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Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters: Career Profile

Perform precision assembling or adjusting, within narrow tolerances, of timing devices such as digital clocks or timing devices with electrical or electronic components.

What Tasks Do Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters Do?

The day-to-day responsibilities of timing device assemblers and adjusters span:

• Assemble and install components of timepieces to complete mechanisms, using watchmakers' tools and loupes.
• Observe operation of timepiece parts and subassemblies to determine accuracy of movement, and to diagnose causes of defects.
• Test operation and fit of timepiece parts and subassemblies, using electronic testing equipment, tweezers, watchmakers' tools, and loupes.
• Replace specified parts to repair malfunctioning timepieces, using watchmakers' tools, loupes, and holding fixtures.
• Disassemble timepieces such as watches, clocks, and chronometers so that repairs can be made.
• Clean and lubricate timepiece parts and assemblies, using solvents, buff sticks, and oil.
• Examine components of timepieces such as watches, clocks, or chronometers for defects, using loupes or microscopes.
• Bend parts, such as hairsprings, pallets, barrel covers, and bridges, to correct deficiencies in truing or endshake, using tweezers.

What Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters Need to Know

Effective timing device assemblers and adjusters rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.

Most Important Skills

The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Other Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters Job Titles

This career also goes by job titles like:

• Adjuster
• Assembler
• Balance and Hairspring Assembler
• Banking Pin Adjuster
• Barrel Assembler
• Barrel Bridge Assembler
• Barrel Endshake Adjuster
• Calibration Specialist

How Many Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters Are There?

The U.S. employs around 544,108 timing device assemblers and adjusters working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +6.9% over the projection horizon.

Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters Pay

Statistic	Value
Annual median	$49,151
Hourly median	$23.63
10th percentile	$28,385
25th percentile	$38,768
75th percentile	$59,534
90th percentile	$69,916

Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.

Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters Salary by State

State	Annual median salary
Michigan	$27,850

Which Industries Hire Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

The bulk of timing device assemblers and adjusters are found across these industries:

Industry	Employment	Median annual wage
Manufacturing	230	$40,790

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Tech Stack

• Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)

What the Workplace Is Like

The work environment for timing device assemblers and adjusters is shaped by the following characteristics:

• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
• Freedom to Make Decisions
• Contact With Others
• Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Getting Started in This Career

Typical timing device assemblers and adjusters positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.

Other Careers to Consider

Similar Occupations

• Calibration Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
• Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Primary-Short)
• Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (Supplemental)
• Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Primary-Long)
• Watch and Clock Repairers (Primary-Short)
• Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (Supplemental)
• Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers (Supplemental)
• Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers (Primary-Short)

Top Programs to Study For This Career

Future timing device assemblers and adjusters commonly pursue programs in:

Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians

1 programs across 1 majors

• Precision Systems Maintenance

References

Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
• BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
• O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.

SOC code: 51-2061.00 (Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters).