How to become an assembler, fabricator, inspector, industrial electrical motor or transformer
Official title: Assemblers, fabricators and inspectors, industrial electrical motors and transformers
Also called: Electrical fitter, Transformer maker, Transformer fitter, Transformer tester, Transformer winder, Transformer builder, Commutator assembler, Transformer assembler, Transformer inspector, Carbon brush assembler, Transformer core maker, Control panel assembler
Assemblers, fabricators and inspectors of industrial electrical motors and transformers assemble, fabricate, fit, wire and inspect heavy-duty industrial electrical equipment. They are employed by manufacturers of industrial electric motors, transformers, control equipment, railway locomotives, transit vehicles and other heavy electrical equipment.
Main tasks
- Assemblers
- Assemble and fit metal and other prefabricated parts to close tolerances according to blueprints to build heavy-duty electric motors or transformers
- Assemble stators or armatures for heavy-duty electric motors; compress steel laminations to build transformer cores; assemble windings into core using overhead cranes and make electrical connections using crimping, brazing and soldering equipment
- Assemble and fit electrical motor or transformer auxiliary equipment such as bushings, tap changes, conduit boxes, heating devices, protective equipment and cooling equipment
- Set up and adjust production machinery and equipment, such as coil winding machines, for the manufacture of heavy-duty electrical equipment
- May perform basic tests on electric motors
- Electrical fitters and wirers
- Interpret engineering drawings, electrical schematics and blueprints
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. College courses in electricity or electro-technology may be required. Several years of on-the-job training are usually provided. Set-up persons, inspectors and leadhands in this unit group may require experience as an assembler, fitter or wirer in the same company.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $44,265 a year The middle half earn $39,000 to $58,364.
- About 10,800 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 11,600 are projected by 2033. (+7.4%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: strong risk of shortage.
Related jobs
- Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors and testers
- Electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers
- Assemblers and inspectors, electrical appliance, apparatus and equipment manufacturing
- Mechanical assemblers and inspectors
- Machine operators and inspectors, electrical apparatus manufacturing
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Questions people ask
How do I become an assembler, fabricator, inspector, industrial electrical motor or transformer?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. College courses in electricity or electro-technology may be required. Several years of on-the-job training are usually provided. Set-up persons, inspectors and leadhands in this unit group may require experience as an assembler, fitter or wirer in the same company.
How much does an assembler, fabricator, inspector, industrial electrical motor or transformer earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $44,265 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $39,000 to $58,364.
Is an assembler, fabricator, inspector, industrial electrical motor or transformer a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 7% by 2033, from about 10,800 to about 11,600 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an assembler, fabricator, inspector, industrial electrical motor or transformer?
Usually not. Only 19% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03