An electromagnetic contactor comprising a housing, the housing being adapted to receive internally thereof a stationary armature, a coil subassembly, return springs, and a block subassembly, the block subassembly comprising a block adapted to receive terminals and a carrier subassembly, the carrier subassembly comprising a carrier member adapted to receive and retain a movable armature, the housing having internally thereof a plurality of detents adapted to be overridden by the block subassembly and to snap over exposed surfaces of the block subassembly to lock the block subassembly, the stationary armature, and the coil assembly in the housing, whereby to complete assembly of the contactor without fasteners; and a method for making the contactor.