How much does an electrician helper make?
a year · about $21 an hour
A typical electrician helper in the United States makes $42,670 a year, about $21 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A helper brings tools and supplies to a job site, then measures, cuts, and bends wire or conduit while an electrician guides the work. They may pull wire through drilled openings, tidy the area, and put tools away.
Did you know? An electrician helper may use a test meter to trace a short circuit—not just carry tools!
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $33,020 and $58,340How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school or a GED—often around age 18—and apply for a helper job; you’ll learn on the job. Later, a 4- or 5-year electrician apprenticeship can lead to licensed work, with state-specific exams.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, useful safety or electrical training, and more technical tasks can affect a helper’s pay. Pay also differs by employer or industry and by location, where local demand and living costs matter.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($61,110), lowest in Mississippi ($35,680).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $33,020 | $42,670 | $58,340 | about 64,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $61,110 | about 560 |
| California | $52,080 | about 3,000 |
| Oregon | $49,800 | about 570 |
| Massachusetts | $48,340 | about 610 |
| New Mexico | $48,030 | about 510 |
Official definition: Help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment. Construction laborers who do not primarily assist electricians are classified under “Construction Laborers” (47-2061). Apprentice workers are classified with the appropriate skilled construction trade occupation (47-2011 through 47-2231).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-3013.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/47-3013.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes473013.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/construction-laborers-and-helpers.ht
- www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY