51 Series · SOC 51-2031
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $53,710
- Median / year
- $77,750
- Top 10% earn
- -21.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 34,000
- US workers
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers earn a median of $53,710 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $53,710, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $38,500 (10th percentile) to $77,750 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 34,000 US workers. Ohio pays the most ($74,750), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers earn a median of $53,710, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 39% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #25 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 21.1% by 2033.
- $53,710
- Median annual wage
- Top 61%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #25 of 105
- in Production
- 2.0×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Ohio at $74,750. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (SOC 51-2031) pays a national median of $53,710 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $38,500 at the 10th percentile to $77,750 at the 90th, with a mean of $57,790 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 34,000 Americans work in this occupation across 35 reporting states and 56 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -21.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Ohio pays the highest state median at $74,750, which is +39% above the national figure. The top metro is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $102,530 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$53,710
per year
Median Hourly
$25.82/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$57,790
average
Employment
34,000
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Engine and Other Machine Assemblers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$53,710 Bottom 39% higher than 39% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Engine and Other Machine Assemblers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Engine and Other Machine Assemblers sits on the slower-growing side at -21.1% growth and $53,710 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-21.1%
Declining
Annual Openings
2,800
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Engine and Other Machine Assemblers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Read and interpret assembly blueprints or specifications manuals, and plan assembly or building operations.
- ▸ Inspect, operate, and test completed products to verify functioning, machine capabilities, or conformance to customer specifications.
- ▸ Position or align components for assembly, manually or using hoists.
- ▸ Set and verify parts clearances.
- ▸ Verify conformance of parts to stock lists or blueprints, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
- ▸ Fasten or install piping, fixtures, or wiring and electrical components to form assemblies or subassemblies, using hand tools, rivet guns, or welding equipment.
- ▸ Remove rough spots and smooth surfaces to fit, trim, or clean parts, using hand tools or power tools.
- ▸ Lay out and drill, ream, tap, or cut parts for assembly.
- ▸ Rework, repair, or replace damaged parts or assemblies.
- ▸ Assemble systems of gears by aligning and meshing gears in gearboxes.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$38,500
25th Percentile
$45,230
Median
$53,710
75th Percentile
$74,920
90th Percentile
$77,750
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 35 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | $74,750 | +39% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $72,800 | +36% above national |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $70,150 | +31% above national |
| 4 | Oregon | $63,420 | +18% above national |
| 5 | Connecticut | $61,320 | +14% above national |
| 6 | Michigan | $60,950 | +13% above national |
| 7 | Minnesota | $58,820 | +10% above national |
| 8 | Arkansas | $54,620 | +2% above national |
| 9 | Idaho | $54,240 | +1% above national |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $54,240 | +1% above national |
| 11 | Arizona | $54,100 | +1% above national |
| 12 | Florida | $52,660 | 2% below national |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $52,000 | 3% below national |
| 14 | New Jersey | $50,910 | 5% below national |
| 15 | Illinois | $49,630 | 8% below national |
| 16 | Nebraska | $49,590 | 8% below national |
| 17 | Utah | $48,730 | 9% below national |
| 18 | Texas | $47,210 | 12% below national |
| 19 | South Carolina | $46,950 | 13% below national |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $46,880 | 13% below national |
| 21 | California | $46,810 | 13% below national |
| 22 | Tennessee | $46,810 | 13% below national |
| 23 | Missouri | $46,720 | 13% below national |
| 24 | Mississippi | $46,610 | 13% below national |
| 25 | New York | $46,460 | 13% below national |
| 26 | Colorado | $46,070 | 14% below national |
| 27 | Iowa | $46,040 | 14% below national |
| 28 | South Dakota | $45,930 | 14% below national |
| 29 | North Carolina | $45,750 | 15% below national |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $45,060 | 16% below national |
| 31 | Kansas | $42,590 | 21% below national |
| 32 | Kentucky | $41,580 | 23% below national |
| 33 | Maryland | $39,120 | 27% below national |
| 34 | Georgia | $38,540 | 28% below national |
| 35 | Virginia | $36,030 | 33% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 56 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,530 | +91% above national |
| 2 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $80,200 | +49% above national |
| 3 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $80,170 | +49% above national |
| 4 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $76,480 | +42% above national |
| 5 | Toledo, OH | $75,770 | +41% above national |
| 6 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $65,410 | +22% above national |
| 7 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $64,820 | +21% above national |
| 8 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $64,240 | +20% above national |
| 9 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $62,400 | +16% above national |
| 10 | Ann Arbor, MI | $61,680 | +15% above national |
| 11 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $61,340 | +14% above national |
| 12 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $59,600 | +11% above national |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | $59,570 | +11% above national |
| 14 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $58,550 | +9% above national |
| 15 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $55,340 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $53,570 | same as national |
| 17 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $53,290 | 1% below national |
| 18 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $53,180 | 1% below national |
| 19 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $51,920 | 3% below national |
| 20 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $51,850 | 3% below national |
| 21 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $51,800 | 4% below national |
| 22 | Tulsa, OK | $51,770 | 4% below national |
| 23 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $51,040 | 5% below national |
| 24 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $50,560 | 6% below national |
| 25 | Rochester, NY | $50,210 | 7% below national |
| 26 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,630 | 8% below national |
| 27 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $49,120 | 9% below national |
| 28 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $48,990 | 9% below national |
| 29 | Springfield, MO | $48,830 | 9% below national |
| 30 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $48,730 | 9% below national |
| 31 | Winston-Salem, NC | $48,580 | 10% below national |
| 32 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $47,620 | 11% below national |
| 33 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $47,370 | 12% below national |
| 34 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $47,350 | 12% below national |
| 35 | Jackson, MS | $47,270 | 12% below national |
| 36 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $47,090 | 12% below national |
| 37 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $46,950 | 13% below national |
| 38 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,620 | 13% below national |
| 39 | Columbia, MO | $46,500 | 13% below national |
| 40 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $46,440 | 14% below national |
| 41 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $46,340 | 14% below national |
| 42 | Worcester, MA | $46,160 | 14% below national |
| 43 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $45,930 | 14% below national |
| 44 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $45,190 | 16% below national |
| 45 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $45,060 | 16% below national |
| 46 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $44,850 | 16% below national |
| 47 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $42,700 | 20% below national |
| 48 | Springfield, MA | $41,110 | 23% below national |
| 49 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $40,800 | 24% below national |
| 50 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $40,650 | 24% below national |
| 51 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $40,360 | 25% below national |
| 52 | Oklahoma City, OK | $37,680 | 30% below national |
| 53 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,260 | 32% below national |
| 54 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,260 | 32% below national |
| 55 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $36,030 | 33% below national |
| 56 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $34,360 | 36% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Engine and Other Machine Assemblers make? ▼
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Is Engine and Other Machine Assemblers a good career? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Engine and Other Machine Assemblers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $74,920/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Ohio leads at $74,750/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.