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Helpers–Electricians: Job Description
Help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
What Tasks Do Helpers–Electricians Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of 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.
What Helpers–Electricians Need to Know
Successful helpers–electricians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Helpers–Electricians Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- 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
How Many Helpers–Electricians Are There?
There are roughly 114,682 helpers–electricians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +7.3% over the projection horizon.
Helpers–Electricians Pay
| 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 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Helpers–Electricians Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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 vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for helpers–electricians is shaped by 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
Education and Training
Most helpers–electricians positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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)
Sources
Data on this page comes 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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