Salary guide, May 2025
Electronics Assembler / Solderer pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers in the United States was $45,850 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $38,380 and $51,670.
Also searched as: Soldering Technician, PCB Assembler, Rework & Repair Technician. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-2028 Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
The Electronics Assembler / Solderer title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35,350 | $38,380 | $45,850 | $51,670 | $62,950 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.00 | $18.45 | $22.04 | $24.84 | $30.27 |
BLS estimated 246,970 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-2028 Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $39,020 | $36,180 to $48,270 | 1,530 | 0.34 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $38,490 | $36,160 to $48,240 | 2,390 | 1.04 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $39,720 | $35,370 to $48,770 | 1,160 | 0.52 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,210 | $36,510 to $47,470 | 780 | 0.66 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,620 | $38,970 to $58,180 | 8,760 | 0.58 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,620 | $38,970 to $58,180 | 8,760 | 0.58 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $45,930 | $37,600 to $54,090 | 5,420 | 0.84 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $41,160 | $36,020 to $49,450 | 9,750 | 1.36 |
Rank every metro for Electronics Assembler / Solderer
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$62,920
- Plastics Product Manufacturing$61,440
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$61,180
- Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing$60,110
- Chemical Manufacturing$54,840
- Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing$54,250
- Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing$49,900
- Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)$48,950
- Machinery Manufacturing$48,810
- Primary Metal Manufacturing$48,780
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing$48,780
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)$48,250
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$47,330
- Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing$47,290
- Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing$47,230
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 218,840 | $38,480 | $45,910 | $51,410 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 106,980 | $37,890 | $45,220 | $50,380 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 65,350 | $38,390 | $45,820 | $49,910 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 49,310 | $36,680 | $41,250 | $47,200 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 40,200 | $39,460 | $47,150 | $57,310 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 30,940 | $39,280 | $46,330 | $50,880 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 27,620 | $37,920 | $45,700 | $49,320 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 20,660 | $40,260 | $47,330 | $60,080 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 18,790 | $44,260 | $48,810 | $59,440 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 14,550 | $45,030 | $48,950 | $59,580 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 10,990 | $37,850 | $42,210 | $47,330 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 7,940 | $38,730 | $45,930 | $52,030 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 6,950 | $50,940 | $61,180 | $79,480 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 5,840 | $39,300 | $46,110 | $53,270 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 5,590 | $36,150 | $40,340 | $48,310 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 3,620 | $40,560 | $46,680 | $49,500 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 3,440 | $37,240 | $45,270 | $49,540 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 2,810 | $39,340 | $47,230 | $56,410 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 2,550 | $39,970 | $46,440 | $51,830 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 2,250 | $41,940 | $46,760 | $49,640 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 1,510 | $40,120 | $48,250 | $52,120 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,360 | $38,020 | $45,270 | $49,410 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 1,200 | $36,830 | $40,580 | $48,460 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 1,040 | $38,810 | $47,290 | $51,480 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 750 | $45,520 | $46,810 | $56,380 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 740 | $57,400 | $62,920 | $76,920 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 690 | $40,550 | $46,950 | $48,830 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 680 | $49,900 | $60,110 | $67,180 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 620 | $36,960 | $45,940 | $50,210 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 400 | $40,800 | $45,310 | $54,190 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 350 | $39,730 | $44,850 | $53,730 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 250 | $39,410 | $54,840 | $69,290 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 170 | $44,960 | $46,230 | $53,630 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 150 | $39,350 | $46,560 | $80,700 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 150 | $42,300 | $54,250 | $63,300 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 150 | $42,450 | $48,780 | $54,140 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 140 | $42,450 | $48,780 | $53,920 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 130 | $37,650 | $43,340 | $46,910 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 130 | $37,650 | $43,340 | $46,910 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 110 | $50,520 | $61,440 | $63,990 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 80 | $36,810 | $40,260 | $47,480 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 50 | $44,420 | $49,900 | $62,620 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 40 | $39,240 | $41,010 | $49,030 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 30 | $30,190 | $40,640 | $50,090 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Electronics Assembler / Solderer, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $37,450 | $44,040 | $49,830 |
| May 2025 | $38,380 | $45,850 | $51,670 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Production Supervisor pay (SOC 51-1011)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about standards and certification?
Many plants expect IPC soldering and acceptability training. We ask which certification the person holds, whether it is current and at what level. A card shows they passed a course. It does not show daily judgment, so we also ask about boards they reworked.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Electronics Assembler / Solderer?
The median annual wage for Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers in the United States was $45,850 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $38,380 and $51,670. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $35,350. 90% earned less than $62,950.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Electronics Assembler / Solderer at a plant?
The Electronics Assembler / Solderer title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 246,970 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
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What does this data mean for your opening?
The Electronics Assembler and Solderer role is mapped to SOC 51-2028, representing electrical and electronic equipment assemblers. The national median salary as of May 2025 is $45,850, marking a $1,810 increase from the May 2024 median of $44,040. The middle-band width is $13,290, based on a 25th percentile of $38,380 and a 75th percentile of $51,670.
Manufacturing Headhunters observes that the BLS does not isolate roles requiring specific certifications like IPC J-STD-001 or IPC-A-610 from general assembly tasks. Furthermore, these figures exclude critical total compensation components like shift premiums and skills-based pay differentials often found in high-tech manufacturing environments.
Regional employment data indicates the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, area has a median of $45,670 with a middle-band width of $17,940, while Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, reports a median of $41,160 with a middle-band width of $13,430. National industry wages are notable in sectors such as Motor Vehicle Manufacturing at $62,920 and Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing at $61,180. These industry figures are national benchmarks and are not intended to represent localized annual pay for solderers. The BLS does not differentiate between standard assembly work and the complex rework duties often required in these high-value sectors.
The location quotient for Los Angeles is 1.38, and for Chicago, it is 1.36, identifying the relative density of the occupation in these markets. These numbers do not indicate the availability of skilled labor. The middle-band width and median change are simple arithmetic results provided in the dataset. Because the occupation definition is broad, these salaries cover many levels of skill and production settings. Users should not assume these figures include the value of specialized technical certifications or the premiums associated with cleanroom or high-complexity manual soldering tasks, as these are not partitioned by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
What is the national median salary change for the Electronics Assembler / Solderer from 2024 to 2025?
The national median salary for this occupation increased by $1,810, from $44,040 in May 2024 to $45,850 in May 2025.
How does the middle-band width in Los Angeles compare to the national average?
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim middle-band width of $17,940 is wider than the national middle-band width of $13,290.
Are the national industry wages reflective of local compensation for Electronics Assemblers?
No, industry wages such as $62,920 for Motor Vehicle Manufacturing are national aggregates. They are not direct proxies for local annual wages of an Electronics Assembler / Solderer.
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