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The differences between assembly technicians and assembly inspectors 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 $28,624 average annual salary of an assembly inspector.
The top three skills for an assembly technician include customer service, hand tools and lean manufacturing. The most important skills for an assembly inspector are hand tools, line assembly, and inspection results.
| Assembly Technician | Assembly Inspector | |
| Yearly salary | $34,952 | $28,624 |
| Hourly rate | $16.80 | $13.76 |
| Growth rate | 2% | - |
| Number of jobs | 52,385 | 32,924 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| 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.
An assembly inspector is primarily in charge of inspecting products, usually furniture and fixtures, to ensure compliance with production standards. Their responsibilities typically include examining surfaces to identify any dents or damages, conducting measurements and assessments, marking identified issues, reviewing documentation, and maintaining records, producing detailed reports for teams and managers. Moreover, as an assembly inspector, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach goals, all while implementing the company's production standards and policies.
Assembly technicians and assembly inspectors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assembly Technician | Assembly Inspector | |
| Average salary | $34,952 | $28,624 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $43,000 | Between $22,000 And $35,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | Santa Cruz, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Jefferson Lab | Northrop Grumman |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an assembly technician and an assembly inspector in terms of educational background:
| Assembly Technician | Assembly Inspector | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between assembly technicians' and assembly inspectors' demographics:
| Assembly Technician | Assembly Inspector | |
| Average age | 49 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.7% Female, 24.3% | Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3% |
| 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, 13.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 9.6% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |