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

What is an assembly & test technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Assembly and test technicians are responsible for assembling different components or parts of semi-finished or finished goods to deliver a product that is ready to be sold in stores or other industries. They assemble parts or components to build a whole new product and perform regular test and inspection procedures to ensure that the product is formed per the specifications. Assembly and test technicians earn a median sum of $37,000 annually or $18 per hour.

Assembly and test technicians perform complex assembly of products according to established specifications and instructions. They perform high precision calibration and advanced adjustments using testing instruments. They also develop assembly and test procedures to promote the production of quality products and monitor the functioning of all equipment and report any problems or substandard conditions to the supervisor.

In terms of academic qualifications, a high school diploma or a general education diploma is sufficient for an entry-level position in the manufacturing units. They are expected to have good hand-eye coordination with demonstrated excellent manual dexterity for precision alignment.

ScoreAssembly & Test TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,774

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

2.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%

Asian 8.05%

Black or African American 6.26%

Hispanic or Latino 10.43%

Unknown 4.32%

White 70.79%

Gender

female 14.59%

male 85.41%

Age - 52

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 - 52

Stress level

5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.2

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an assembly & test technician

Explore assembly & test technician education requirements

Most common assembly & test technician degrees

Associate

47.1 %

Bachelor's

22.0 %

High School Diploma

18.2 %

Start to develop specific assembly & test technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Mechanical Assembly	7.78%
Aerospace	7.04%
Dexterity	5.81%
Calipers	5.49%
Test Results	5.31%

Complete relevant assembly & test technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assembly & test 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 & test technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assembly & test technician resumes.

Gain additional assembly & test technician certifications

Assembly & test 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 & test technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for assembly & test technicians include Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma) and IPC Certification Using IPC-7711 and IPC 7721.

More About Certifications

Research assembly & test technician duties and responsibilities

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Get assembly & test technician experience

Generally, it takes 6-12 months to become an assembly & test technician. The most common roles before becoming an assembly & test technician include test technician, electronics technician team lead and technician.

Prepare your assembly & test technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assembly & test 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 & test 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 & test technician resume templates

Build a professional assembly & test 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 & test technician resume.