How To Become An Assembly Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is an assembly technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

An assembly technician is responsible for assembling products from small components to large machines. They work in manufacturing settings, following schematics to build products. Assembly technicians use a range of tools and equipment, such as drills, saws, and soldering irons. They must also be able to troubleshoot and solve problems that arise during the assembly process. Attention to detail, manual dexterity, and technical knowledge are key skills required for success in this role.

ScoreAssembly TechnicianUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $34,952

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.1

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%

Asian 9.83%

Black or African American 10.95%

Hispanic or Latino 15.92%

Unknown 2.57%

White 60.30%

Gender

female 24.25%

male 75.75%

Age - 51

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 51

Stress level

6.1

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an assembly technician?

Pros

Good entry-level position with minimal education requirements
Often opportunities for career advancement within the company
Can lead to specialized skills and certifications
Often provided with training and safety equipment
Can be a satisfying job for those who enjoy repetitive tasks

Cons

Work may be physically demanding and require heavy lifting
May require working in noisy environments with large machinery
Work may require following strict safety protocols and guidelines
May require working long hours or overnight shifts
Some companies may have strict production quotas that can be difficult to meet

Key steps to become an assembly technician

Explore assembly technician education requirements

Most common assembly technician degrees

High School Diploma

33.6 %

Associate

29.3 %

Bachelor's

19.6 %

Start to develop specific assembly technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	25.93%
Hand Tools	12.37%
Lean Manufacturing	3.77%
Safety Procedures	3.54%
Basic Math	3.50%

Complete relevant assembly technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assembly technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assembly technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assembly technician resumes.

Gain additional assembly technician certifications

Assembly technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific assembly technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for assembly technicians include Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma) and OSHA Safety Certificate .

More About Certifications

Research assembly technician duties and responsibilities

Manage the flow of each pallet to ensure the group is able to produce the quality product.
Perform in microscope SMT hand soldering to IPC standards and rework BTC components.
Use proper electrical discharge PPE (personal protection equipment) in ESD zone properly to prevent unexpect incident or damage device.
Perform electro-mechanical tasks using a wide range of electronic equipment.

Prepare your assembly technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assembly technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an assembly technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable assembly technician resume templates

Build a professional assembly technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your assembly technician resume.