Helpers–Electricians: Career Overview
Help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
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The Daily Work of Helpers–Electricians Do?
The core tasks performed by helpers–electricians span:
- Strip insulation from wire ends, using wire stripping pliers, and attach wires to terminals for subsequent soldering.
- Trace out short circuits in wiring, using test meter.
- Measure, cut, and bend wire and conduit, using measuring instruments and hand tools.
- Examine electrical units for loose connections and broken insulation and tighten connections, using hand tools.
- Maintain tools, vehicles, and equipment and keep parts and supplies in order.
- Drill holes and pull or push wiring through openings, using hand and power tools.
- Clean work area and wash parts.
- Perform semi-skilled and unskilled laboring duties related to the installation, maintenance and repair of a wide variety of electrical systems and equipment.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top helpers–electricians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Apprentice
- Automotive Electrician Helper (Auto Electrician Helper)
- E and I Apprentice (Electrical and Instrumentation Apprentice)
- E and I Apprentice (Electrician and Instrumentation Apprentice)
- Electrical Apprentice
- Electrical Assistant
- Electrical Helper
- Electrical Sign Wirer Helper
Job Outlook
There are roughly 114,682 helpers–electricians working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +7.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Helpers–Electricians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $48,038 |
| Hourly median | $23.10 |
| 10th percentile | $34,701 |
| 25th percentile | $41,369 |
| 75th percentile | $54,706 |
| 90th percentile | $61,374 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $60,860 |
| Missouri | $56,870 |
| Washington | $56,020 |
| Nebraska | $50,550 |
| New York | $49,410 |
| Connecticut | $48,350 |
| California | $47,540 |
| District of Columbia | $47,510 |
| Oregon | $47,020 |
| Idaho | $46,970 |
| Massachusetts | $46,810 |
| Texas | $45,880 |
| Wisconsin | $45,750 |
| Hawaii | $45,650 |
| Maryland | $45,460 |
| Arizona | $45,410 |
| Maine | $45,230 |
| Virgin Islands | $45,100 |
| Oklahoma | $44,170 |
| Utah | $42,120 |
| Iowa | $42,010 |
| Nevada | $41,610 |
| Ohio | $40,730 |
| Michigan | $40,220 |
| New Mexico | $39,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,490 |
| Indiana | $39,420 |
| New Jersey | $39,070 |
| Louisiana | $39,050 |
| Arkansas | $38,860 |
| Virginia | $38,780 |
| Delaware | $38,770 |
| Tennessee | $38,720 |
| North Carolina | $38,270 |
| South Carolina | $38,050 |
| New Hampshire | $37,980 |
| Kentucky | $37,930 |
| Florida | $37,590 |
| Georgia | $37,300 |
| Wyoming | $37,290 |
| Vermont | $36,920 |
| Mississippi | $36,580 |
| Alabama | $35,860 |
| Montana | $35,360 |
| Colorado | $34,790 |
| West Virginia | $34,780 |
| Kansas | $33,550 |
| South Dakota | $31,710 |
| Illinois | $31,020 |
| Guam | $28,880 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,150 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for helpers–electricians differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $48,079 | 5.0% | 0.38 |
| New England | $45,931 | 4.7% | 1.95 |
| Southwest | $45,337 | 17.1% | 1.54 |
| Middle Atlantic | $44,517 | 13.8% | 0.97 |
| Plains States | $43,389 | 2.2% | 0.73 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,544 | 1.3% | 0.58 |
| Great Lakes | $40,982 | 5.3% | 0.61 |
| Southeast | $37,931 | 48.3% | 2.25 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Helpers–Electricians
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $74,260 | 290 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | MO | $62,710 | 120 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | RI | $60,860 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $56,070 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $49,650 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $49,160 | 140 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | LA | $48,820 | 1,080 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $48,820 | 210 |
Which Industries Hire Helpers–Electricians
The largest employers of helpers–electricians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 59,490 | $39,430 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,540 | $43,660 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 480 | $42,570 |
| Manufacturing | 470 | $44,820 |
| Utilities | 320 | $48,180 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 140 | $55,590 |
| Educational Services | 80 | $40,070 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 60 | $40,260 |
Below are examples of industries where helpers–electricians work:
Software Helpers–Electricians Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for helpers–electricians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Spend Time Standing
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
Getting Started in This Career
Typical helpers–electricians positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Lighting Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Boilermakers (Primary-Long)
- Carpenters (Supplemental)
- Electricians (Primary-Short)
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers (Supplemental)
- Helpers–Carpenters (Primary-Short)
- Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons (Primary-Long)
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-3013.00 (Helpers–Electricians).
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