Production Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Wide pay band SOC 51-2061

Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

The published band from $27,880 to $78,270 is the distinctive signal for this role, not a twin of Nuclear Power Reactor Operators.

Same-major-group titles next to Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators ($123K) , Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers ($63K) , Tool and Die Makers ($64K) , Gas Plant Operators ($88K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 51-2061 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Change timing weights on balance wheels to correct deficient timing
  2. 2. Assemble and install components of timepieces to complete mechanisms, using watchmakers' tools and loupes
  3. 3. Adjust sizes or positioning of timepiece parts to achieve specified fit or function, using calipers, fixtures, and loupes
  4. 4. Observe operation of timepiece parts and subassemblies to determine accuracy of movement, and to diagnose causes of defects
  5. 5. Test operation and fit of timepiece parts and subassemblies, using electronic testing equipment, tweezers, watchmakers' tools, and loupes
  6. 6. Mount hairsprings and balance wheel assemblies between jaws of truing calipers
  7. 7. Replace specified parts to repair malfunctioning timepieces, using watchmakers' tools, loupes, and holding fixtures
  8. 8. Disassemble timepieces such as watches, clocks, and chronometers so that repairs can be made
  9. 9. Clean and lubricate timepiece parts and assemblies, using solvents, buff sticks, and oil
  10. 10. Estimate spaces between collets and first inner coils to determine if spaces are within acceptable limits
  11. 11. Bend inner coils of springs away from or toward collets, using tweezers, to locate centers of collets in centers of springs, and to corre…
  12. 12. Turn wheels of calipers and examine springs, using loupes, to determine if center coils appear as perfect circles

O*NET skills and knowledge for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 51-2061 - entity-keyed; sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Repairing 3.4
  2. 2. Troubleshooting 3.3
  3. 3. Quality Control Analysis 3.3
  4. 4. Operations Monitoring 3.0
  5. 5. Active Listening 2.9
  6. 6. Critical Thinking 2.9
  7. 7. Monitoring 2.9
  8. 8. Reading Comprehension 2.8

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Mechanical 3.6
  2. 2. Mathematics 3.0
  3. 3. Production and Processing 2.8
  4. 4. Engineering and Technology 2.7
  5. 5. Education and Training 2.6
  6. 6. Customer and Personal Service 2.4
Published pay band (10th to 90th)
$27,880 to $78,270
median $62,620 · ~2.8× spread
$63K
National median
↓ -18%
Growth 2024-2034
250
Estimated US jobs
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Highest-pay peer · $123K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Top Paying States for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

The OEWS band for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters runs from $27,880 (10th) to $78,270 (90th), about 2.8× wide, with median $62,620. That spread, not the midpoint alone, is the distinctive published fact.

Employment Projections expect -18% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Pennsylvania at $71,770. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators at $122,890. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

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Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do timing device assemblers and adjusters do day to day?
O*NET lists published task statements for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters. Leading ones include: Change timing weights on balance wheels to correct deficient timing; Assemble and install components of timepieces to complete mechanisms, using watchmakers' tools and loupes; Adjust sizes or positioning of timepiece parts to achieve specified fit or function, using calipers, fixtures, and loupes; Observe operation of timepiece parts and subassemblies to determine accuracy of movement, and to diagnose causes of defects. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for timing device assemblers and adjusters?
For SOC 51-2061, O*NET importance scores lead with Repairing (3.4), Troubleshooting (3.3), Quality Control Analysis (3.3), Operations Monitoring (3.0). Knowledge areas emphasize Mechanical, Mathematics, Production and Processing. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
How does Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters sit next to other Production Occupations titles?
On this card, neighboring same-major-group titles include Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers, Tool and Die Makers, Gas Plant Operators. Among those peers, Nuclear Power Reactor Operators holds the highest published national median ($122,890). Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers sits lower at $62,750. Peer titles are hash-ordered per card so adjacent SOC pages do not share an identical ladder.
What is the median salary for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters?
The median salary for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters is $62,620 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 OEWS data). This means half of workers in this occupation earn more and half earn less. The full range is $27,880 (10th percentile) to $78,270 (90th percentile). For context beside Nuclear Power Reactor Operators ($122,890), this role's median is the OEWS national figure above.
Is Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters a growing occupation?
The BLS projects -18% employment change for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters from 2024 to 2034. This is declining relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%.
What education do you need to become a timing device assemblers and adjusters?
BLS assigns Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. These occupation-level categories are not requirements for every employer or worker.
Which states pay timing device assemblers and adjusters the most?
The highest published state medians in this ranking for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters are Pennsylvania ($71,770). The table does not identify why state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

All federal data sources used on this page
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - wage estimates by area + occupation. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - occupation task statements (importance-ranked). onetcenter.org
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) - quarterly employment and wage totals by industry. bls.gov/cew
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for metro/state aggregates. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics (CES) - monthly nonfarm payroll baselines. bls.gov/ces
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context. irs.gov/statistics
  • BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) - unemployment context for labor-market comparisons. bls.gov/lau