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General helper salary
Average general helper salary
$35,793
General Helper Salary Overview
The role of a General Helper is vital across multiple sectors, including construction, manufacturing, and retail. As of October 2025, the average annual salary stands at $35,793, or approximately $17 per hour. Salaries vary depending on factors such as location, experience, and industry.
Experience Impact on Salary
Entry-level positions often start lower, but as you gain experience, your earning potential increases. For instance, General Helpers with several years of experience can earn significantly more, reflecting their developed skills and expertise.
Regional Salary Variations
Compensation for General Helpers also differs by state. States with higher living costs, such as California and New York, often offer higher salaries. For those considering moving for better opportunities, researching regional salary trends can provide valuable insights.
Job Opportunities
Job seekers can find various listings for General Helper positions across platforms like Zippia. Whether you're looking for full-time or part-time work, this role provides substantial opportunities for growth and development, making it a solid choice for many individuals entering the workforce.
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Where can a General Helper earn more?
General helper salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level general helper | $27,600 | $13.25 |
| Mid-level general helper | $32,100 | $15.41 |
| Senior-level general helper | $50,000 | $24.04 |
General helper salary estimates from across the web
Average general helper salary by state
The average general helper salary in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average general helper salary states are Arkansas, Florida, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for general helpers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $44,268 | $21.28 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $42,402 | $20.39 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $40,214 | $19.33 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $44,212 | $21.26 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $43,240 | $20.79 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $41,918 | $20.15 |
| 7 | New York | $41,340 | $19.88 |
| 8 | Illinois | $42,485 | $20.43 |
| 9 | Oregon | $39,073 | $18.79 |
| 10 | Michigan | $40,565 | $19.50 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $37,592 | $18.07 |
| 12 | Washington | $38,848 | $18.68 |
| 13 | Missouri | $40,062 | $19.26 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $35,662 | $17.15 |
| 15 | California | $38,133 | $18.33 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $35,614 | $17.12 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $35,833 | $17.23 |
| 18 | Maine | $34,600 | $16.63 |
| 19 | Iowa | $35,117 | $16.88 |
| 20 | Montana | $37,611 | $18.08 |
| 21 | Ohio | $34,973 | $16.81 |
| 22 | Hawaii | $43,365 | $20.85 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $34,766 | $16.71 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $34,036 | $16.36 |
| 25 | Alaska | $37,004 | $17.79 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $36,526 | $17.56 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $36,852 | $17.72 |
| 28 | Vermont | $35,359 | $17.00 |
| 29 | Indiana | $33,676 | $16.19 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $34,078 | $16.38 |
| 31 | Arizona | $35,315 | $16.98 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $32,387 | $15.57 |
| 33 | Utah | $33,774 | $16.24 |
| 34 | Kansas | $33,840 | $16.27 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $33,806 | $16.25 |
| 36 | Colorado | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| 37 | Delaware | $30,989 | $14.90 |
| 38 | Georgia | $33,762 | $16.23 |
| 39 | Maryland | $34,108 | $16.40 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $31,277 | $15.04 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $32,070 | $15.42 |
| 42 | Alabama | $30,852 | $14.83 |
| 43 | Virginia | $31,668 | $15.22 |
| 44 | Idaho | $26,285 | $12.64 |
| 45 | Texas | $30,893 | $14.85 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $31,849 | $15.31 |
| 47 | Florida | $29,681 | $14.27 |
| 48 | North Carolina | $28,850 | $13.87 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $30,367 | $14.60 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $29,618 | $14.24 |
| 51 | Nevada | $27,825 | $13.38 |
Highest paying cities for general helpers
The highest-paying cities for general helpers are Chicago, IL, Rochester, MN, and Deer Park, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $42,486 | $20.43 |
| 2 | Rochester, MN | $41,819 | $20.11 |
| 3 | Deer Park, NY | $41,419 | $19.91 |
| 4 | Waterford, MI | $40,643 | $19.54 |
| 5 | Hazleton, PA | $40,283 | $19.37 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $39,027 | $18.76 |
| 7 | Puyallup, WA | $38,916 | $18.71 |
| 8 | Alhambra, CA | $38,223 | $18.38 |
| 9 | Fort Collins, CO | $36,051 | $17.33 |
| 10 | Bowling Green, KY | $35,479 | $17.06 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,299 | $16.97 |
| 12 | Mason, OH | $34,606 | $16.64 |
| 13 | Knoxville, TN | $34,230 | $16.46 |
| 14 | Lawrence, KS | $33,868 | $16.28 |
| 15 | Savannah, GA | $33,860 | $16.28 |
| 16 | Lafayette, LA | $33,771 | $16.24 |
| 17 | Layton, UT | $33,734 | $16.22 |
| 18 | Tulsa, OK | $32,097 | $15.43 |
| 19 | Salem, VA | $31,285 | $15.04 |
| 20 | Decatur, AL | $30,891 | $14.85 |
General helper salary details
A general helper's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $43,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a general helper's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| Average | $35,793 | $2,983 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying general helper jobs
The highest paying types of general helpers are construction specialist, construction apprentice, and form setter.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Apprentice | $47,983 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 40,760 |
| Construction Worker | $31,842 | $2,653 | $15.31 | 53,067 |
| Stacker | $29,046 | $2,420 | $13.96 | 27,528 |
| Production Worker | $30,847 | $2,571 | $14.83 | 136,584 |
| Construction Labour | $32,628 | $2,719 | $15.69 | 48,914 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
Top companies hiring general helpers now:
Which companies pay general helpers the most?
General helper salaries at Barry-Wehmiller and EVRAZ North America are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average general helper salary at companies like Kemps and International Paper are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barry-Wehmiller | $40,660 | $19.55 |
| 2 | EVRAZ North America | $39,961 | $19.21 |
| 3 | Kemps | $39,958 | $19.21 |
| 4 | International Paper | $39,551 | $19.01 |
| 5 | Dairy Farmers of America | $38,717 | $18.61 |
| 6 | PepsiCo | $38,659 | $18.59 |
| 7 | Packaging Corporation of America | $38,592 | $18.55 |
| 8 | Monster Products | $38,519 | $18.52 |
| 9 | Fluor Corporation | $38,241 | $18.39 |
| 10 | 3M Company | $38,193 | $18.36 |
| 11 | City of El Dorado | $38,153 | $18.34 |
| 12 | FXI Holdings, Inc. | $38,040 | $18.29 |
| 13 | Green Bay Packaging | $37,957 | $18.25 |
| 14 | Gerdau Ameristeel | $37,863 | $18.20 |
| 15 | Waste Connections | $37,691 | $18.12 |
| 16 | United Water Restoration Group | $37,579 | $18.07 |
| 17 | Tree Island Wire | $37,454 | $18.01 |
| 18 | Oakland, New Jersey | $37,444 | $18.00 |
| 19 | Trachte | $37,386 | $17.97 |
| 20 | QPS | $37,358 | $17.96 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
General Helper salary by industry
The average general helper salary varies across industries:
- The average general helper salary in the media industry is $39,286, the highest of any industry.
- The average general helper salary in the finance industry is $38,367.
- General helpers in the retail industry earn an average salary of $32,322, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for general helpers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media | $39,286 | $18.89 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $38,367 | $18.45 |
| 3 | Automotive | $37,674 | $18.11 |
| 4 | Transportation | $36,715 | $17.65 |
| 5 | Retail | $32,322 | $15.54 |
High paying general helper jobs
General helper salary trends
The average general helper salary has risen by $7,709 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average general helper earned $28,084 annually, but today, they earn $35,793 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for general helpers over the last decade.
Compare general helper salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average general helper salary over time
Compare general helper salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
General helper salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,800 | $17.21 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $34,800 | $16.74 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $33,800 | $16.26 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $32,600 | $15.68 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | $31,600 | $15.18 | +4.5% |
Recently added general helper salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peopleready | General Helper | Bessemer, AL | 06/30/2025 | $31,305 |
| Menasha | Seasonal General Labor Rotating Shift-Student Summer Help 2025 | Neenah, WI | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| International Paper Company | General Helper | Lafayette, LA | 06/27/2025 | $41,448 |
| Compass Group, North America | General Helper/Bar Attendant | Eureka, NV | 06/27/2025 | $25,607 |
| Panama-Buena Vista Union School District | Cafeteria General Helper School Year) | Bakersfield, CA | 06/27/2025 | $36,919 |
| Amcor | General Helper | Mundelein, IL | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
| Peopleready | General Helper | Baltimore, MD | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| Loenbro | General Laborer/Helper | Moses Lake, WA | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Support Services, General Helper | Yellow Pine, ID | 06/25/2025 | $25,044 |
| Peopleready | General Helper | Boston, MA | 06/25/2025 | $39,653 |
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