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Electro-mechanical apparatus assembly workers

How to become a Switchboard and Control Panel Assembler

Also called: Switchboard assembler, Control panel assembler, Power distribution equipment assembler, Electrical control panel assembler, Switchgear assembler, Control equipment manufacturing worker, Control equipment assembler

Assembles and wires switchboards, control panels, distribution boards, monitoring and control equipment and similar, mainly with machines and hand tools, and tests that they meet specifications and standards.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school or university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualifications are needed. Most are new graduates of technical high schools or electrical and mechanical courses at a senmon gakko (vocational college); there is little mid-career hiring, and almost all mid-career hires have assembly experience. Training, placement and promotion after joining differ by company. At one switchgear manufacturer, for example, after factory safety training and basic skills training, new staff do short training in the manufacturing department, are then placed where they suit best and learn the work on the job. As for promotion, people become work leaders after about 6 years, then gain assembly experience as team leader and work chief, and are promoted to section manager or similar after around 10 years. A related qualification is the electrical equipment assembly (switchboard and control panel assembly) skilled worker qualification of the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. You can gain grade 2 about 3 to 5 years after joining, and grade 1 after further practical experience. The knowledge and skills for assembling switchboards can be learned after joining. In the factory it is important to assemble exactly to the drawings, build products that meet standards and rules, and meet deadlines, so you need to value teamwork, follow the rules of the job and be patient.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Switchboard and Control Panel Assembler?

No particular education or qualifications are needed. Most are new graduates of technical high schools or electrical and mechanical courses at a senmon gakko (vocational college); there is little mid-career hiring, and almost all mid-career hires have assembly experience. Training, placement and promotion after joining differ by company. At one switchgear manufacturer, for example, after factory safety training and basic skills training, new staff do short training in the manufacturing department, are then placed where they suit best and learn the work on the job. As for promotion, people become work leaders after about 6 years, then gain assembly experience as team leader and work chief, and are promoted to section manager or similar after around 10 years. A related qualification is the electrical equipment assembly (switchboard and control panel assembly) skilled worker qualification of the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. You can gain grade 2 about 3 to 5 years after joining, and grade 1 after further practical experience. The knowledge and skills for assembling switchboards can be learned after joining. In the factory it is important to assemble exactly to the drawings, build products that meet standards and rules, and meet deadlines, so you need to value teamwork, follow the rules of the job and be patient.

How much does a Switchboard and Control Panel Assembler earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,460,800 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Electro-mechanical apparatus assembly workers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Switchboard and Control Panel Assembler?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 15% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: National trade skills test (技能検定).

Will AI change the work of a Switchboard and Control Panel Assembler?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026