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Electrical Contractors
Quanta Services, Rosendin, MYR Group
Helpers--Electricians
Helpers--Electricians work alongside licensed electricians on new construction, remodels, and repair jobs. Most of the day is hands-on prep work like trenching, cutting conduit, stripping wire, and setting up the jobsite, so the role is a common way into the electrical trade. The tradeoff is clear: you can enter with limited schooling, but the pay and upward movement are modest until you move into apprenticeship and licensing.
Also known as Electrical HelperElectrician HelperElectrical ApprenticeApprentice ElectricianElectrician Trainee
Median Salary
$39,890
Mean $42,900
U.S. Workforce
~64K
6.8K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+0.2%
66.6K to 66.7K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Helpers--Electricians sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~64K workers, with a median annual pay of $39,890 and roughly 6.8K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 66.6 K in 2024 to 66.7K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Construction Laborer and can progress toward Electrical Foreman. High-value skills usually include Conduit Bending, Measuring & Layout, Wire Stripping, Termination & Basic Splicing, and Hand Tools & Power Tools, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Dig trenches and holes for conduit, supports, and underground electrical runs.
- Measure, cut, bend, and thread conduit and wire so parts fit the job correctly.
- Strip insulation from wire ends and attach the wires to terminals for later connection.
- Take apart faulty electrical equipment, replace worn parts, and put the equipment back together.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Dig trenches and holes for conduit, supports, and underground electrical runs.
02 Measure, cut, bend, and thread conduit and wire so parts fit the job correctly.
03 Strip insulation from wire ends and attach the wires to terminals for later connection.
04 Take apart faulty electrical equipment, replace worn parts, and put the equipment back together.
05 Build basic control panels and electrical assemblies using drills, saws, punches, and other tools.
06 Set up barricades and lifting gear, and keep the work area cleaned up and organized.
Industries That Hire
🏗️
Commercial Construction
Turner Construction, DPR Construction, Skanska
🏠
Residential Homebuilding
Lennar, D.R. Horton, PulteGroup
🔌
Utilities & Power Generation
Duke Energy, NextEra Energy, Southern Company
🏭
Industrial Manufacturing
Boeing, General Motors, Caterpillar
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter with a high school diploma, and 70.79% of workers in the role do exactly that.
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No prior work experience is required, and the training is short-term, so the path in is faster than most skilled trades.
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The pay is respectable for an entry role, with a median of $39,890 and a mean of $42,900.
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There are about 6.8 thousand annual openings, so opportunities keep coming even when overall growth is flat.
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The job teaches real trade skills such as conduit work, wiring, panel assembly, and jobsite safety that can lead to licensing later.
Challenges
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Growth is essentially flat, with employment projected to rise only from 66.6 thousand to 66.7 thousand by 2034.
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The work is physically demanding: digging trenches, lifting materials, climbing, and cleaning up are part of the day.
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This is usually a stepping-stone job, not a long-term ceiling; better pay typically comes after apprenticeship and licensing.
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Most openings are replacement openings rather than expansion, so the market can be busy without offering much upward mobility.
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The job carries real safety risks because you work around tools, heavy equipment, and electrical components on active construction sites.
Career Progression
Construction Laborer
0-1 years
$30K-$35K
You handle general jobsite support, move materials, and learn safety habits before specializing in electrical work.
Helpers--Electricians
0-2 years
$36K-$43K
You prepare conduit and wire, assist with installations, and do the physical setup that keeps electricians moving.
Journeyman Electrician THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$55K-$74K
After apprenticeship and licensing, you install, troubleshoot, and repair electrical systems on your own.
Electrical Foreman
8-15 years
$75K-$100K
You lead crews, coordinate with other trades, and make sure electrical work stays on schedule and passes inspection.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 70.79% of workers in this role.
Post-secondary certificate in electrical technology or the trades
A smaller but useful path, held by 13.03% of workers, often through a trade school or community college program.
Less than a high school diploma
A minority route, held by 10.71% of workers, if the person can handle the physical work and learn quickly on site.
Apprenticeship-style on-the-job training
A realistic alternative for people who want to start working right away and learn the basics from an experienced crew.
Key Skills
Technical
Conduit Bending, Measuring & Layout 62%
Wire Stripping, Termination & Basic Splicing 59%
Hand Tools & Power Tools 57%
Blueprint Reading & Jobsite Measurements 55%
Electrical Safety, OSHA & Lockout/Tagout 53%
Electrical Troubleshooting & Equipment Repair 50%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingCoordinationJudgment and Decision MakingActive Learning Job Outlook and Trends
+0.2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
6.8K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 66.6K to 66.7 K over the next decade, representing 0.2% growth. Around 6.8 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.