Helpers, Construction Trades

How to become a Helpers--Electrician

Official title: Helpers--Electricians

Also called: Apprentice, E and I Apprentice (Electrical and Instrumentation Apprentice), E and I Apprentice (Electrician and Instrumentation Apprentice), Electrical Apprentice, Electrical Helper, Electrician Apprentice, Electrician Helper, Electrician's Helper, Inside Wireman Apprentice, Wireman Apprentice

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

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Construction laborers and helpers learn on the job. Although formal education is not typically required, some employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $42,670 a year The middle half earn $36,830 to $48,470.
About 65,000 people work in this job now, and about 65,400 are projected by 2035. (+0.6%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Helpers--Electrician?

Construction laborers and helpers learn on the job. Although formal education is not typically required, some employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

How much does a Helpers--Electrician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $42,670 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $36,830 to $48,470.

Is a Helpers--Electrician a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 65,000 people now and 65,400 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Helpers--Electrician?

Usually not. Only 7% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Helpers--Electrician?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.