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Assembler Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

What Does an Assembler Do?

Assemblers use their skills to put together the various parts of a particular product. They might only assemble one set of components or the finished product. They have to read and interpret blueprints, assemble parts correctly, and ensure they fit as directed. They also perform repairs when necessary and report errors in the assembly line. Assemblers use a variety of tools, including machinery and basic hand tools, depending on the job and the industry. They perform routine inspections to check for accuracy and quality in their products. Assemblers need to have a thorough understanding of manufacturing to make sure everything is built to the proper specifications.

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National Average Salary

Assembler salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.

The average U.S. salary for an Assembler is:

$37,300

Assembler Job Descriptions

The key to attracting the ideal assemler often lies in the job description. To make this task easier, we have curated a selection of examples that can be used as templates, ensuring you set the right foundation for your talent search.

Example 1

[Your Company Name] is looking for hardworking, honest, and dedicated individuals who want to be part of the best team in the industry. The ideal candidate would be able to work independently when given a job assignment, be responsible and dependable, able to work well with schedulers, be flexible with changes that may occur during the workday, able to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times, and have excellent communication skills.

As an assembler technician, you will be trained to assemble products and provide services of superior quality to our customers. This is a labor-intensive, sometimes repetitive job.

Typical duties and responsibilities

  • Read and understand complex diagrams, schematics, and blueprints 
  • Work with team members to ensure production roles are clear
  • Assemble parts and products based on physical and digital designs
  • Operate and maintain design machinery and modify machinery settings when necessary to adhere to design specifications
  • Operate power tools and other heavy machinery
  • Follow strict safety guidelines
  • Regularly communicate with engineers and design staff to ensure designs are being implemented correctly 
  • Troubleshoot issues with designs or production
  • Use tools to make or repair parts and products
  • Work with a team to assemble products on the production floor
  • Maintain a clean workspace
  • Read parts list and make sure all are present
  • Undergo routine preventive maintenance
  • Maintain inventory and place orders for more supplies as needed
  • Complete quality control forms

Education and experience

  • High school diploma or GED
  • Employers in certain industries generally require extra training for more advanced assembly work, usually through technical schools
  • 1+ years of assembly experience preferred

Required skills and qualifications

  • Attention to detail
  • Excellent hand-eye coordination
  • Significant mechanical skills
  • Ability to lift at least 50 lbs.
  • Able to perform repetitive tasks for extended periods 
  • Ability to differentiate between colors to identify colored electrical wires
  • Skilled using an array of manual and power tools
  • Ability to read and interpret drawings and designs
  • Good communication skills
  • Physical fitness and strength to lift and operate heavy electrical machinery
  • Excellent hand-eye coordination
  • Basic computer skills

Preferred qualifications

  • Experience using drafting tools and machinery
  • Willingness to learn new production tools and methods
  • Ability to work flexible shifts

Example 2

Your impact

As an assembler, you will be responsible for following schematics to create our finished products. You will be a key team member participating in the achievement of our daily, weekly, and monthly goals.

Key responsibilities

  • Cut and strip wire and cable to the blueprint requirement
  • Auto splices and/or solders reed switches, electronic components, and connectors to wire harnesses
  • Installs PCB in stems and /or housings
  • Sets mechanical switches and floats in accordance with blueprint specifications
  • Mixes potting compound
  • Installs grip rings, collars, floats, housings, and other types of hardware on sensors as specified on the blueprint or work instructions
  • Perform visual and dimensional inspections of in-process and finished components, subassemblies, and products
  • Installs the appropriate labels on the completed sensors

Position requirements

  • Desire to own decisions and take responsibility for outcomes
  • Good manual dexterity
  • Soldering skills
  • Knowledge of arithmetic
  • Blueprint reading
  • Ability to use measurement tools
  • Knowledge of hand tools and how to use
  • ISO9000 procedures and protocol
  • Safety procedures and protocol
  • Minimum high school diploma or general education degree GED
  • Minimum one-year previous manufacturing assembly experience preferred
  • Ability to read and interpret documents written in English
  • Some basic computer skills
  • Basic math skills

Example 3

Duties and responsibilities

  • Work on non-automated equipment such as RF Sealer and other kitting functions
  • Perform work-per-work instructions and area metrics
  • Keep the work area clean by disposing of empty boxes and cardboard, as well as keeping material
  • Inform proper personnel of material shortage
  • Train others in all areas
  • Adhere to all safety requirements in the work area

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

  • Understand and follow verbal and written instructions
  • Basic math skills
  • Work well with others

Education requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalent

Example 4

Responsibilities

  • Learn and adhere to all safety policies and practices to avoid safety incidents
  • Learn and adhere to all manufacturing policies and practices to ensure consistent production
  • Ensure quality by following standard work/process instructions and identifying any potential risks to product quality
  • Ensure that work areas remain clean and well organized
  • Lifting up to 21-50 lbs. consistently

Education and experience

  • Minimum of high school diploma or GED and 1 year of relevant manufacturing experience or equivalent combination of education and relevant manufacturing experience
  • Previous experience in rollout is preferred
  • Must have a basic command of the English language, both written and verbal

Job knowledge, skills, and abilities

  • Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations
  • Knowledge of air tools
  • Basic mechanical knowledge
  • Ability to read or learn to read a tape measure

Candidate Certifications to Look For

  • SAE Fabricator (SFF) – The SFF is offered by ETA International and is for candidates who manufacture, install, support, integrate, and test fiber optics systems. The SFF demonstrates competency, ability, and knowledge as an aerospace fiber optics fabricator. Candidates must pass the technical examinations and meet the requirements, which include 2+ years of education or training after high school to earn certification. 
  • CertTEC Aviation Mechanical Assembly certification – The CertTEC Aviation Mechanical Assembly certification focuses on several topics, including: Introduction to Aviation, Blueprint Reading, Precision Instruments, Power Island & Hand Tools, Fasteners & Fastener Installation Inspection, Drilling & Riveting, Sealing Application & Sealing Safety, and Electrical Bonding & Grounding. The comprehensive assessment is accredited by the International Certification Accreditation Council (ICAC). The exam has three parts consisting of an 80 question computer-based written exam, an oral evaluation, and a practical evaluation designed to test your technical knowledge and skills.
  • IPC-A-610 Acceptability of Electronics Assemblies – For those who work in the electronic assembly field, the IPC-A-610 certification is an excellent way to advance a candidate’s career. Offered by IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries, this certification demonstrates their advanced skill in hardware installation, soldering, surface mounting for chip components, component mounting for DIPS, socket pins, and card edge connectors, jumper wire assembly, and more.

How to Hire an Assembler

There are a number of initial considerations when hiring an assembler:

  • Recruiting: Do you have the internal resources and tools to successfully source and recruit for this role?
  • Complexity: Do you need a senior professional, or will mid, or even junior-level skills suffice?
  • Duration: Is this a one-time project, or an indefinite need?
  • Management: Do you have the time and expertise to direct the work effectively?
  • Urgency: How time-sensitive is this need? What happens if it remains unfilled?
  • Headcount: Do you have the budget and approval for an internal employee, or should you consider alternate options?

Answering these questions will help determine the best course of action for your current hiring need. Fortunately, various great options exist for every scenario, no matter how unique. If you are looking to hire an assembler, we recommend the following options:

1. Use 4 Corner Resources (or another professional recruiting firm)

The heavy lifting is done for you when working with a top-tier staffing company like 4 Corner Resources. We source, screen, recruit, and deliver only the most qualified candidate(s), saving you significant time and effort throughout the hiring process while you remain focused on your core business. Understanding your needs and ensuring the right candidate for the position is the key to our success.

This is the best route to take when:

  • You need to fill the position quickly
  • You want access to a vast talent pool of high-quality, prescreened candidates
  • Your position is suited for temporary hiring services, contract staffing, or contract-to-hire recruiting, and you intend to direct the work activity.
  • You are hiring an employee as a direct placement but aren’t able to recruit effectively or efficiently with your internal staff. 
  • You aren’t familiar with current salary rates, market trends, and available skill sets
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2. Advertise your opening on a top job board

Your best option may be to advertise your opening on a proven job board. There are many widely used job sites out there that draw visits from qualified candidates. If you have someone internally who can dedicate the time and energy to sort through applications and screen individuals effectively, this can be a great choice. 

We recommend using a job board when:

  • Your internal recruiting team has the knowledge and experience to assess candidate qualifications
  • You are hiring a direct employee and have time to manage the entire recruiting effort 
  • You have a process for receiving, screening, and tracking all resumes and applications
  • You are prepared to respond to all applicants

We recommend using CareerBuilder when hiring an assembler:

CareerBuilder

CareerBuilder has been a trusted source for hiring since 1995. Reach 80+ million unique, diverse U.S. job seekers annually by posting your jobs through their talent acquisition channels. Through CareerBuilder, you can engage candidates and drive them into your sourcing pipeline. We recommend using CareerBuilder for hiring when you have the internal resources and processes to review, screen, and reply to all applicants.

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3. Leverage your internal resources

You can utilize your own website, social media, and employees to assist in your search for top candidates. 

A company website posting should be the first step in notifying prospective candidates that you are hiring. Social media can also be a powerful tool for spreading the word about your new opening. As far as exposure is concerned, this option can be as good as some job boards when you have a large enough following across various platforms, like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter.

Current employees are every organization’s greatest asset. Encourage your internal team to promote job openings to their network by offering cash and other incentives.

We recommend these options when:

  • Your brand has great name recognition
  • You can consistently monitor and respond to candidate activity through your website and social media accounts
  • You have a process in place to quickly and broadly communicate job openings and requirements
  • You have an effective employee referral program in place

If you aren’t sure which path is best, schedule a discovery call today with our seasoned recruiting professionals. The 4 Corner team is on standby to help you find the best option for your unique hiring need.

Sample Interview Questions

  • Tell me about the most complex item you’ve built. How did you do it?
  • Are you able to read blueprints and schematics? 
  • How experienced are you working with tools? 
  • What do you feel are the most important skills for an assembler to possess?
  • What is the most challenging aspect of the job of an assembler?
  • How do you ensure the consistent quality of your work?
  • What do you do if you receive an order with an error?
  • How do you imagine a typical day in this factory? 
  • What are your expectations for the job of an assembler?
  • Are you comfortable having quotas and targets to meet at work every day?
  • Are you able to do repetitive jobs? How do you stay motivated?
  • What will you do to ensure your safety at work, and the safety of your colleagues?
  • Do you have any experience with [Your Preferred Tool] tool?
  • Do you have experience with [Your Company’s Assembly Machines] machine?
  • Do you have experience with laser-guided assembly instructions?
  • Are you experienced with assembling products of different sizes?
  • Are you detail-oriented?
  • Do you work well as a part of a team?
  • Do you have experience ordering supplies for parts and products?
  • Are you familiar with energy-saving protocols to lower costs?
  • What steps do you typically follow to keep factory equipment operational?

Need help hiring an Assembler?

We match top professionals with great employers across the country. From filling urgent job openings to developing long-term hiring strategies, our team is here to help. Review our staffing solutions, browse our award-winning Staffing Corner blog, or call today. We look forward to connecting with you soon.

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