Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Engine and other machine assemblers work in a specialized production role that combines mechanical ability, attention to detail, and physical stamina. Nationally, there are about 38,000 people employed in this occupation, with a median annual salary of $52,540. The work can appeal to individuals who enjoy hands-on tasks, working with tools and machinery, and applying fine motor skills to precise assembly work. Critical and analytical thinking, along with basic mathematics and comfort with computers and information technology, support success in this field. Although projected employment growth is -21.1%, there are still an estimated 3,000 openings each year, which may come from job changes and turnover. Opportunities exist across several states and metro areas, with notable differences in pay and employment levels. For people interested in a mechanically focused career that typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, this role can be one option to consider alongside other machine operation and repair-support careers.
Engine and other machine assemblers earn a national median annual salary of $52,540. Pay varies by state and metro area. Among the highlighted states, Washington shows the highest median salary at $72,800, while Virginia has a median of $36,030. California, Massachusetts, and New York fall in a closer range between about $46,460 and $46,880. At the metro level, salaries differ even more: the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro has a median of $102,530, which is substantially higher than other listed metros. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has a median of $62,400, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH stands at $48,990. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA have median salaries of $40,650 and $46,620, respectively. These variations show that location choice can significantly influence earnings for this occupation.
National employment for engine and other machine assemblers is 38,000, with projected employment growth of -21.1%. This indicates a declining employment outlook over the projection period. Despite this negative growth rate, there are still an estimated 3,000 annual openings. These openings suggest that people continue to move into and out of these jobs, creating opportunities for new workers even as overall employment is projected to decrease. The projected growth rate of -21.1% is consistent across the listed states and metro areas, reflecting similar expectations in those regions. For job seekers, this means that while positions do exist and turn over each year, long-term expansion of the field is not expected. Candidates considering this path may want to factor the declining employment projection into their long-term career planning and think about how their mechanical, analytical, and technical skills could apply to related occupations as well.
Location plays a major role in career opportunity for engine and other machine assemblers, with both states and metro areas showing distinct patterns in salary, employment, and opportunity scores. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York have relatively similar median salaries around the mid-$46,000s and opportunity scores between about 65.78 and 67.38. Washington stands out with a higher median salary of $72,800 but a lower opportunity score of 56.29, while Virginia shows a lower median salary of $36,030 and an opportunity score of 54.96. Employment levels range from 370 in Washington up to 1,330 in New York. At the metro level, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA offers a median salary of $102,530 with an opportunity score of 61.92. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA have the highest opportunity scores at 77.27 and 77.42, respectively, though their median salaries differ significantly. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA provide mid-range salaries and opportunity scores within the listed metros.
The typical education requirement for engine and other machine assemblers is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the occupation accessible to individuals who complete secondary education and are ready to enter the workforce without needing a college degree. However, success in this role relies on a broad mix of skills. Mechanical ability, fine motor skills, and physical strength and stamina are central to performing assembly tasks. Being detail oriented supports accurate and consistent work. Science and mathematics skills contribute to understanding the technical aspects of machinery and measurements. Creativity and innovation can help with problem-solving, while interpersonal skills are useful for working effectively with supervisors and coworkers. Critical and analytical thinking, along with comfort using computers and information technology, rounds out a skill profile that blends hands-on abilities with cognitive and technical strengths. For students and career changers, developing this combination of skills can improve readiness for this occupation and related machine-focused roles.
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