Helpers--Electricians
SOC Code: 47-3013.00
Construction & ExtractionHelpers to Electricians assist licensed electricians with installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. With a median salary of $39,890, this entry-level role provides a valuable pathway into one of the highest-paying and most in-demand skilled trades. As electrification trends accelerate across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, the need for trained electrical workers continues to climb.
Salary Overview
Median
$39,890
25th Percentile
$36,400
75th Percentile
$47,520
90th Percentile
$56,770
Salary Distribution
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Growth Rate
+0.2%
New Openings
6,800
Outlook
Slower than average
Key Skills
Knowledge Areas
What They Do
- Strip insulation from wire ends, using wire stripping pliers, and attach wires to terminals for subsequent soldering.
- Measure, cut, and bend wire and conduit, using measuring instruments and hand tools.
- 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.
- Dig trenches or holes for installation of conduit or supports.
- Trace out short circuits in wiring, using test meter.
- Examine electrical units for loose connections and broken insulation and tighten connections, using hand tools.
- Clean work area and wash parts.
Tools & Technology
★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)
Education Requirements
Typical entry-level education: High School Diploma
Related Careers
Top Career Pivot Targets
View all 22 →Careers with the highest skill compatibility from Helpers--Electricians.
A Day in the Life
An electrician's helper begins the day by gathering tools, materials, and reviewing the day's assignments with the supervising electrician. Morning work often involves running electrical conduit through walls, ceilings, and underground trenches, measuring and cutting pipe to length, and securing it with hangers and fasteners. Helpers pull electrical wire through conduit runs, sometimes across long distances in commercial or industrial buildings. They carry materials like spools of wire, boxes of connectors, and heavy transformers or panels to the work area. Throughout the day, helpers assist with tasks like stripping wire insulation, mounting electrical boxes, and organizing circuit components that the electrician will connect. They maintain a clean work area, dispose of scrap materials, and ensure tools are in good working order. The workday may also include trenching for underground conduit, drilling holes through structural members, and assisting with the installation of lighting fixtures and switches.
Work Environment
Electrician helpers work in diverse environments including new construction sites, existing buildings undergoing renovation, industrial facilities, and outdoor locations. The work is moderately to highly physical, requiring lifting of materials up to 50 pounds, working on ladders and scaffolding, and spending extended periods standing, kneeling, or reaching overhead. Electrical work carries inherent hazards including the risk of electric shock, falls, and cuts from sharp materials and tools. Strict safety protocols, including lockout-tagout procedures and the use of personal protective equipment, are critical aspects of daily work. Most helpers work standard 40-hour weeks, with overtime available during busy periods or on projects with tight completion schedules. Indoor work conditions vary from finished, climate-controlled spaces to unfinished construction environments with dust and temperature extremes. Traveling between job sites is common, and some projects in remote areas may require extended stays away from home.
Career Path & Advancement
Most electrician helpers enter the field with a high school diploma and gain skills through on-the-job training while working alongside licensed electricians. The helper position is often the first step toward enrolling in a formal electrical apprenticeship, which typically lasts four to five years and combines 8,000 hours of on-the-job training with 576 hours of classroom instruction. Apprenticeships are offered through electrical contractor associations like the Independent Electrical Contractors and union programs affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Upon completing an apprenticeship, electricians earn journeyman licensure and can work independently, significantly increasing their earning potential. Journeyman electricians may pursue master electrician certification, which requires additional experience and passing a comprehensive exam. Master electricians can pull permits, start their own contracting business, and supervise other electricians. Some electricians specialize further in areas like power distribution, telecommunications, or renewable energy systems.
Specializations
While helpers perform general support tasks, exposure to different types of electrical work helps them identify future specialization paths. Inside wiremen focus on electrical systems within residential and commercial buildings, handling everything from branch circuits to service panels. Outside linemen work on utility power distribution systems, climbing poles and working on high-voltage transmission lines. Voice-data-video technicians specialize in low-voltage systems including networking, telecommunications, and security systems. Industrial electricians maintain and troubleshoot electrical systems in manufacturing plants, dealing with motor controls, programmable logic controllers, and high-power equipment. Solar photovoltaic electricians install and maintain rooftop and ground-mounted solar panel systems, a rapidly growing specialty. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure installation is an emerging specialization as EV adoption accelerates. Fire alarm and life safety system electricians focus specifically on the code-regulated installation and maintenance of alarm and emergency systems.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✓Gateway to one of the highest-paying skilled trades with strong demand
- ✓Exposure to cutting-edge technology including solar, EV charging, and smart systems
- ✓Structured apprenticeship pathway leads to licensure and career growth
- ✓Work variety across residential, commercial, and industrial settings
- ✓Strong union representation options with excellent benefits in many areas
- ✓Skills are universally portable and valued in any geographic market
- ✓Growing demand driven by electrification, renewables, and infrastructure investment
Challenges
- ✗Starting pay is modest and takes several years to reach journeyman wages
- ✗Risk of electrical shock and other safety hazards inherent in the trade
- ✗Physically demanding work including lifting, climbing, and extended standing
- ✗Four-to-five-year apprenticeship commitment required for full licensure
- ✗Some projects require work in uncomfortable or hazardous environments
- ✗Travel to different job sites and potential for out-of-town assignments
- ✗Continuous code education and license renewal requirements throughout career
Industry Insight
The electrical trade is positioned at the center of several major economic trends driving unprecedented demand for workers at all levels. The national push toward building electrification—replacing gas appliances with electric heat pumps, cooktops, and water heaters—is creating massive volumes of new residential electrical work. Electric vehicle adoption is driving demand for home charging station installations and commercial charging infrastructure. Data center construction is booming due to cloud computing and artificial intelligence growth, requiring sophisticated power distribution systems. Solar and battery storage installations continue to expand, supported by federal tax incentives and state-level renewable energy mandates. The existing electrical workforce is aging, with many experienced electricians approaching retirement age. These converging trends make the electrical trades one of the strongest career paths in construction for the foreseeable future, with helpers well-positioned to advance rapidly.
How to Break Into This Career
The most direct way to start as an electrician's helper is to apply to electrical contractors in your area, emphasizing physical fitness, reliability, and eagerness to learn the trade. Having completed a high school diploma with solid math skills is important, as electrical work involves constant calculations related to voltage, amperage, load capacities, and conduit sizing. An OSHA 10-hour construction safety certification strengthens applications and is required by many employers. Pre-apprenticeship programs offered by community colleges and trade schools provide basic electrical theory and hands-on practice that make candidates more competitive. Some applicants benefit from starting in a related role like construction laborer or maintenance worker to build general construction experience first. Physical stamina and comfort working at heights are practical prerequisites that employers evaluate during hiring. Demonstrating a genuine interest in pursuing a full electrical apprenticeship distinguishes serious candidates from those just seeking temporary work.
Career Pivot Tips
Career changers from a variety of backgrounds can successfully transition into electrical work through the helper role. Those with backgrounds in IT, networking, or telecommunications will find their understanding of circuits, systems, and structured wiring directly relevant. Automotive technicians and mechanics bring diagnostic troubleshooting skills and familiarity with electrical systems and wiring diagrams. Manufacturing workers understand industrial safety culture and may have experience with basic electrical components and motor controls. Military veterans with any electrical or electronics MOS have highly transferable skills and often qualify for accelerated apprenticeship tracks. Even those from completely non-technical backgrounds can succeed by starting as a helper and demonstrating strong aptitude for learning. Math skills from any prior career are valuable, as electrical work requires daily calculations involving Ohm's law, circuit loads, and wire sizing. The key is committing to the long-term apprenticeship path, which transforms the initial helper role into a gateway to a highly skilled and well-compensated career.
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