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How to hire an electronic assembly technician

Electronic assembly technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring electronic assembly technicians in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire an electronic assembly technician is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per electronic assembly technician on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 121,047 electronic assembly technicians in the US, and there are currently 21,997 job openings in this field.
  • Rice Lake, WI, has the highest demand for electronic assembly technicians, with 7 job openings.

How to hire an electronic assembly technician, step by step

To hire an electronic assembly technician, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire an electronic assembly technician, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step electronic 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 electronic assembly technician job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new electronic assembly technician
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The electronic assembly technician hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect electronic 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 electronic assembly technician salaries for various roles:

    Type of Electronic Assembly TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    Electronic Assembly TechnicianAssemblers 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
    Assembler/TesterAssemblers or testers assemble or test complex products to attain prompt delivery schedules and customer quality. They work on products containing electronic, dual, and mechanical hydraulic systems... Show more$12-20
    Assembly InspectorAn 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... Show more$10-16
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Mechanical Assembly
    • Mechanical Drawings
    • Lean Manufacturing
    • Soldering Irons
    • Surface Mount Components
    • Drill Press
    • IPC
    • Electronic Components
    • Electronic Systems
    • Electronic Assembly
    • RF
    • SMT
    • Test Equipment
    • PCB
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Operate stamping machine and assemble ESD carts.
    • Flex circuits, through-hole components and limit SMD work.
    • Hand soldering through-hole and SMT soldering to component level repairs.
    • Perform component level repair on SMT PWB's using test bed data.
    • Handle small delicate components, using ESD practices and clean room protocol.
    • Operate metalworking machines to fabricate housings, jigs, fittings, or fixtures.
    More electronic assembly technician duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your electronic assembly technician job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An electronic assembly technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for an electronic assembly technician in North Carolina may be lower than in Arizona, and an entry-level electronic assembly technician usually earns less than a senior-level electronic assembly technician. Additionally, an electronic assembly technician with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average electronic assembly technician salary

    $16.50hourly

    $34,320 yearly

    Entry-level electronic assembly technician salary
    $28,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025

    Average electronic assembly technician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Arizona$39,193$19
    2Colorado$38,658$19
    3Massachusetts$38,391$18
    4Connecticut$37,490$18
    5California$36,820$18
    6Kansas$36,788$18
    7Minnesota$36,413$18
    8Oregon$36,184$17
    9Washington$36,108$17
    10Ohio$35,997$17
    11Pennsylvania$34,817$17
    12Indiana$34,553$17
    13Illinois$34,304$16
    14Michigan$33,717$16
    15Virginia$33,467$16
    16Texas$33,156$16
    17Maryland$32,482$16
    18Florida$31,663$15

    Average electronic assembly technician salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Battelle$48,222$23.18
    2Baker Hughes$39,377$18.93
    3Infinera$39,089$18.79
    4Arrow Electronics$38,841$18.67
    5Ball$38,040$18.29
    6Belcan$37,864$18.203
    7Lockheed Martin$36,431$17.5144
    8Knowles$36,034$17.32
    9Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense$35,409$17.024
    10Ultra Electronics$35,046$16.851
    11Corps Solutions$34,953$16.80
    12Grp Inc$34,882$16.77
    13AirBorn$34,768$16.72
    14Rice Lake Weighing Systems$34,123$16.41
    15Ensign-Bickford Industries$33,943$16.324
    16The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory$33,803$16.25
    17Randstad North America, Inc.$33,602$16.151
    18Electronic Interconnect Corp.$33,465$16.09
    19Kelly Services$33,092$15.9161
    20Aerotek$32,863$15.80217
  4. Writing an electronic assembly technician job description

    An electronic assembly technician 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 electronic assembly technician job description:

    Electronic assembly technician job description example

    Assembly/Test Technician Job Description

    Essential Functions and Key Responsibilities
    Assemble and test highly complex optoelectronic products Needs to be a detail oriented individual and have the ability to demonstrate fine motor skills Must be able to take and comprehend directions from simple to moderate complexity Adapt to constant changes necessary to complete the tasks at hand Maintain good and effective communication with management, engineering, and technician peers to continuously improve manufacturing yields and throughput Be flexible in daily routines in a fast paced manufacturing environment

    Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
    Work in a high tech manufacturing team environment with little to no oversight Learn new skills, processes, and operations Knowledge of MS Windows operating system and MS Office software Must be willing to work over time when required

    Education/Experience
    2 yr. technical degree or equivalent experience preferred Background in optoelectronics manufacturing operations preferred
    *Please note that Infinera has adopted a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees.

    As a condition of employment, our US employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a reasonable accommodation for a medical/disability or religious basis is approved or as otherwise required by law. Candidates are not required to and must not furnish proof of vaccination or request an accommodation during the application process. Candidates will be required to do so only after a job offer has been extended and prior to their start date if they accept the job offer. A person is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if the person has received one dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and two weeks have passed since receiving the final dose of the vaccine.

    #LI-JP1
    Infinera is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Infinera complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right electronic assembly technician for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your electronic assembly technician job on Zippia to find and recruit electronic 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 electronic 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.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 electronic assembly technician

    Once you have selected a candidate for the electronic assembly technician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new electronic assembly technician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  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 electronic assembly technician?

Before you start to hire electronic assembly technicians, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire electronic assembly technicians pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

The median annual salary for electronic assembly technicians is $34,320 in the US. However, the cost of electronic assembly technician hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring an electronic assembly technician for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $13 and $20 an hour.

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