Engine and Other Machine Assemblers: Career Profile
Construct, assemble, or rebuild machines, such as engines, turbines, and similar equipment used in such industries as construction, extraction, textiles, and paper manufacturing.
Featured schools near , edit
What Do Engine and Other Machine Assemblers Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of engine and other machine assemblers cover:
- Read and interpret assembly blueprints or specifications manuals, and plan assembly or building operations.
- Inspect, operate, and test completed products to verify functioning, machine capabilities, or conformance to customer specifications.
- Position or align components for assembly, manually or using hoists.
- Set and verify parts clearances.
- Verify conformance of parts to stock lists or blueprints, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
- Fasten or install piping, fixtures, or wiring and electrical components to form assemblies or subassemblies, using hand tools, rivet guns, or welding equipment.
- Remove rough spots and smooth surfaces to fit, trim, or clean parts, using hand tools or power tools.
- Lay out and drill, ream, tap, or cut parts for assembly.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful engine and other machine assemblers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Air Conditioning Coil Assembler (AC Coil Assembler)
- Aircraft Engine Assembler
- Aircraft Power Plant Assembler
- Aircraft Powerplant Assembler
- Assembler
- Assembler Erector
- Assembling Motor Builder
- Assembly Line Worker
Employment and Demand
There are about 460,218 engine and other machine assemblers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +7.8% over the projection horizon.
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $40,880 |
| Hourly median | $19.65 |
| 10th percentile | $29,470 |
| 25th percentile | $35,175 |
| 75th percentile | $46,585 |
| 90th percentile | $52,289 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | $75,560 |
| Indiana | $73,540 |
| New Hampshire | $67,950 |
| Connecticut | $67,320 |
| Ohio | $66,860 |
| New Jersey | $63,060 |
| Massachusetts | $62,440 |
| Oregon | $61,270 |
| Washington | $60,410 |
| Wisconsin | $56,400 |
| Arkansas | $52,780 |
| California | $52,480 |
| Minnesota | $51,550 |
| Florida | $51,230 |
| Idaho | $50,820 |
| Colorado | $50,750 |
| New York | $50,460 |
| Tennessee | $50,400 |
| Michigan | $50,040 |
| South Carolina | $49,910 |
| Nebraska | $48,100 |
| Illinois | $47,680 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,410 |
| Oklahoma | $47,300 |
| Kentucky | $46,830 |
| Utah | $46,060 |
| Iowa | $44,810 |
| South Dakota | $44,730 |
| Louisiana | $44,450 |
| Missouri | $44,060 |
| Arizona | $42,860 |
| Nevada | $39,430 |
| Texas | $38,630 |
| Georgia | $37,640 |
| Mississippi | $37,420 |
| Virginia | $34,890 |
Where Engine and Other Machine Assemblers Earn the Most
Pay for engine and other machine assemblers shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $65,533 | 1.3% | 0.48 |
| Great Lakes | $61,569 | 48.7% | 4.75 |
| Far Western US | $54,205 | 6.1% | 0.38 |
| Middle Atlantic | $52,194 | 5.0% | 0.50 |
| Rocky Mountains | $49,367 | 1.2% | 0.36 |
| Plains States | $44,875 | 4.8% | 2.42 |
| Southeast | $42,558 | 27.2% | 3.10 |
| Southwest | $39,920 | 5.7% | 0.50 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $71,970 | 200 |
| Toledo, OH | OH | $71,050 | 410 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $67,990 | 200 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $65,720 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $62,450 | 150 |
| Appleton, WI | WI | $61,990 | 110 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $61,270 | 150 |
| Tulsa, OK | OK | $61,260 | 130 |
Top Industries Employing Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
The bulk of engine and other machine assemblers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 35,750 | $53,190 |
| Wholesale Trade | 800 | $62,050 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 630 | $44,730 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 490 | $59,270 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 460 | $34,980 |
| Retail Trade | 140 | $37,770 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of engine and other machine assemblers reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Time Pressure
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level engine and other machine assemblers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Boilermakers (Supplemental)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Primary-Short)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (Primary-Long)
- Rail Car Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (Primary-Long)
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring engine and other machine assemblers typically earn programs in:
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-2031.00 (Engine and Other Machine Assemblers).