Assembler Jobs in Tucson, AZ

Assemblers in Tucson build aircraft components, optics, electro-mechanical enclosures and stratospheric balloons by hand, following written instructions step by step. Celestica, Edmund Optics, Rain Bird and World View have all posted Tucson assembly work, and entry pay starts around $19 an hour. Current openings are below, followed by employers and training.

Assembler Work in Tucson

Tucson's assembly jobs lean toward aerospace, defense and precision products. Raytheon, whose missile plant sits south of Tucson International Airport, is the region's largest private employer at about 14,050 workers in HUD's 2024 market analysis, and its own job search is worth checking directly. Celestica's FAA repair station assembles and reworks aircraft components and quartz electronics, while Edmund Optics runs optical component assembly in Tucson and Rain Bird builds electro-mechanical sub-assemblies and enclosures.

Staffing agencies are a real part of the market too. ResourceMFG, for one, has posted an electrical assembler assignment on the southeast side near Valencia and Kolb at $19.75 an hour. Assemblers here often move between aerospace, electronics and industrial products over a career.

Top Tucson Employers Hiring Assemblers

These Tucson employers have posted assembly jobs on their own careers sites:

• Celestica - FAA production technical operators who assemble, test and rework aircraft components, plus an electronic and quartz component tester, at its Tucson ITAR repair station.
• Edmund Optics - optical component assembly in Tucson, with a team lead posting that supervises assemblers and technicians on shift.
• Rain Bird - electro-mechanical assemblers who build sub-assemblies and enclosures, read CAD drawings and load PLC software.
• World View - balloon manufacturing technicians who fabricate and assemble production balloon systems at $19 an hour, with no prior experience required.

Assembler Salaries in Tucson

• Entry level: roughly $18 to $21 an hour.
• Experienced (2 or more years): roughly $21 to $26 an hour.
• Lead, aerospace or electro-mechanical specialist: roughly $26 to $32 an hour.

Posted Tucson pay sits at $19 for World View's balloon technicians and $19.75 for a staffing-agency electrical assembler, and federal data put Tucson's production occupations at a mean of $24.79 an hour in 2025. Aerospace work, soldering and electrical skills, and lead duties push pay up. The City of Tucson's $15.45 minimum applies only inside city limits and is a floor, not a going rate. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.

How to Become an Assembler in Tucson

Arizona has no license for assembly work. Entry jobs like World View's ask for a learning mindset and comfort with shop tools; the electro-mechanical and aerospace roles at Rain Bird and Celestica ask for a high school diploma or GED and several years of experience, and Celestica adds a DOT/FAA drug test. Pima Community College's Automated Industrial Technology Level I certificate, one semester at the Downtown Campus at Speedway and Stone, covers equipment, electronic systems and troubleshooting, and the Advanced Manufacturing Building there also houses machining, CAD and welding.

What the Job Involves

You get parts, a drawing and a work instruction, then build in sequence and verify against the print. Some days are mechanical, fastening and fitting housings. Others are electrical: wiring panels, hand-soldering, crimping and testing a sub-assembly before it moves on. Every step is documented, and a defect gets flagged instead of passed.

Skills Employers Look For

• Reading drawings, schematics and work instructions accurately
• Hand and power tool skill, plus basic measuring equipment
• Soldering, crimping and wiring for electronic and electrical assembly
• Careful documentation and willingness to stop a defect
• Steady hands and close-up attention to detail
• Dependability on shift work and overtime

Career Path and Advancement

The ladder in Tucson runs from assembler to experienced or multi-skill assembler, then to lead, as Edmund Optics' team lead and Rain Bird's lead-and-inspect duties show. From there assemblers move into quality inspection, test technician work or machining after a Pima certificate, and aerospace experience opens doors at the airport-area employers.

Related Careers in Tucson

These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for assemblers:

• Electronics Assembler
• Aircraft Assembler
• Machine Operator
• Quality Inspector

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need experience to get an assembler job in Tucson?

Not always. World View's balloon manufacturing technician posting says prior experience is helpful but not required. Electro-mechanical and aerospace assembly roles at Rain Bird and Celestica ask for several years of experience.

How much do assemblers make in Tucson?

Entry pay runs roughly $18 to $21 an hour, with posted Tucson jobs at $19 and $19.75. Experienced assemblers earn roughly $21 to $26, and leads or aerospace specialists $26 to $32. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.

Is there a license or certificate required for assemblers in Arizona?

No. Arizona does not license assemblers. Employers set their own requirements, usually a high school diploma or GED, and aerospace employers may require drug testing under FAA rules.

Where can I train for assembly and manufacturing work in Tucson?

Pima Community College's Automated Industrial Technology certificate at the Downtown Campus takes one semester full time and leads to a Level II certificate and an associate degree. The same Advanced Manufacturing Building houses machining, CAD and welding programs.

Do assembler jobs in Tucson require U.S. citizenship?

Some do. Celestica's Tucson site is an ITAR facility and checks export-control eligibility after an offer, and defense employers often restrict jobs to U.S. persons. Rain Bird's Tucson electro-mechanical assembler posting does not list that requirement.

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