Helpers--Electricians: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Construction and Extraction · SOC 47-3013 · O*NET 47-3013.00

Median salary
$39,890
Rank #689 of ~830 BLS occupations
10-year growth
+0.2%
2024–2034, flat
Employment
64.4M
BLS 2024
Projected 2034
66K
BLS projection
Official O*NET description

Help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

Helpers--Electricians fall under the Construction and Extraction category in the U.S. occupational classification. Helpers--Electricians earn a median salary of $39,890 per year, ranking in the top 85% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +0.2% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do helpers--electricians earn?

The median annual wage for helpers--electricians is $39,890. That puts helpers--electricians at #689 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Full salary distribution (national, BLS 2024)
10th percentile (entry-level)$31,200
25th percentile$36,400
50th percentile (median)$39,890
75th percentile$47,520
90th percentile (top earners)$56,770
Median hourly wage$19.18/hr

Is helpers--electricians a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for helpers--electricians is +0.2%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 66K positions in 2024 to 66K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.

What do helpers--electricians do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working helpers--electricians, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

  1. 1.Strip insulation from wire ends, using wire stripping pliers, and attach wires to terminals for subsequent soldering.
  2. 2.Examine electrical units for loose connections and broken insulation and tighten connections, using hand tools.
  3. 3.Thread conduit ends, connect couplings, and fabricate and secure conduit support brackets, using hand tools.
  4. 4.Disassemble defective electrical equipment, replace defective or worn parts, and reassemble equipment, using hand tools.
  5. 5.Transport tools, materials, equipment, and supplies to work site by hand, handtruck, or heavy, motorized truck.
  6. 6.Install copper-clad ground rods, using a manual post driver.
  7. 7.Raise, lower, or position equipment, tools, and materials, using hoist, hand line, or block and tackle.
  8. 8.Drill holes and pull or push wiring through openings, using hand and power tools.

Top skills for helpers--electricians

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

Active Listening
3.3
Critical Thinking
3.1
Speaking
3.1
Judgment and Decision Making
3.0
Quality Control Analysis
3.0
Coordination
3.0
Troubleshooting
3.0

What education does my child need to become helpers--electrician?

Helpers--Electricians typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Actual education levels of working helpers--electricians

Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.

High school diploma
70.8%
Post-secondary certificate
13.0%
Less than high school
10.7%
Some college courses
2.8%
Associate's degree
1.3%
Bachelor's degree
1.3%

Related careers your child might also consider

How parents help teens explore careers like this

Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.

Common questions parents ask about helpers--electricians

What is the median salary for helpers--electricians?

The median annual salary for helpers--electricians is $39,890 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Is helpers--electricians a growing career?

BLS projects +0.2% growth for helpers--electricians from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.

What education does my child need to become helpers--electrician?

The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.

What careers are similar to helpers--electricians?

Related occupations within the Construction and Extraction category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.

Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.