How to become a motor vehicle assembler, inspector or tester
Official title: Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors and testers
Also called: Car assembler, Van assembler, Auto parts assembler, Automobile assembler, Road and roll tester, Motor vehicle assembler, New passenger car inspector, Assembler - automobile assembly, Car inspector - automobile assembly, Engine tester - automobile assembly, Axle assembler - automobile assembly, Sport utility vehicle (suv) assembler
Motor vehicle assemblers assemble and install prefabricated motor vehicle parts and components to form subassemblies and finished motor vehicles. Motor vehicle inspectors and testers inspect and test parts, subassemblies, accessories and finished products to ensure proper performance and conformity to quality standards. They are employed in plants which manufacture automobiles, vans and light trucks.
Main tasks
- Motor vehicle assemblers
- Read electrical schematics, blueprints and other technical diagrams
- Bolt, screw, clip, weld, solder or otherwise fasten motor vehicle parts and components together using hand and power tools and equipment
- Operate and tend automated assembling equipment such as robotic and fixed automation equipment
- Connect cables, tubes and wires to complete assemblies and installations
- Position and install parts, subassemblies and accessories such as engines, transmissions, door panels or instrument panels using hand and power tools and other aids such as overhead hoists
- Fit and adjust parts such as doors, hoods and trunk lids
- Motor vehicle inspectors and testers
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Skills required for occupations in this unit group are normally acquired through on-the-job training.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $63,356 a year The middle half earn $48,887 to $74,100.
- About 31,100 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 34,500 are projected by 2033. (+10.9%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Assemblers, fabricators and inspectors, industrial electrical motors and transformers
- 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 a motor vehicle assembler, inspector or tester?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Skills required for occupations in this unit group are normally acquired through on-the-job training.
How much does a motor vehicle assembler, inspector or tester earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $63,356 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $48,887 to $74,100.
Is a motor vehicle assembler, inspector or tester a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2033, from about 31,100 to about 34,500 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a motor vehicle assembler, inspector or tester?
Usually not. Only 13% 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