Helpers--Electricians
Architecture and ConstructionO*NET 47-3013.00United States
Help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
- Median annual earnings
- $42,478
- Projected change
- +3.2%
- Typical education
- High school diploma or less
- Employment
- 66.42K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
81.5% of the workforce
Growing to 68.57K by 2035
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ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What helpers--electricians do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- 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.
- Perform semi-skilled and unskilled laboring duties related to the installation, maintenance and repair of a wide variety of electrical systems and equipment.
- Clean work area and wash parts.
- Thread conduit ends, connect couplings, and fabricate and secure conduit support brackets, using hand tools.
- Disassemble defective electrical equipment, replace defective or worn parts, and reassemble equipment, using hand tools.
- Construct controllers and panels, using power drills, drill presses, taps, saws, and punches.
- Transport tools, materials, equipment, and supplies to work site by hand, handtruck, or heavy, motorized truck.
- String transmission lines or cables through ducts or conduits, under the ground, through equipment, or to towers.
- Install copper-clad ground rods, using a manual post driver.
- Dig trenches or holes for installation of conduit or supports.
- Raise, lower, or position equipment, tools, and materials, using hoist, hand line, or block and tackle.
- Bolt component parts together to form tower assemblies, using hand tools.
- Erect electrical system components and barricades, and rig scaffolds, hoists, and shoring.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $32,742
- 25th percentile
- $36,593
- 50th percentile
- $42,478
- 75th percentile
- $48,599
- 90th percentile
- $58,835
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $42,478 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+3.2%average or slower
202566,424 jobs
2035 projected68,568 jobs
2,144 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- High school diploma or less
- 81.5%
- Certificate
- 13%
- Some college
- 2.8%
- Associate degree
- 1.3%
- Bachelor's degree
- 1.3%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
- Installation
- Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Equipment Maintenance
- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Equipment Selection
- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Helpers1,326 postings
- 02Electrical Apprentices761 postings
- 03Electrical Helpers639 postings
- 04Apprentice Electricians510 postings
- 05Electrician Helpers366 postings
- 06General Helpers232 postings
- 07Electrician Assistants162 postings
- 08Electricians/Helpers136 postings
- 09Installation Helpers132 postings
- 10Electrician Helpers/Apprentices121 postings
- 11Electrical Technicians91 postings
- 12Commercial Apprentice Electricians86 postings
- 13Electrical Instructors77 postings
- 14Operator Helpers69 postings
- 15Assistants/Helpers68 postings
- 16Shop Helpers67 postings
- 17Office Helpers62 postings
- 18Driver Helpers60 postings
- 19Apprentices/Helpers56 postings
- 20Sorters/Unloaders55 postings
Top employers
- 01PayPal265 postings
- 02Labor Finders126 postings
- 03CCS Construction97 postings
- 04Ies Commercial & Industrial73 postings
- 05EMCOR Group51 postings
- 06PeopleReady48 postings
- 07Aerotek47 postings
- 08M. A. Mortenson Company45 postings
- 09Gaylor Electric43 postings
- 10Ies Electrical41 postings
- 11Gojob.com40 postings
- 12Premier Electrical Staffing39 postings
- 13Facility Solutions Group31 postings
- 14Strada Electric & Security31 postings
- 15Ies Residential30 postings
- 16Comfama29 postings
- 17Jacobs Solutions28 postings
- 18Lane Valente Industries26 postings
- 19Integrated Electrical Services25 postings
- 20Amtrak22 postings
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