How to hire an assembly technician

How to hire an assembly technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assembly technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an assembly technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assembly technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an assembly technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the assembly technician you need to hire. Certain assembly technician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect assembly technician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of assembly technician salaries for various roles:

   Type of Assembly Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Assembly Technician	Assemblers and fabricators assemble finished products and the parts that go into them. They use tools, machines, and their hands to make engines, computers, aircraft, ships, boats, toys, electronic devices, control panels, and more.	$13-20
   Mechanical Assembler	Mechanical assemblers are individuals who fabricate or assemble mechanical pieces, products, or parts. They are knowledgeable about assembly instructions as well as their interpretations... Show more	$12-19
   Electrical Assembler	An electrical assembler is responsible for developing and assembling electrical components and systems, ensuring quality and efficiency. It is their duty to install and maintain systems, analyze diagrams and blueprints, operate tools and equipment, attach and route wirings, arrange or mount control units, and conduct regular maintenance checks, performing repairs as needed... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Hand Tools
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Safety Procedures
   • Basic Math
   • Sub Assemblies
   • Math
   • Quality Standards
   • Work Ethic
   • Assembly Line
   • Mechanical Assembly
   • Dexterity
   • Engineering Drawings
   • ISO

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Install switches, gfi's.
   • Rework (complex wiring) to CCA's according to ECO's.

   More assembly technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assembly technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An assembly technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, assembly technicians' average salary in alabama is 27% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level assembly technicians earn 35% less than senior-level assembly technicians.
   • Certifications. An assembly technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an assembly technician's salary.

   Average assembly technician salary

   $16.80hourly

   $34,952 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level assembly technician salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average assembly technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$40,199	$19
   2	New Jersey	$40,072	$19
   3	Maine	$39,599	$19
   4	Nevada	$38,917	$19
   5	Minnesota	$38,826	$19
   6	Wisconsin	$38,732	$19
   7	South Dakota	$38,575	$19
   8	Delaware	$38,466	$18
   9	Oregon	$37,942	$18
   10	Maryland	$37,806	$18
   11	Pennsylvania	$37,590	$18
   12	Colorado	$37,354	$18
   13	Arizona	$36,878	$18
   14	Ohio	$36,754	$18
   15	Utah	$36,142	$17
   16	Michigan	$35,768	$17
   17	North Dakota	$35,589	$17
   18	Iowa	$34,364	$17
   19	Nebraska	$34,303	$16
   20	Kentucky	$33,842	$16

   Average assembly technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Jefferson Lab	$53,472	$25.71
   2	University of California-Berkeley	$44,581	$21.43
   3	Baker Hughes	$40,680	$19.56	14
   4	Zoetis	$40,089	$19.27	10
   5	Hyundai Power Transformers USA	$39,566	$19.02
   6	Siemens	$39,271	$18.88	33
   7	PPG	$39,232	$18.86	1
   8	Steffes	$39,202	$18.85	1
   9	Marotta Controls	$39,176	$18.83	1
   10	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$38,979	$18.74	14
   11	Bloom Energy	$38,907	$18.71	2
   12	QuantumScape	$38,824	$18.67
   13	Raytheon Technologies	$38,519	$18.52	21
   14	Triumph Group	$38,463	$18.49	6
   15	Boeing	$38,433	$18.48	48
   16	Florys	$38,403	$18.46	1
   17	Ovivo	$38,382	$18.45
   18	Johnson Controls	$38,379	$18.45	21
   19	Lockheed Martin	$38,278	$18.40	65
   20	Plastipak	$38,201	$18.37	4

4. Writing an assembly technician job description

   A good assembly technician job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an assembly technician job description:

   Assembly technician job description example

   Mueller is the nation's leading manufacturer of flow control devices for the water and gas distribution industries and we currently have an opening in our Kimball, TN plant for an hourly Technical Assembler.
   Job Responsibilities:
   Work Safely in the Manufacturing Production EnvironmentRead blueprints, diagrams, manuals, plans, materials, electrical schematics, and specifications as necessary with an emphasis placed on attention to detail.Adhere to specifications through operations; measurements; detecting malfunctions; troubleshooting processes; and adhering to quality assurance procedures and processes.Operate hand power tools, presses, drills, saws, lifts, and control equipment efficiently and safely.Assemble hydraulic and pneumatic plumbing Perform quality control checks and verification of work order specifications Operate forklifts and overhead cranes with approved rigging methods as directed Keep up-to-date information and knowledge of equipment installed, completing production and quality logs, and set-up for manufacturing operation.Must be able to operate with minimal supervision, as required, and utilize strong troubleshooting skills.Maintains a clean and organized work area to facilitate manufacturing functions utilizing 5s standards. General math skills, the ability to understand measuring/measurement concepts/applications, and familiarity with basic tools used in assembling electrical components Knowledge of fundamental electronics and electrical principles May provide hands on and verbal job function training to coworkers as needed.Perform other routine duties as directed
   
   Physical Requirements:
   Ability to use hands to finger, handle, or feel.Ability to frequently sit, stand, walk, reach within hands and arm's length, stoop, kneel, and crouch. Ability to lift and/or move 25 pounds, and up to 50 pounds.Specific vision requirements include close vision and color vision.Ability to use power tools, air tools and other vibratory tools.Ability to work from a standing position for extended periods of time.Ability to work around hot heavy machinery Ability to work in an open warehouse environment, subject to seasonal weather (hot/cold)
   
   Education & Experience:
   High school diploma or equivalent.(3) or more years' experience in a manufacturing environment assembling electronic components Must have good written and oral communication skills.Demonstrated mechanical and electrical aptitude required Forklift and overhead crane experience Experience with CNC machines is a plus.Welding experience is a plus.
   
   Kimball Employee Benefits Include:
   Fully air-conditioned facility including production areas Two weeks paid vacation, and personal time (starting) Competitive medical, dental and vision benefits 401(k) retirement plan with company match Overtime opportunity Tuition reimbursement Safety shoe stipend
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other category protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find assembly technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any assembly technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level assembly technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your assembly technician job on Zippia to find and recruit assembly technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit assembly technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assembly technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect assembly technician candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new assembly technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an assembly technician?