Assemblers and Fabricators

How to become a Timing Device Assembler or Adjuster

Official title: Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

Also called: Calibration Specialist, Calibrator, Clockmaker, Horologist, Time Stamp Assembler, Watch Technician, Watchmaker

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

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

The education and qualifications typically needed to enter these occupations vary by industry and employer. Although a high school diploma is enough for most jobs, experience and training are needed for advanced assembly work.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $62,620 a year The middle half earn $29,040 to $72,740.
About 200 people work in this job now, and about 200 are projected by 2035. (-6.1%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Timing Device Assembler or Adjuster?

How much does a Timing Device Assembler or Adjuster earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $62,620 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $29,040 to $72,740.

Is a Timing Device Assembler or Adjuster a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 200 to about 200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Timing Device Assembler or Adjuster?

Usually not. Only 9% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Timing Device Assembler or Adjuster?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.