Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between assembly technicians and assembly associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an assembly technician has an average salary of $34,952, which is higher than the $29,234 average annual salary of an assembly associate.
The top three skills for an assembly technician include customer service, hand tools and lean manufacturing. The most important skills for an assembly associate are hand tools, math, and basic math.
| Assembly Technician | Assembly Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $34,952 | $29,234 |
| Hourly rate | $16.80 | $14.05 |
| Growth rate | 2% | - |
| Number of jobs | 52,385 | 28,002 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 49 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Assembly technicians are responsible for constructing small parts and components to create a new product according to the specifications of a client or a supervisor. An assembly technician performs diagnostic tests on the assembled product to ensure efficiency and conduct adjustments as needed. An assembly technician also provides manual instructional guides for product use and troubleshooting procedures. Assembly technicians must be knowledgeable about the technology and mechanical industry, as well as have the ability to analyze designs as a guide for creating high-quality products.
In manufacturing facilities, an assembly associate is responsible for assembling product components according to guidelines and diagrams. Their daily tasks often include preparing and processing products, operating machines, maintaining records, and adhering to schedules and production goals. They are also responsible for attending regular meetings and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas, discarding trash properly. Moreover, as an assembly associate, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with co-workers and adhere to the company's safety guidelines and policies.
Assembly technicians and assembly associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assembly Technician | Assembly Associate | |
| Average salary | $34,952 | $29,234 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $43,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | Fargo, ND |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Jefferson Lab | General Electric |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an assembly technician and an assembly associate in terms of educational background:
| Assembly Technician | Assembly Associate | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between assembly technicians' and assembly associates' demographics:
| Assembly Technician | Assembly Associate | |
| Average age | 49 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.7% Female, 24.3% | Male, 58.3% Female, 41.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 9.8% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 13.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 9.1% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |