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators the most?
Kansas, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $50,246. California is next at $48,704.
Is Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to grow by 1.1% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 138,700 openings a year.
What education do Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators need?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.
Where can Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Spartanburg County, SC leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $27,527 on a median wage of $59,300.