Salary guide, May 2025
SMT Technician 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: SMT Operator, SMT Machine Programmer, Pick-and-Place 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 SMT Technician 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 SMT Technician
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. Nested NAICS rows overlap; they are not independent samples and must not be added together. Identical source rows repeated at different publication levels appear once.
- Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 325000)$54,840
- Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (NAICS 326000)$54,250
- Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS 333000)$48,810
- Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331000)$48,780
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 336000)$47,330
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing (NAICS 339000)$46,680
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (NAICS 332000)$46,440
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing (NAICS 335000)$45,820
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (NAICS 334000)$45,220
- Printing and Related Support Activities (NAICS 323000)$43,340
- Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (NAICS 337000)$40,640
Bars compare up to 15 non-overlapping 3-digit manufacturing subsectors with exact annual medians. More detailed scopes remain in the table, identified by code and publication level.
| NAICS / scope | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 · sector | Manufacturing | 218,840 | $38,480 | $45,910 | $51,410 |
| 334000 · 3-digit | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 106,980 | $37,890 | $45,220 | $50,380 |
| 335000 · 3-digit | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 65,350 | $38,390 | $45,820 | $49,910 |
| 334400 · 4-digit | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 49,310 | $36,680 | $41,250 | $47,200 |
| 334500 · 4-digit | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 40,200 | $39,460 | $47,150 | $57,310 |
| 335300 · 4-digit | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 30,940 | $39,280 | $46,330 | $50,880 |
| 335900 · 4-digit | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 27,620 | $37,920 | $45,700 | $49,320 |
| 336000 · 3-digit | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 20,660 | $40,260 | $47,330 | $60,080 |
| 333000 · 3-digit | Machinery Manufacturing | 18,790 | $44,260 | $48,810 | $59,440 |
| 3330A1 · 4-digit | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 14,550 | $45,030 | $48,950 | $59,580 |
| 336300 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 10,990 | $37,850 | $42,210 | $47,330 |
| 334200 · 4-digit | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 7,940 | $38,730 | $45,930 | $52,030 |
| 336400 · 4-digit | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 6,950 | $50,940 | $61,180 | $79,480 |
| 334100 · 4-digit | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 5,840 | $39,300 | $46,110 | $53,270 |
| 335100 · 4-digit | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 5,590 | $36,150 | $40,340 | $48,310 |
| 339000 · 3-digit | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 3,620 | $40,560 | $46,680 | $49,500 |
| 334300 · 4-digit | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 3,440 | $37,240 | $45,270 | $49,540 |
| 333300 · 4-digit | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 2,810 | $39,340 | $47,230 | $56,410 |
| 332000 · 3-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 2,550 | $39,970 | $46,440 | $51,830 |
| 339100 · 4-digit | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 2,250 | $41,940 | $46,760 | $49,640 |
| 3320A1 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 1,510 | $40,120 | $48,250 | $52,120 |
| 339900 · 4-digit | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,360 | $38,020 | $45,270 | $49,410 |
| 335200 · 4-digit | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 1,200 | $36,830 | $40,580 | $48,460 |
| 336200 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 1,040 | $38,810 | $47,290 | $51,480 |
| 333600 · 4-digit | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 750 | $45,520 | $46,810 | $56,380 |
| 336100 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 740 | $57,400 | $62,920 | $76,920 |
| 336500 · 4-digit | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 690 | $40,550 | $46,950 | $48,830 |
| 333500 · 4-digit | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 680 | $49,900 | $60,110 | $67,180 |
| 3320A2 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 620 | $36,960 | $45,940 | $50,210 |
| 332700 · 4-digit | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 400 | $40,800 | $45,310 | $54,190 |
| 332710 · 5-digit | Machine Shops | 350 | $39,730 | $44,850 | $53,730 |
| 325000 · 3-digit | Chemical Manufacturing | 250 | $39,410 | $54,840 | $69,290 |
| 336600 · 4-digit | Ship and Boat Building | 170 | $44,960 | $46,230 | $53,630 |
| 325400 · 4-digit | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 150 | $39,350 | $46,560 | $80,700 |
| 326000 · 3-digit | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 150 | $42,300 | $54,250 | $63,300 |
| 331000 · 3-digit | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 150 | $42,450 | $48,780 | $54,140 |
| 331400 · 4-digit | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 140 | $42,450 | $48,780 | $53,920 |
| 323000 · 3-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 130 | $37,650 | $43,340 | $46,910 |
| 323100 · 4-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 130 | $37,650 | $43,340 | $46,910 |
| 326100 · 4-digit | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 110 | $50,520 | $61,440 | $63,990 |
| 336900 · 4-digit | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 80 | $36,810 | $40,260 | $47,480 |
| 332720 · 5-digit | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 50 | $44,420 | $49,900 | $62,620 |
| 326200 · 4-digit | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 40 | $39,240 | $41,010 | $49,030 |
| 337000 · 3-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 30 | $30,190 | $40,640 | $50,090 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For SMT Technician, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. It includes base rate, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits.
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 safe work and credentials?
SMT lines involve moving parts, hot ovens, solder paste and cleaning chemicals. We ask about safe practice and ESD. IPC training helps and we ask about it, but equipment time and process judgment matter more.
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 SMT Technician?
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 SMT Technician at a plant?
The SMT Technician 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 SMT Technician role is mapped to SOC 51-2028, representing Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers. For SMT Technician in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $45,850; the May 2024 median is $44,040. Their arithmetic difference is $1,810.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The middle-band width for this occupation is $13,290, based on a 25th percentile of $38,380 and a 75th percentile of $51,670. Manufacturing Headhunters notes that these figures represent a broad assembly category and do not isolate the technical tasks specific to SMT, such as feeder setup or reflow profiling. For SMT Technician in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded.
In the compared metros, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim reports a median of $45,670 with a middle-band width of $17,940, while Chicago-Naperville-Elgin reports a median of $41,160 with a middle-band width of $13,430. National industry wages are notably higher in sectors like 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 SMT technicians. The BLS does not partition these roles by industrial sector or specific SMT machine programming capabilities.
The location quotient for Los Angeles is 1.38, and for Chicago, it is 1.36, highlighting the relative employment density. These figures do not indicate the supply of qualified candidates. For SMT Technician in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $45,850; the May 2024 median is $44,040. Their arithmetic difference is $1,810. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. Because the definition of SOC 51-2028 is inclusive of all electrical and electronic assemblers, these figures encompass a wide array of roles. Consequently, the user should recognize that these salary medians do not isolate the specialized skill sets required for pick-and-place equipment programming or AOI management.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
For SMT Technician in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $45,850; the May 2024 median is $44,040. Their arithmetic difference is $1,810. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
What is the national median salary change for the SMT Technician role from 2024 to 2025?
For SMT Technician in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $45,850; the May 2024 median is $44,040. Their arithmetic difference is $1,810. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
How does the Chicago middle-band width compare to the national average?
The Chicago middle-band width of $13,430 is slightly larger than the national middle-band width of $13,290.
Are the industry wages like $61,180 for Aerospace representative of SMT Technician pay?
No, the industry wages are national aggregates for the entire industry. They do not correlate to the localized annual compensation of SMT technicians.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4