Helpers--electricians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,020 | $15.88 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $42,670 | $20.51 |
| Mean (average) | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| 90th percentile | $58,340 | $28.05 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Helpers--electricians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 49 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,490 | $30,230 | $46,910 | 2,630 | 3.04 |
| Arizona | $44,110 | $37,030 | $56,160 | 1,240 | 0.94 |
| Arkansas | $39,510 | $28,500 | $48,240 | 300 | 0.57 |
| California | $52,080 | $38,620 | $68,660 | 3,120 | 0.42 |
| Colorado | $56,420 | $36,550 | $60,680 | ||
| Connecticut | $56,020 | $35,570 | $79,420 | 390 | 0.56 |
| Delaware | $36,560 | $31,840 | $48,980 | 60 | 0.29 |
| District of Columbia | $48,300 | $40,810 | $54,210 | 330 | 1.15 |
| Florida | $38,670 | $34,990 | $49,050 | 5,810 | 1.43 |
| Georgia | $39,030 | $31,070 | $53,230 | 3,160 | 1.58 |
| Guam | $29,120 | $26,730 | $41,600 | 90 | 3.24 |
| Hawaii | $47,890 | $42,320 | $60,140 | ||
| Idaho | $39,480 | $35,880 | $58,110 | 250 | 0.71 |
| Illinois | $43,290 | $31,200 | $46,600 | 30 | 0.01 |
| Indiana | $36,200 | $33,020 | $50,770 | 1,180 | 0.9 |
| Iowa | $41,610 | $33,140 | $58,560 | 310 | 0.49 |
| Kansas | $44,990 | $32,000 | $56,630 | 600 | 1.02 |
| Kentucky | $42,790 | $35,350 | $50,760 | 690 | 0.84 |
| Louisiana | $38,570 | $28,790 | $54,220 | 3,190 | 4.03 |
| Maine | $46,550 | $42,200 | $62,890 | 1,000 | 3.81 |
| Maryland | $43,970 | $31,200 | $59,040 | 1,010 | 0.89 |
| Massachusetts | $48,340 | $40,440 | $58,060 | 610 | 0.41 |
| Michigan | $44,240 | $36,650 | $53,390 | 500 | 0.28 |
| Minnesota | $46,750 | $42,650 | $52,760 | ||
| Mississippi | $35,680 | $29,120 | $44,800 | 930 | 1.96 |
| Missouri | $58,340 | $31,610 | $92,110 | 380 | 0.32 |
| Montana | $36,400 | $32,000 | $46,940 | 40 | 0.18 |
| Nebraska | $44,050 | $30,920 | $51,850 | 140 | 0.33 |
| Nevada | $44,140 | $36,400 | $63,320 | 440 | 0.69 |
| New Hampshire | $34,670 | $32,240 | $42,580 | 130 | 0.46 |
| New Jersey | $44,550 | $35,350 | $49,960 | 1,670 | 0.95 |
| New Mexico | $48,030 | $35,610 | $59,730 | 510 | 1.45 |
| New York | $47,210 | $35,190 | $77,410 | 4,120 | 1.04 |
| North Carolina | $39,880 | $31,810 | $48,670 | 6,770 | 3.35 |
| Ohio | $41,920 | $34,300 | $50,970 | 810 | 0.36 |
| Oklahoma | $46,110 | $35,880 | $59,190 | 1,630 | 2.33 |
| Oregon | $49,800 | $39,210 | $69,140 | 570 | 0.71 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,880 | $26,240 | $49,770 | 1,000 | 0.4 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,370 | $23,070 | $35,060 | 1,630 | 4.25 |
| South Carolina | $39,460 | $29,690 | $49,260 | 2,000 | 2.12 |
| South Dakota | $35,620 | $30,510 | $45,760 | 300 | 1.62 |
| Tennessee | $39,710 | $31,870 | $48,340 | 3,240 | 2.42 |
| Texas | $44,360 | $34,900 | $57,540 | 7,320 | 1.27 |
| Utah | $43,250 | $38,450 | $60,380 | 520 | 0.74 |
| Vermont | $37,910 | $36,400 | $68,270 | 130 | 1.08 |
| Virginia | $44,530 | $33,710 | $59,120 | 2,180 | 1.3 |
| Washington | $61,110 | $40,750 | $102,680 | 560 | 0.39 |
| West Virginia | $33,680 | $25,320 | $44,550 | 210 | 0.74 |
| Wisconsin | $47,230 | $36,310 | $68,130 | 1,180 | 0.98 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for helpers--electricians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 6,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for helpers--electricians
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Computer-aided drafting or design software
- Recordkeeping software
- Report generation software
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Troubleshooting, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Installation.
Common job titles: 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.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do helpers--electricians make?
The national median annual wage for helpers--electricians was $42,670 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $33,020 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $58,340. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do helpers--electricians need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is helpers--electricians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of helpers--electricians to change +0.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 6,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay helpers--electricians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($61,110), Missouri ($58,340), Colorado ($56,420). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.