Engine and Other Machine Assemblers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Production · SOC 51-2031 · O*NET 51-2031.00
Construct, assemble, or rebuild machines, such as engines, turbines, and similar equipment used in such industries as construction, extraction, textiles, and paper manufacturing.
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers fall under the Production category in the U.S. occupational classification. Engine and Other Machine Assemblers earn a median salary of $52,540 per year, ranking in the top 58% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -21.1% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do engine and other machine assemblers earn?
The median annual wage for engine and other machine assemblers is $52,540. That puts engine and other machine assemblers at #466 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $37,950 |
| 25th percentile | $42,790 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $52,540 |
| 75th percentile | $70,050 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,300 |
| Median hourly wage | $25.26/hr |
Is engine and other machine assemblers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for engine and other machine assemblers is -21.1%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 38K positions in 2024 to 30K in 2034, a net change of -8K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.
What do engine and other machine assemblers do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working engine and other machine assemblers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Verify conformance of parts to stock lists or blueprints, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
- 2.Lay out and drill, ream, tap, or cut parts for assembly.
- 3.Inspect, operate, and test completed products to verify functioning, machine capabilities, or conformance to customer specifications.
- 4.Set and verify parts clearances.
- 5.Read and interpret assembly blueprints or specifications manuals, and plan assembly or building operations.
- 6.Fasten or install piping, fixtures, or wiring and electrical components to form assemblies or subassemblies, using hand tools, rivet guns, or welding equipment.
- 7.Position or align components for assembly, manually or using hoists.
- 8.Remove rough spots and smooth surfaces to fit, trim, or clean parts, using hand tools or power tools.
Top skills for engine and other machine assemblers
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become engine and other machine assembler?
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about engine and other machine assemblers
What is the median salary for engine and other machine assemblers?
The median annual salary for engine and other machine assemblers is $52,540 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is engine and other machine assemblers a growing career?
BLS projects -21.1% growth for engine and other machine assemblers from 2024 through 2034, which is declining growth projected to lose jobs through 2034.
What education does my child need to become engine and other machine assembler?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to engine and other machine assemblers?
Related occupations within the Production category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.