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Electrician helper vs lead electrician

The differences between electrician helpers and lead electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an electrician helper and a lead electrician. Additionally, a lead electrician has an average salary of $56,709, which is higher than the $36,733 average annual salary of an electrician helper.

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

Electrician helper vs lead electrician overview

Electrician HelperLead Electrician
Yearly salary$36,733$56,709
Hourly rate$17.66$27.26
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs27,88618,158
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%Associate Degree, 33%
Average age4242
Years of experience1212

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.

What does a lead electrician do?

A Lead Electrician is the one who does the maintenance, inspection, and repair, and installation of needed equipment and other electric-related things. They are the one who supervises and monitors the job of the Electrician, plans and takes action to every happening and problem that they can encounter. They also do the planning of schedule and the process of conducting an equipment check-up and maintenance. Also, they need to be knowledgeable when it comes to repairing and installing needed material and equipment.

Electrician helper vs lead electrician salary

Electrician helpers and lead electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Electrician HelperLead Electrician
Average salary$36,733$56,709
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $47,000Between $38,000 And $84,000
Highest paying CitySacramento, CABerkeley, CA
Highest paying stateVermontVermont
Best paying companyExelonAmeresco
Best paying industryConstructionEnergy

Differences between electrician helper and lead electrician education

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

Electrician HelperLead Electrician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%Associate Degree, 33%
Most common majorElectrical Engineering TechnologyElectrical Engineering Technology
Most common college--

Electrician helper vs lead electrician demographics

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

Electrician HelperLead Electrician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 94.4% Female, 5.6%Male, 97.4% Female, 2.6%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 2.2% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between electrician helper and lead electrician duties and responsibilities

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

Lead electrician example responsibilities.

  • Remove, analyze, identify issue install properly working pressure transducers, effectively accomplishing priorities to go underway.
  • Run all types of electrical conduit for switches, lights, fire alarms, telephone, receptacles and HVAC units.
  • Resolve plumbing and none electrical issues.
  • Repair low pressure steam boilers, HVAC systems, cooling towers, waters system, and sump pumps.
  • Calculate proper size and specifications of wire, conduit, motor controls, switches, panels, and fuses.
  • Oversee all operations of the HVAC department including installation, repair of all HVAC equipment at several island locations.
  • Show more

Electrician helper vs lead electrician skills

Common electrician helper skills
  • Hand Tools, 33%
  • RUN Conduit, 16%
  • Receptacles, 10%
  • Ladders, 9%
  • EMT, 9%
  • Switches, 4%
Common lead electrician skills
  • Electrical Equipment, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Electrical Systems, 8%
  • Ladders, 6%
  • EMT, 6%
  • PLC, 5%

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