6 free templates by industry and seniority for small manufacturers: general, electronics, mechanical, production line, senior/lead, and medical device, with the FLSA non-exempt, overtime, and safety guidance the generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
An assembly technician builds, assembles, and tests products to spec on a manufacturing floor: reading work instructions, using tools, inspecting for quality, and meeting output targets. For a small manufacturer, a contract shop, or an electronics or medical-device business, hiring one well starts with a job description that names the industry and gets the classification and safety pieces right. The posting is usually written by an owner or a production lead, not an HR team.
These six templates cover the role across industries and seniority: general, electronics (SMT and soldering), mechanical, production line, senior or lead, and medical device. Each is ready to use, with the FLSA non-exempt, overtime, and safety guidance the generic templates leave out. For the fundamentals behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description is a useful companion.
TL;DR
An assembly technician builds, assembles, and tests products to spec in manufacturing. The role is hourly and non-exempt categorically, so it is overtime-eligible no matter how highly paid, with overtime at time and one-half over 40 hours a week. The closest federal occupation reports a median of $43,570 a year (about $21 an hour). Download six templates as DOCX, by industry and seniority, with the FLSA, overtime, and safety guidance built in.
What an Assembly Technician Does
An assembly technician builds, assembles, and tests products and components to specification in a manufacturing setting. The work is hands-on and detail-oriented: following work instructions and blueprints, using hand and power tools, inspecting for quality, and keeping the station safe and organized.
The specifics vary by industry. Electronics assembly centers on soldering and surface-mount work on circuit boards; mechanical assembly centers on precision build from blueprints to tight tolerances; production-line work centers on repeatable tasks at cycle-time pace. The closest federal occupation is assemblers and fabricators, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics describes as building finished products and the parts that go into them. Because the role spans several industries, the job description should name yours.
Assembly Technician Duties and Responsibilities
Assembly technician duties cluster into four areas: assembly and build, quality and inspection, safety and workplace, and tools and equipment. A strong job description picks the specific responsibilities from each area that match your product and process, rather than listing every possible task.
Assembly and build
Assemble parts and products to spec
Read work instructions and blueprints
Use hand and power tools safely
Quality and inspection
Inspect work for defects
Record production and inspection data
Meet quality and output targets
Safety and workplace
Follow safety procedures and wear PPE
Keep the station clean and organized (5S)
Report equipment and safety issues
Tools and equipment
Operate assembly equipment
Use measuring and torque tools
Tend machines and fixtures
For an electronics role the duties center on soldering and ESD-safe handling; for a senior role they extend to training and job setup. For a structured way to scope the role to your operation, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by industry and seniority. The core structure is the same across all six, but each one emphasizes the duties, skills, and standards that fit a specific kind of assembly role. Use this guide to choose the closest fit, then adjust.
General Assembly Technician
Any manufacturer
The universal, all-purpose version: assemble and test products to spec, read work instructions, use tools, and meet quality targets. Start here.
Electronics Assembly
PCB, SMT, soldering
For electronics and PCB assembly: through-hole and surface-mount work, hand soldering and rework to IPC standards, and ESD-safe handling.
Mechanical Assembly
Precision, blueprints
For mechanical assemblies: precision hand assembly from blueprints, measuring tools, torque to spec, and tight-tolerance fit and function.
Production / Line
Assembly line, high pace
For assembly-line production: repeatable tasks at cycle-time pace, standardized work, and quality checks. On-the-job training, entry friendly.
Senior / Lead
Experienced technician
For complex assemblies and a floor lead: training, job setup, quality support, and process improvement, with a note on FLSA status for leads.
Medical Device
Cleanroom, regulated
For medical-device assembly: cleanroom work, good manufacturing practices, device history records, and strict documentation and traceability.
Match the Template to the Work
General production or mixed assembly: General. Circuit boards and soldering: Electronics. Precision build from blueprints: Mechanical. Fast-paced line work: Production / Line. Complex assemblies and a floor lead: Senior / Lead. Cleanroom and regulated device work: Medical Device. When in doubt, the General version is the baseline to adapt.
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: company and job summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, compensation with overtime terms, and how to apply, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
General, electronics, mechanical, production line, senior/lead, and medical device. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: General Assembly Technician
The universal, all-purpose version: assemble and test products to spec, read work instructions, use tools, and meet quality targets. Start here for most production roles.
Assembly Technician Job Description (General)
ASSEMBLY TECHNICIAN JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: __ (Production Lead / Plant Supervisor)
[Company Name] is hiring a Medical Device Assembly Technician to assemble medical
devices in a controlled environment to strict quality and documentation standards.
You will work in a cleanroom or controlled area, follow detailed work instructions
and good manufacturing practices, and maintain accurate device history records.
Ideal for a meticulous technician comfortable with regulated assembly.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Assemble medical devices to specification in a controlled area
•Follow detailed work instructions and good manufacturing practices
•Maintain cleanroom gowning and contamination controls
•Complete and verify device history records and documentation
•Inspect assemblies for quality and conformance
•Handle components per quality and traceability requirements
•Follow safety, quality, and regulatory procedures
•Support audits with accurate, complete records
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Assembly experience; medical-device or regulated experience a plus
•Comfortable with detailed documentation and procedures
•Able to work in a cleanroom or controlled environment
•Strong attention to detail and traceability
•Physically able to sit or stand for the shift and lift [25] lbs
•Available for [shift / overtime] schedule
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
Overtime: time and one-half for hours over 40 in a workweek
To apply, send your resume to __ by _.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
FLSA, Overtime, and Safety
This is the part the generic templates skip, and it is the part that matters most for a manufacturer: the FLSA non-exempt classification, the overtime that comes with it, manufacturing coverage and state rules, and safety. Get these right and your posting attracts the right candidates and protects your business.
FLSA: assembly technicians are non-exempt, no matter how much they earn
This is the compliance point every competitor template ignores, and it is the most important one for a manufacturer. Assembly and production work is manual, blue-collar work, which is categorically non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Department of Labor is explicit that the white-collar exemptions do not apply to manual laborers or blue-collar workers who perform repetitive operations with their hands, physical skill, and energy, and that production and maintenance workers are entitled to minimum wage and overtime no matter how highly paid they are. The practical result: assembly technicians are hourly, overtime-eligible employees, and you owe overtime even to your most experienced, highest-paid technician. Do not classify a production role as salaried-exempt to avoid overtime. This is general information, not legal advice.
Overtime: time and one-half over 40 hours in a workweek
Because the role is non-exempt, the FLSA requires overtime pay at one and a half times the regular rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Manufacturing commonly runs overtime, extra shifts, and weekend work, so this is not a corner case, it is the norm. The regular rate includes more than base pay: nondiscretionary bonuses and shift differentials generally must be folded in when calculating overtime. Track hours accurately, including any pre-shift or post-shift work, and budget for overtime when you set the pay range and the schedule. State the overtime expectation in the posting so candidates know the role involves it. This is general information, not legal advice.
Manufacturing coverage and state rules add another layer
Virtually all manufacturing employees are covered by the FLSA, so federal minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements apply to essentially every assembly role. On top of the federal floor, many states set higher minimum wages and some impose stricter overtime rules, such as daily overtime after eight hours in a day in California, regardless of the weekly total. Child-labor rules are also stricter in manufacturing, with limits on hazardous equipment for minors. Confirm the rules for your state, and remember that where federal and state rules differ, the one more favorable to the employee applies. This is general information, not legal advice.
Safety and PPE belong in the posting and the onboarding
Assembly work involves tools, machinery, and repetitive motion, so safety is part of the job from day one. While the specific obligations vary by operation, plan for hazard and equipment training, required personal protective equipment provided to the worker, machine-guarding and lockout procedures where relevant, and ergonomics for repetitive tasks. Naming the safety and PPE expectations in the job description sets accurate expectations and signals a responsible employer. Then build the safety acknowledgments and training into onboarding so they are documented before the technician starts on the floor. This is general information, not legal advice.
Blue-Collar Work Is Categorically Non-Exempt
The Department of Labor is explicit that the white-collar exemptions do not apply to manual laborers or blue-collar workers who perform repetitive operations with their hands, physical skill, and energy, and that production and maintenance workers are entitled to minimum wage and overtime no matter how highly paid (DOL Fact Sheet 17I). Assembly technicians are hourly and overtime-eligible, with overtime at time and one-half over 40 hours a week.
Assembly roles start from reliability, manual dexterity, and attention to detail, with experience and certifications scaled to the industry and seniority. Many production roles need no experience and offer on-the-job training.
Requirement
What to look for
Education
High school diploma or equivalent preferred, not always required
Experience
On-the-job training for production; experience for skilled variants
Core skills
Read work instructions and blueprints; use hand and power tools
Industry skills
IPC soldering (electronics); cleanroom and records (medical)
Physical
Able to stand, bend, reach, and lift around 25 lbs for a shift
Classification
Non-exempt, hourly; overtime over 40 hours a week
Keep the posting neutral and inclusive, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on a protected characteristic, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
Assembly Technician Pay
Assembly technicians are paid hourly, with pay varying by industry, region, and experience. Set your range using government data as a baseline, then adjust for your industry and local market.
Median $43,570 a Year (BLS, May 2024)
The closest federal occupation, assemblers and fabricators, had a median annual wage of $43,570 in May 2024 (about $21 an hour), with the lowest 10 percent under $32,270 and the highest 10 percent over $63,490 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The occupation held about 1.9 million jobs, with roughly 198,800 openings projected each year through 2034.
Pay tends to run higher in electronics, medical-device, and aerospace assembly than in general production, and higher in states with higher minimum wages. Because the role is non-exempt, remember to budget for overtime on top of base pay when manufacturing runs extra shifts. A competitive, transparent pay range helps a small manufacturer attract reliable technicians in a tight labor market.
Hiring an Assembly Technician for a Small Manufacturer
A large manufacturer hires assembly techs through a dedicated HR and safety department. A small contract manufacturer, an electronics shop, or a medical-device startup does not. The owner or a production lead writes the posting, screens applicants, and onboards the new hire, often between running the floor. Here is how to write the posting for that reality, and avoid the classification mistake that catches small manufacturers most often.
Big manufacturers have HR departments; you have an owner and a production lead
Most published assembly-technician templates are written for large manufacturers with full HR and safety departments. A small contract manufacturer, an electronics shop, a medical-device startup, or a family-owned production business hires assembly techs with none of that. The owner, a plant supervisor, or a production lead writes the posting, screens applicants, and onboards the new hire between running the floor. The templates above are written for that reality: pick the version that matches your product and process, fill in the brackets, and post, without translating a large manufacturer's job description down to your size.
Getting the FLSA classification wrong is an expensive, common mistake
The single most costly error a small manufacturer makes with assembly roles is classifying them as salaried-exempt to avoid paying overtime. Assembly and production work is categorically non-exempt blue-collar work, so these employees are hourly and overtime-eligible no matter how skilled or highly paid. Paying a flat salary with no overtime to a production technician who works more than 40 hours is a wage-and-hour violation that can mean back pay and penalties. Classify assembly technicians as non-exempt, track their hours, and pay overtime at one and a half times over 40 a week. No competitor template warns you about this, which is exactly why ours does.
Onboarding a production hire is about safety, documents, and a fast, repeatable start
Whichever assembly template you use, the work after hiring is people operations made specific by manufacturing: a signed offer letter with the pay rate and overtime terms, the new hire paperwork and I-9, signed safety and PPE acknowledgments, and a first-week checklist that covers training, equipment, and shift schedule. Because production roles see high turnover and seasonal hiring spikes, a smooth, repeatable process pays off every time. FirstHR fits this people side for a small manufacturer: e-signature for the offer letter and safety acknowledgments, training modules for safety and process onboarding, task workflows for the first-week checklist, and document management for signed forms and I-9s. To be clear about scope, FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a manufacturing, quality, or ERP system, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with those. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one. Once a candidate accepts, the same document becomes the basis for the offer and a manufacturing-specific onboarding. Because production roles see high turnover and overtime, a smooth, repeatable process that gets safety and paperwork right pays off every time you hire.
Send the offer
Confirm the role, hourly pay, overtime terms, shift, and start date in writing. An offer letter template makes this fast for an hourly production role.
Collect paperwork
I-9, W-4, and any direct-deposit and emergency-contact forms, signed and stored in one place before day one.
Train on safety and PPE
Hazard and equipment training and signed safety and PPE acknowledgments, documented before the technician starts on the floor.
Store the records
Keep the signed offer, safety acknowledgments, and I-9 organized and easy to find for audits and as the team grows.
Once your offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the next step, and an onboarding template gives the new hire a structured start. FirstHR connects the offer, paperwork, e-signatures, safety acknowledgments, and onboarding workflow in one place, so a small manufacturer can manage the full process from job description to a fully onboarded technician from one system. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a manufacturing, quality, or ERP system, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
An assembly technician builds, assembles, and tests products to spec; the work varies by industry from electronics to mechanical to line production.
Use the template that matches the work: general, electronics, mechanical, production line, senior/lead, or medical device.
The role is categorically non-exempt and hourly; it is overtime-eligible no matter how highly paid, with overtime at time and one-half over 40 hours.
Do not classify a production assembly role as salaried-exempt to avoid overtime; that is a common and costly wage-and-hour mistake.
Use BLS data as a baseline: the closest occupation reported a median of $43,570 in May 2024, about $21 an hour, with electronics and senior roles higher.
Onboarding is where safety gets handled: signed safety and PPE acknowledgments, training, and I-9 documented before the first shift.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an assembly technician do?
An assembly technician builds, assembles, and tests products and components to specification in a manufacturing setting. Day to day, that means reading work instructions, blueprints, and diagrams, using hand tools, power tools, and assembly equipment, inspecting components and finished work for quality, recording production data, and keeping the workstation clean and safe. Depending on the industry, the work ranges from soldering circuit boards in electronics, to precision hand assembly from blueprints in mechanical work, to repeatable tasks on a fast-paced production line. Assembly technicians follow safety procedures and wear required PPE, and they typically work shifts that can include overtime and weekends. The role is hands-on, detail-oriented, and central to manufacturing quality and output.
What should an assembly technician job description include?
A strong assembly technician job description names the industry and product up front, since electronics, mechanical, and production-line work differ, and includes a short company summary, a job summary, and responsibilities grouped into assembly and build, quality and inspection, safety, and tools and equipment. It should state the physical requirements honestly, name the shift and any overtime or weekend expectations, and clearly mark the role as non-exempt and hourly. List the required skills, such as reading work instructions and blueprints and using hand and power tools, with industry-specific items like IPC soldering for electronics or cleanroom experience for medical devices. The most valuable additions that generic templates skip are the FLSA non-exempt and overtime classification, the safety and PPE expectations, and a clear pay range. Close with an equal opportunity statement and apply instructions.
Is an assembly technician exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
An assembly technician is non-exempt and paid hourly, and this is categorical, not case by case. Assembly and production work is manual, blue-collar work, and the Department of Labor is explicit that the white-collar exemptions do not apply to manual laborers or blue-collar workers who perform repetitive operations with their hands, physical skill, and energy. These workers are entitled to minimum wage and overtime no matter how highly paid they are. The practical result is that assembly technicians, including experienced and lead technicians, are hourly and overtime-eligible, earning one and a half times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Do not classify a production assembly role as salaried-exempt to avoid overtime, since that is a common and costly wage-and-hour violation. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do I have to pay an assembly technician overtime?
Yes. Because assembly technicians are non-exempt, the FLSA requires overtime pay at one and a half times the regular rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek, and this applies regardless of how skilled or highly paid the technician is. Manufacturing commonly involves overtime, extra shifts, and weekend work, so plan and budget for it. The regular rate used to calculate overtime generally includes nondiscretionary bonuses and shift differentials, not just base pay, so account for those. Some states add stricter rules, such as daily overtime after eight hours in California. Track hours accurately, including any pre-shift and post-shift work, and where federal and state rules differ, apply the one more favorable to the employee. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does an assembly technician make?
Assembly technicians are paid hourly, with pay varying by industry, region, and experience. The closest federal occupation, assemblers and fabricators, had a median annual wage of $43,570 in May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $32,270 and the highest 10 percent more than $63,490, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That works out to a median around $21 an hour. Pay tends to run higher in electronics, medical-device, and aerospace assembly than in general production, and higher in states with higher minimum wages. National compensation surveys generally report averages in a similar range, with electronics and senior roles toward the upper end. For a posting, benchmark to your specific industry and local market, and publish a pay range where required. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between an electronics and a mechanical assembly technician?
They share the same core job, building products to spec, but the skills and standards differ. An electronics assembly technician works on printed circuit boards and electronic products, doing through-hole and surface-mount (SMT) assembly, hand soldering and rework to IPC or J-STD standards, and ESD-safe handling of sensitive components, often inspecting solder joints under magnification. A mechanical assembly technician builds mechanical assemblies and equipment from blueprints, using measuring tools like calipers and micrometers, fastening and torquing components to tolerance, and verifying fit and function. Electronics work emphasizes fine, detailed soldering and electrostatic precautions; mechanical work emphasizes blueprint reading, tolerances, and torque. Use the matching template, since the qualifications and tools you list should reflect the specific kind of assembly. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do small manufacturers and contract shops hire assembly technicians?
Yes, and they are a core part of the market. Assembly technicians are hired across the full range of manufacturers, from large plants to small contract manufacturers, electronics and PCB shops, medical-device startups, automotive parts suppliers, and family-owned production businesses. Small manufacturers in the 5 to 50 employee range hire these roles regularly, usually without a dedicated HR department, so the owner or a production lead writes the posting and handles onboarding. A clear, industry-specific template helps a small shop attract reliable technicians and get the FLSA and safety pieces right, which is exactly where small employers are most exposed. This is general information, not legal advice.
What qualifications does an assembly technician need?
Assembly technician roles start from reliability, manual dexterity, and attention to detail, with formal education usually a preference rather than a strict requirement. A high school diploma or equivalent is preferred but not always required, and many production roles offer on-the-job training with no experience needed. The key abilities are reading work instructions and basic blueprints, using hand and power tools safely, and the physical capacity to stand, bend, and lift for a shift. Industry variants add specific skills: IPC or J-STD soldering certification for electronics, blueprint and measuring-tool proficiency for mechanical assembly, and cleanroom and documentation experience for medical devices. Scale the requirements to the role and seniority, and weight demonstrated reliability and hands-on skill heavily. This is general information, not legal advice.
