Salary guide, May 2025
Wire Harness & Cable Assembler 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: Wire Harness Assembler, Cable Assembler, Harness 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 Wire Harness & Cable Assembler 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 Wire Harness & Cable Assembler
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 Wire Harness & Cable Assembler, 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 standard and certification?
Many programs expect IPC and WHMA workmanship training. We confirm the level and date. The certificate shows they were trained to the standard. We then ask about harnesses they built and which defects they caught.
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 Wire Harness & Cable Assembler?
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 Wire Harness & Cable Assembler at a plant?
The Wire Harness & Cable Assembler 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?
Skilled Mechanical Assembler pay Electronics Assembler / Solderer pay SMT Technician pay Control Panel Builder pay Aircraft Structures Assembler pay Wire Harness & Cable Assembler pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Wire Harness & Cable Assembler recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters evaluates current wage data for the Wire Harness and Cable Assembler role under SOC 51-2028. This code encompasses a wide variety of electrical and electronic assembly tasks. While specialized duties like reading harness drawings, formboards, and performing continuity testing are standard for this position, the BLS does not track these specific assembly tasks separately from the broader workforce.
The national median annual wage is currently $45,850, reflecting a median change of $1,810 over the prior May 2024 period. Hiring managers should note that the P25 is $38,380 and the P75 is $51,670, creating a middle-band width of $13,290. This range often reflects varying skill levels in crimping and pull testing rather than differences in industry demand.
When comparing the national average to specific high-employment hubs, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim shows a median of $45,670 with a much wider P25 to P75 band compared to the national data. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro reports a median of $41,160. These figures remain part of the broader SOC occupation and should be interpreted with awareness of the local labor markets and their specific concentration of electrical assembly work. The location quotient in Chicago is 1.36 and 1.38 in Los Angeles, indicating a higher employment concentration than the national average, but this does not inherently translate to standardized pay scales across all local manufacturers.
Specific manufacturing industries provide a clearer look at compensation trends. Motor Vehicle Manufacturing leads with a median of $62,920, followed by Plastics Product Manufacturing at $61,440 and Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing at $61,180. These figures represent national averages for these industries. These figures omit non-salary pay components like shift differentials, production bonuses, and specialized certification premiums such as IPC/WHMA-A-620. When sourcing candidates, note that BLS data reflects payroll averages for the occupation and does not segment by specific credentials or shift patterns often required for plant-level operations. These industry-specific medians indicate that complex assemblies, particularly in automotive and aerospace, command a premium over the general manufacturing median.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How does the middle-band width help in setting starting offers?
The middle-band width of $13,290 identifies the typical pay spread between the 25th and 75th percentiles. It helps hiring managers distinguish between entry-level assembly and experienced candidates with specialized certification.
Why is the Motor Vehicle industry median higher than the national median?
The $62,920 median in Motor Vehicle Manufacturing reflects industry-specific pay structures for complex electronic assemblies. This is significantly above the overall national median of $45,850.
Does this data include shift differentials for second or third shift?
No, BLS wage data excludes additional cash components such as shift differentials or production bonuses. The provided figures represent base annual compensation reported by employers.
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