Assembly and Test Operator Salary in the United States

How much does an Assembly and Test Operator make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Assembly and Test Operator in the United States is $35,475 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

However, an Assembly and Test Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $40,957
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $32,771 to $38,345
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $30,309
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View as table View as graph 25% $32,771 10% $30,309 90% $40,957 75% $38,345 $35,475 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Assembly and Test Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $38,345 $3,195 $737 $18
Average $35,475 $2,956 $682 $17
25th Percentile $32,771 $2,731 $630 $16
Check out Assembly and Test Operator Job Openings in the United States
Test Operator

Butler Aerospace & Defense - MCKINNEY, TX

Assembly Integration and Test Technician

Leidos - SAN DIEGO, CA

Engineer Systems Test

Northrop Grumman - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Flight Test Operator

Anduril Industries - SAN CLEMENTE, CA

Search More Assembly and Test Operator Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Assembly and Test Operator Salaries

An Assembly and Test Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Assembly and Test Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Assembly and Test Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $34,662
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $34,957
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $35,555
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $35,674
  • Expert (over 8 years): $35,754
Levels Salary
Entry Level Assembly and Test Operator$34,662
Intermediate Level Assembly and Test Operator$34,957
Senior Level Assembly and Test Operator$35,555
Specialist Level Assembly and Test Operator$35,674
Expert Level Assembly and Test Operator$35,754
$34,662 0 yr
$34,957 < 2 yrs
$35,555 2-4 yrs
$35,674 5-8 yrs
$35,754 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Assembly and Test Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Assembly and Test Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $39,278.
  • California: $39,129.
  • Massachusetts: $38,607.

Top Paying Cities for Assembly and Test Operators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $44,745
  • San Francisco: $44,305
  • Oakland: $43,322

What Skills Can Increase an Assembly and Test Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Problem Solving (Mentioned in 3.83% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 3.4% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
  • Inventory Control (Mentioned in 2.13% Job Postings): Inventory control or stock control can be broadly defined as "the activity of checking a shop’s stock." However, a more focused definition takes into account the more science-based, methodical practice of not only verifying a business' inventory but also focusing on the many related facets of inventory management (such as forecasting future demand) "within an organisation to meet the demand placed upon that business economically." Other facets of inventory control include supply chain management, production control, financial flexibility, and customer satisfaction. At the root of inventory control, however, is the inventory control problem, which involves determining when to order, how much to order, and the logistics (where) of those decisions. An extension of inventory control is the inventory control system. This may come in the form of a technological system and its programmed software used for managing various aspects of inventory problems , or it may refer to a methodology (which may include the use of technological barriers) for handling loss prevention in a business.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Problem Solving 3.83%
Continuous Improvement 3.4%
Inventory Control 2.13%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Assembly and Test Operator's salary.
  • Oral Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Inventory Control: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Oral Communication
$43,280
22%
Inventory Control
$41,506
17%
Initiative
$38,313
8%
Innovation
$37,604
6%
ISO
$37,249
5%
Assembler
$36,539
3%
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How Education impacts an Assembly and Test Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Assembly and Test Operators enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Assembly and Test Operator with a No Diploma is between $28,259 and $31,744).

Assembly and Test Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Assembly and Test Operator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 9.1%
High School 45.5%
Associates 36.4%
Bachelors 9.1%
Masters 9.1%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Assembly and Test Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Assembly and Test Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Assembly and Test Operator

Salaries for an Assembly and Test Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $37,174 in 2023 to around $36,659 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Assembly and Test Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Assembly and Test Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$37,174
2024
$36,905
2025
$36,659
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $37,174
2024 $36,905
2025 $36,659
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Assembly and Test Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Assembly and Test Operator

Here are companies hiring for Assembly and Test Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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