Production · Holland code RCI
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
Construct, assemble, or rebuild machines, such as engines, turbines, and similar equipment used in such industries as construction, extraction, textiles, and paper manufacturing.
Also called: Assembler, Assembly Line Worker, Engine Assembler, Machine Assembler, Cell Technician, Engine Builder, Field Service Technician, Fitter.
O*NET 51-2031.00
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $53,710
- Middle half earn $45,230 to $74,920. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Most common education
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- 64% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Some preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- 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.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Reading Comprehension3.1 / 5
- Active Listening3.0 / 5
- Speaking3.0 / 5
- Critical Thinking3.0 / 5
- Monitoring3.0 / 5
- Active Learning2.4 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical3.9 / 5
- Production and Processing3.4 / 5
- Customer and Personal Service3.2 / 5
- Engineering and Technology3.0 / 5
- Mathematics2.9 / 5
- Public Safety and Security2.9 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic100
- Investigative28
- Artistic4
- Social0
- Enterprising1
- Conventional56
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- riveter · DE Metallnieter/Metallnieterin · FR riveteur/riveteuse
- aircraft gas turbine engine overhaul technician · DE Fluggerätemechaniker für Gasturbinen-Triebwerke/Fluggerätemechanikerin für Gasturbinen-Triebwerke · FR technicien aéronautique de révision de moteurs à turbine à gaz/technicienne aéronautique de révision de moteurs à turbine à gaz
- aircraft assembler · DE Flugzeugmonteur/Flugzeugmonteurin · FR ouvrier de montage en aéronautique/ouvrière de montage en aéronautique
- aircraft engine assembler · DE Flugtriebwerkmechaniker/Flugtriebwerkmechanikerin · FR ajusteur-monteur de moteurs d’avion/ajusteuse-monteuse de moteurs d’avion
- industrial machinery assembler · DE Maschinenmonteur/Maschinenmonteurin · FR monteur de machines industrielles/monteuse de machines industrielles
- motor vehicle assembler · DE Kfz-Monteur/Kfz-Monteurin · FR ouvrier de montage en construction automobile/ouvrière de montage en construction automobile
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Steel erectors (5311)8,200 employed
- Aircraft maintenance and related trades (5234)17,600 employed
- Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) (8142)23,600 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Plant and machine operators and assemblers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €39,630 |
| Netherlands | €37,567 |
| Austria | €37,304 |
| Sweden | €36,005 |
| Germany | €34,433 |
| Ireland | €32,617 |
| France | €28,550 |
| Italy | €28,330 |
| Spain | €24,409 |
| Portugal | €11,309 |
| Poland | €10,259 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
Exposure to AI
This occupation sits in the lower third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -0.96. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.
Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.
Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (51-2031).
Related careers
Is it a fit for you?
Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.
Take the career interests test