How to hire an assembly worker

Assembly worker hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring assembly workers in the United States:

HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
The median cost to hire an assembly worker is $1,633.
Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per assembly worker on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
There are currently 235,930 assembly workers in the US and 85,178 job openings.
Louisville, KY, has the highest demand for assembly workers, with 10 job openings.
Houston, TX has the highest concentration of assembly workers.

How to hire an assembly worker, step by step

To hire an assembly worker, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire an assembly worker:

Here's a step-by-step assembly worker 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 worker job description
Step 5: Post your job
Step 6: Interview candidates
Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assembly worker
Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an assembly worker do?

An assembly worker is an employee who is assigned to an assembly line in a manufacturing firm to fabricate parts and join them to construct a final product. Assembly workers follow instructions and diagrams to complete a particular task. They may use a combination of tools such as a punching machine, hammers, or welding equipment. An assembly line supervisor is directly in-charge of these assembly workers and will continuously monitor their work. Assembly workers can also work in different manufacturing firms that produce aircraft, automobiles, and electronics.

Learn more about the specifics of what an assembly worker does

Post an assembly worker job for free, promote it for a fee

Identify your hiring needs

First, determine the employments status of the assembly worker you need to hire. Certain assembly worker 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?

An assembly worker's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, assembly workers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

The following list breaks down different types of assembly workers and their corresponding salaries.

Type of Assembly Worker	Description	Hourly rate
Assembly Worker	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.	$11-17
Manufacturing Operator	A manufacturing operator is primarily responsible for overseeing and controlling the performance of machines and equipment, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring production operations, conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the accuracy and quality of machinery, performing corrective measures and adjustments as needed, and assessing the quality of finished products, all while adhering to deadlines and goals... Show more	$12-20
Manufacturing Team Member	Manufacturing team members are employees who are part of the group or department that fulfills the manufacturing need of the company or plant. They are trained workers who are familiar with the needs of the organization... Show more	$11-19

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Assembly Line
- Safety Procedures
- Quality Standards
- Quality Checks
- Pallet Jack
- Assembly Process
- Defective Materials
- Safety Standards
- Air Tools
- Assembly Problems
- Honda
- Quality Products
- Safety Policies
- Blueprint Specifications
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Follow company guidelines and motivate to accomplish goals and help to troubleshoot to get projects done.
- Inventory and manage all stock products within a retail warehousing environment utilizing RF scanner and barcode readers to document material.
- Perform basic math to compute ratio, rate and percent.
- Work with a team on line assembling HVAC parts for Honda and Toyota
- Work assembly line for manufacturing parts for Honda, help other lines complete their jobs
- Demonstrate excellent quality control on the assembly line for Toyota parts inspecting and assembling vehicle parts.
More assembly worker duties

Make a budget

Including a salary range in your assembly worker job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An assembly worker can vary based on:

Location. For example, assembly workers' average salary in louisiana is 37% less than in alaska.
Seniority. Entry-level assembly workers 35% less than senior-level assembly workers.
Certifications. An assembly worker with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an assembly worker's salary.

Average assembly worker salary

$14.58hourly

$30,331 yearly

Entry-level assembly worker salary

$24,000 yearly salary

Updated December 18, 2025

Average assembly worker salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	Washington	$36,512	$18
2	North Dakota	$35,831	$17
3	Utah	$34,384	$17
4	Minnesota	$33,916	$16
5	Colorado	$33,033	$16
6	Massachusetts	$31,907	$15
7	New York	$31,572	$15
8	Indiana	$30,860	$15
9	Ohio	$30,765	$15
10	Pennsylvania	$30,706	$15
11	Iowa	$30,622	$15
12	Illinois	$30,559	$15
13	Oklahoma	$29,739	$14
14	Kansas	$29,558	$14
15	Missouri	$28,918	$14
16	Michigan	$28,170	$14
17	Texas	$27,463	$13
18	North Carolina	$26,943	$13
19	Tennessee	$26,808	$13
20	South Carolina	$26,482	$13

Average assembly worker salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	Anomatic	$40,001	$19.23	2
2	Lockheed Martin	$38,853	$18.68	60
3	Johnson Controls	$38,422	$18.47	11
4	American Woodmark	$38,103	$18.32	12
5	ETE REMAN	$37,174	$17.87
6	Ferrellgas	$36,655	$17.62
7	Danaher	$36,463	$17.53	8
8	MeadWestvaco	$36,407	$17.50
9	General Motors	$36,209	$17.41	11
10	Stanley Black & Decker	$35,730	$17.18	12
11	Donaldson	$35,572	$17.10	19
12	Pall	$35,413	$17.03	1
13	Akron Brass	$35,217	$16.93
14	Bray International	$35,191	$16.92	2
15	Polaris	$34,451	$16.56	12
16	Plastipak	$33,697	$16.20
17	Trane	$33,444	$16.08	9
18	Carter Lumber	$33,250	$15.99	7
19	The Timken Company	$33,227	$15.97	9
20	WestRock	$33,206	$15.96	17

Writing an assembly worker job description
An assembly worker job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an assembly worker job description:
Assembly worker job description example

Up to 8 years of Education

Experience:

0 – 3 months of related experience or training

Skills:

Ability to comprehend and follow instructions

Must have good communication skills and mathematical skills

Ability to asses and prioritize workload

Ability to work independently and in a team environment

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

IV.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY:

Equipment:

Financial/Budget:

Supervisory:

(Number of people, job titles)

V.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:

Typical Working Conditions: (Describe environment including exposure to heat, cold, fumes, chemicals, allergens, mold, etc.)

Manufactured warehouse environment with constant noise and exposure to moving mechanical parts and power tools.

Equipment Used:

(List all manual and automated equipment used in the course of performing essential functions.)

Pressure Clamps, Nail Guns, Air Control Foot Step

Essential Physical Tasks:

(List all physical tasks encountered in performing essential functions.)

Constant standing

Frequent walking, using hands to finger, feel, and reach

Occasional talking, hearing, push, pull, grasp (both hands) and bend at waist.

Regularly lift and/move 25-50 lbs occasionally
Company DescriptionAmerican Woodmark is a leading kitchen and bath cabinet manufacturer, servicing the remodel and new construction markets. With over 10,000 employees, 18 manufacturing facilities, and seven primary service centers located throughout the United States. Offering more than 15 brands and hundreds of cabinet styles, our commitment to quality and caring for our customers and employees never wavers.

We celebrate our passionate and dedicated workforce. They are our inspiration and strength, and the reason for our success and leadership in the industry. With their help, we pledge to bring the best quality and value to our customers, the best workplace and opportunities to our people, the best products and customer service to home centers, builders and distributors and the best investment for our shareholders. We are excited and humbled by the challenge of leadership. Our people are determined to continue to set the standard for our industry, promote American quality, and enhance our homes and lives with American Woodmark products.
Post your job
To find the right assembly worker for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
- Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with assembly workers they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit assembly workers who meet your education requirements.
- Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
Post your job online:
- Post your assembly worker job on Zippia to find and recruit assembly worker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
Your first interview with assembly worker candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.
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.
Send a job offer and onboard your new assembly worker
Once you've selected the best assembly worker candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.
You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.
To prepare for the new assembly worker 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.
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.)
Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire an assembly worker?

There are different types of costs for hiring assembly workers. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new assembly worker employee.

You can expect to pay around $30,331 per year for an assembly worker, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for assembly workers in the US typically range between $11 and $17 an hour.

Find better assembly workers in less time

Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring assembly workers FAQs

How much does a good assembly worker cost?

What are the duties of an assembly worker?

Should I hire an assembly worker with no experience?

Search for assembly worker jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Updated December 18, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs

How to hire an assembly worker