Small parts assembler vs circuit board assembler

The differences between small parts assemblers and circuit board assemblers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a circuit board assembler has an average salary of $31,825, which is higher than the $30,660 average annual salary of a small parts assembler.

The top three skills for a small parts assembler include hand tools, assembly tasks and dexterity. The most important skills for a circuit board assembler are hand tools, through-hole, and PCB.

Small parts assembler vs circuit board assembler overview

	Small Parts Assembler	Circuit Board Assembler
Yearly salary	$30,660	$31,825
Hourly rate	$14.74	$15.30
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	40,912	18,512
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 36%
Average age	49	49
Years of experience	-	-

Small parts assembler vs circuit board assembler salary

Small parts assemblers and circuit board assemblers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Small Parts Assembler	Circuit Board Assembler
Average salary	$30,660	$31,825
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $38,000	Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	New Bedford, MA	Beaverton, OR
Highest paying state	Alaska	Arizona
Best paying company	Astronics	Rockwell Automation
Best paying industry	Energy	Technology

Differences between small parts assembler and circuit board assembler education

There are a few differences between a small parts assembler and a circuit board assembler in terms of educational background:

	Small Parts Assembler	Circuit Board Assembler
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 36%
Most common major	Business	Electrical Engineering
Most common college	-	-

Small parts assembler vs circuit board assembler demographics

Here are the differences between small parts assemblers' and circuit board assemblers' demographics:

	Small Parts Assembler	Circuit Board Assembler
Average age	49	49
Gender ratio	Male, 55.6% Female, 44.4%	Male, 52.9% Female, 47.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 9.5% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 9.3% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between small parts assembler and circuit board assembler duties and responsibilities

Small parts assembler example responsibilities.

Excel in interpreting detail aligning units using jigs and fixtures, and inspecting complete components to ensure conformance to specifications.
Excel in interpreting detail aligning units using jigs and fixtures, and inspecting complete components to ensure conformance to specifications.

Circuit board assembler example responsibilities.

Enforce ISO and IPC quality standards for producing and handling product.
Expose PCB image on photoresist.
Train in ESD avoidance procedures.
Test PCB electronic components for defects.
Practice ESD, FOD, and safety regulations according to company policy.
Measure parts to determine tolerances by using precision measuring instruments such as micrometers and calipers.

Small parts assembler vs circuit board assembler skills

Common small parts assembler skills

Hand Tools, 41%
Assembly Tasks, 19%
Dexterity, 18%
Circuit Boards, 4%
Quality Checks, 4%
Assembly Problems, 4%

Common circuit board assembler skills

Hand Tools, 18%
Through-Hole, 17%
PCB, 10%
Soldering Irons, 6%
Hand Solder, 6%
ESD, 5%

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Small Parts Assembler
Small Parts Assembler vs Circuit Board Assembler

Updated January 8, 2025

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