Construction & Extraction
Helpers--Electricians
Also called: Apprentice, E and I Apprentice (Electrical and Instrumentation Apprentice), E and I Apprentice (Electrician and Instrumentation Apprentice), Electrical Apprentice
US median pay
$42,670
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+0.6%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
6,100
65,000 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Thread conduit ends, connect couplings, and fabricate and secure conduit support brackets, using hand tools.
- Disassemble defective electrical equipment, replace defective or worn parts, and reassemble equipment, using hand tools.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Troubleshooting3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Repairing2.9/5
- Operations Monitoring2.9/5
- Installation2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
Knowledge
- Building and Construction4.0/5
- Mechanical3.9/5
- Public Safety and Security3.9/5
- Design3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Administration and Management3.7/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma71%
- Post-secondary certificate13%
- Less than high school11%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.