Post job

Assembler/tester vs senior assembler

The differences between assembler/testers and senior assemblers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior assembler has an average salary of $38,475, which is higher than the $34,284 average annual salary of an assembler/tester.

The top three skills for an assembler/tester include safety rules, hand tools and test equipment. The most important skills for a senior assembler are dexterity, assembly operations, and quality inspection.

Assembler/tester vs senior assembler overview

Assembler/TesterSenior Assembler
Yearly salary$34,284$38,475
Hourly rate$16.48$18.50
Growth rate--
Number of jobs27,50619,904
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%High School Diploma, 31%
Average age4949
Years of experience--

What does an assembler/tester do?

Assemblers or testers assemble or test complex products to attain prompt delivery schedules and customer quality. They work on products containing electronic, dual, and mechanical hydraulic systems. Their job is to operate and maintain power and hand tools, test equipment, and manufacturing machines. It is their responsibility to produce high-quality products that exceed or meet the approval agency, customer, and engineering requirements. They also interpret engineering orders, test specifications, assembly routes, and blueprints.

What does a senior assembler do?

A senior assembler organizes the production process to ensure it is safe and efficient. They have to provide guidelines on the fabrication, maintenance, and processing of products and components. They also maintain a clean workspace and work with other members of their manufacturing group to assemble products.

Assembler/tester vs senior assembler salary

Assembler/testers and senior assemblers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assembler/TesterSenior Assembler
Average salary$34,284$38,475
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $43,000Between $26,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between assembler/tester and senior assembler education

There are a few differences between an assembler/tester and a senior assembler in terms of educational background:

Assembler/TesterSenior Assembler
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%High School Diploma, 31%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringBusiness
Most common college--

Assembler/tester vs senior assembler demographics

Here are the differences between assembler/testers' and senior assemblers' demographics:

Assembler/TesterSenior Assembler
Average age4949
Gender ratioMale, 67.1% Female, 32.9%Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 11.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 13.3% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between assembler/tester and senior assembler duties and responsibilities

Assembler/tester example responsibilities.

  • Perform programming set ups to operate on CNC machines.
  • Help with set ups along with operating and maintaining CNC machines.
  • Operate, inspect, and troubleshoot production line machinery and/or assemblies.
  • Support engineering projects by completing rework and modifications on prototype modules and ECO's update.
  • Read and interpret blueprints and check critical dimensions by using measuring instruments including micrometers, calipers and indicators.
  • Perform small mechanical sub assemblies, gluing & cleaning optics for various laser products.
  • Show more

Senior assembler example responsibilities.

  • Lead, develop and challenge T/M's and encourage kaizen.
  • Assemble RF test fixtures per specifications for high volume in-house and offshore RF testing.
  • Solder through hole components and surface mount components such as resistors, capacitors, microprocessors, memory chips etc.
  • Solder DC and RF connectors.
  • Oversee all QA of inbound and outbound material.
  • Compile computer programs to interface with CNC machines.
  • Show more

Assembler/tester vs senior assembler skills

Common assembler/tester skills
  • Safety Rules, 9%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Test Equipment, 7%
  • Test Results, 6%
  • Test Data, 6%
  • Quality Standards, 6%
Common senior assembler skills
  • Dexterity, 9%
  • Assembly Operations, 9%
  • Quality Inspection, 7%
  • Jigs, 5%
  • Mechanical Assembly, 5%
  • Quality Standards, 5%

Browse production and manufacturing jobs