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.
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Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators (51-2090) offer a large employment base, with 1,467,000 jobs nationally, making this a widely available hands-on production career. The typical education requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, which can make entry more accessible for students and career changers who want to move into manufacturing or assembly work without a lengthy academic pathway. This field combines physical work with precision and attention to detail, supported by skills such as fine motor ability, mechanical aptitude, physical strength and stamina, and being detail oriented. Interpersonal, leadership, and project management skills can also be valuable for coordinating with coworkers and moving toward roles with more responsibility. While projected employment growth is slightly negative at -0.1%, there are still 156,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing hiring needs. For many people, this role can provide a direct path into production environments and can also be a stepping stone to related occupations such as other production worker and machine operator roles.
The national median annual salary for miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators is $42,210. Within this overall picture, pay levels vary by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $44,580 in New York to $48,260 in Washington, with California at $47,720, Massachusetts at $46,720, and Colorado at $46,150. At the metro level, differences are even more pronounced. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro has the highest listed median salary at $60,250, followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $52,360. Other high-opportunity metros such as Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ($47,860) and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($46,400) are also above the national median, while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is lower at $39,640. These variations illustrate how earnings for this occupation can shift significantly depending on state and metro area.
Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators account for 1,467,000 jobs nationwide, indicating a substantial employment footprint. Projected employment growth is -0.1%, suggesting that overall job numbers are expected to be very slightly lower in the future. However, despite this near-flat growth projection, the occupation still shows 156,000 annual openings. This combination means that, even though total employment is not projected to expand, there is still notable ongoing hiring activity. For job seekers, this can translate into continued opportunities to enter or re-enter the field, especially for those who are prepared with the listed skills such as fine motor ability, mechanical aptitude, and attention to detail. People considering this path may also find it useful to keep an eye on related roles such as other production workers and machine setters and operators, which may provide additional options within the broader production and manufacturing space.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators. Among states, California stands out with 98,390 jobs, a median salary of $47,720, and the highest opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also show relatively strong opportunity scores (65.87 and 65.78) with median salaries of $46,720 and $44,580, respectively, and more moderate employment levels. Colorado and Washington round out the top states, combining mid-range employment counts with median salaries above $46,000 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ both achieve opportunity scores above 77, but with different salary and employment profiles: San Jose has a higher median salary ($52,360) and lower employment (5,290), while New York has more jobs (26,880) but a lower median salary ($39,640). San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA stands out with both a high median salary of $60,250 and a strong opportunity score of 68.75.
The typical education requirement for miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the role accessible to individuals who have completed secondary education but may not have formal postsecondary training. Success in this occupation, however, is closely tied to several key skills. Fine motor skills and being detail oriented support careful, precise work. Mechanical skills and physical strength and stamina align with the hands-on, physically active nature of many assembly and fabrication tasks. Interpersonal and leadership skills can be important when working in teams or taking on supervisory responsibilities. Mathematics and science knowledge, along with computers and information technology skills, can help workers handle measurements, basic problem-solving, and interaction with equipment or systems. Project management skills may become increasingly relevant for those interested in coordinating work, overseeing processes, or exploring advancement opportunities within production environments.
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