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Construction electrician vs electrician helper

The differences between construction electricians and electrician helpers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a construction electrician and an electrician helper. Additionally, a construction electrician has an average salary of $44,135, which is higher than the $36,733 average annual salary of an electrician helper.

The top three skills for a construction electrician include transformers, electrical conduit and hand tools. The most important skills for an electrician helper are hand tools, run conduit, and receptacles.

Construction electrician vs electrician helper overview

Construction ElectricianElectrician Helper
Yearly salary$44,135$36,733
Hourly rate$21.22$17.66
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs41,81427,886
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 36%High School Diploma, 47%
Average age4242
Years of experience1212

What does a construction electrician do?

Construction electricians work on installing, wiring, and assembling electrical systems in residential and commercial buildings. To ensure that wires won't be dangling around the house, they install them upon partial completion of the building. They work with engineers to discuss how and where they can position the wires. These electricians install a building's electrical system for air conditioning, power, heat, etc. They set up transformers, circuit breakers, and fuse boxes to connect wires while following state and local wiring regulations.

What does an electrician helper do?

An electrician helper is responsible for performing electrical maintenance duties under the supervision of a senior electrician. Electrician helpers conduct electrical and system installations, following protocols for the safeness of the process and components. They also inspect electrical tools and equipment before use, request supplies, and ensure the adequacy of materials during electrical operations. An electrician helper must have comprehensive knowledge of the electrical industry, be a fast learner, and have excellent time-management skills, especially when following instructions from the senior electrician on making the project successful.

Construction electrician vs electrician helper salary

Construction electricians and electrician helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Construction ElectricianElectrician Helper
Average salary$44,135$36,733
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $67,000Between $28,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASacramento, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonVermont
Best paying companyTri-State G&TExelon
Best paying industryFinanceConstruction

Differences between construction electrician and electrician helper education

There are a few differences between a construction electrician and an electrician helper in terms of educational background:

Construction ElectricianElectrician Helper
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 36%High School Diploma, 47%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyElectrical Engineering Technology
Most common college--

Construction electrician vs electrician helper demographics

Here are the differences between construction electricians' and electrician helpers' demographics:

Construction ElectricianElectrician Helper
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 92.9% Female, 7.1%Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 2.3% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 2.2% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between construction electrician and electrician helper duties and responsibilities

Construction electrician example responsibilities.

  • Manage installation of wire, conduit, switches and receptacles to meet electronic needs in diverse office spaces and facilities.
  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Connect wiring to circuit breakers, transformers, motors, motor control cabinets, PLC's, and variable speed drives.
  • Wire lights, motors, PLC, fire alarm systems, communications, and motor control centers.
  • Bend EMT, IMC, and RMC conduit, with both hand hold and hydraulic benders.
  • Bend EMT conduit and rigid pipe.
  • Show more

Electrician helper example responsibilities.

  • Manage a team of outside contractors in installing and commissioning a 300HP VFD to environmental equipment to reduce downtime.
  • Terminate primary and secondary leads of transformers.
  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Install, bend and cut PVC and EMT pipe for underground service and fire/alarm systems.
  • Perform and upgrade electrical installation such as transformers and electric panels and disconnects.
  • Wire breaker boxes, make taps in junction boxes and install fire alarms
  • Show more

Construction electrician vs electrician helper skills

Common construction electrician skills
  • Transformers, 8%
  • Electrical Conduit, 7%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • Ladders, 6%
  • Electrical Equipment, 5%
  • NEC, 5%
Common electrician helper skills
  • Hand Tools, 33%
  • RUN Conduit, 16%
  • Receptacles, 10%
  • Ladders, 9%
  • EMT, 9%
  • Switches, 4%

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