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The average helper salary in the United States is approximately $31,331 per year, translating to about $15 per hour. However, this figure can vary significantly across different states and industries. For instance, helpers in construction or specialized fields may earn more due to the demand for skilled labor.
Entry-level positions typically start at a lower range, around $25,000 annually, while experienced helpers can earn upwards of $40,000, depending on their specific roles and responsibilities. Understanding these salary trends can help you negotiate better pay and choose the right career path.
Some of the highest paying states for helpers include California, New York, and Texas. In these regions, the cost of living is higher, which corresponds to increased salary offerings. Researching various states can provide insights into where you might earn the most based on your skills and experience.
Many industries seek helpers, and opportunities range from retail to maintenance and construction. Websites like Zippia can connect you with available positions that match your qualifications and salary expectations.
Let Zippia find your next helper job
Let Zippia find your next helper job
The highest-paying states for helpers are Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. The lowest average helper salary states are North Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $36,393 | $17.50 |
| 2 | Maine | $33,532 | $16.12 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $33,147 | $15.94 |
| 4 | Montana | $33,053 | $15.89 |
| 5 | Idaho | $33,578 | $16.14 |
| 6 | Oregon | $35,183 | $16.91 |
| 7 | Vermont | $33,627 | $16.17 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| 9 | Utah | $31,951 | $15.36 |
| 10 | Nevada | $32,575 | $15.66 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $31,329 | $15.06 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $31,351 | $15.07 |
| 13 | Washington | $34,998 | $16.83 |
| 14 | Michigan | $31,528 | $15.16 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $33,044 | $15.89 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $31,718 | $15.25 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $32,663 | $15.70 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $33,302 | $16.01 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $31,128 | $14.97 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $32,392 | $15.57 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $29,837 | $14.34 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $28,877 | $13.88 |
| 23 | California | $32,975 | $15.85 |
| 24 | New York | $32,047 | $15.41 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $31,730 | $15.25 |
| 26 | Iowa | $30,134 | $14.49 |
| 27 | Ohio | $29,783 | $14.32 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $29,586 | $14.22 |
| 29 | Arizona | $30,673 | $14.75 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $32,216 | $15.49 |
| 31 | Delaware | $30,556 | $14.69 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $27,602 | $13.27 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $28,160 | $13.54 |
| 34 | Colorado | $30,158 | $14.50 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $27,651 | $13.29 |
| 36 | Virginia | $28,618 | $13.76 |
| 37 | Indiana | $29,196 | $14.04 |
| 38 | Maryland | $29,886 | $14.37 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $27,456 | $13.20 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $28,324 | $13.62 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $27,417 | $13.18 |
| 42 | Kansas | $28,722 | $13.81 |
| 43 | Illinois | $30,271 | $14.55 |
| 44 | Texas | $28,359 | $13.63 |
| 45 | Alabama | $27,229 | $13.09 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $27,071 | $13.01 |
| 47 | Missouri | $28,534 | $13.72 |
| 48 | District of Columbia | $29,602 | $14.23 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $27,899 | $13.41 |
| 50 | Florida | $26,630 | $12.80 |
| 51 | Georgia | $27,107 | $13.03 |
The highest-paying cities for helpers are Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, and San Jose, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $35,187 | $16.92 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $35,160 | $16.90 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $34,476 | $16.57 |
| 4 | Saint Paul, MN | $32,436 | $15.59 |
| 5 | Coram, NY | $32,282 | $15.52 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,247 | $15.50 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $32,236 | $15.50 |
| 8 | Hackensack, NJ | $32,076 | $15.42 |
| 9 | Allentown, PA | $31,517 | $15.15 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,680 | $14.75 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $30,449 | $14.64 |
| 12 | Loveland, CO | $30,441 | $14.64 |
| 13 | El Paso, TX | $29,588 | $14.22 |
| 14 | Arlington, VA | $29,575 | $14.22 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $29,264 | $14.07 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $28,881 | $13.89 |
| 17 | Kansas City, KS | $28,801 | $13.85 |
| 18 | Kansas City, MO | $28,790 | $13.84 |
| 19 | Clarksville, TN | $27,796 | $13.36 |
| 20 | Hot Springs, AR | $27,781 | $13.36 |
Helpers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A helper's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $31,331 | $2,611 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of helpers are plumber, mason, and plumber helper.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason | $43,974 | $3,664 | $21.14 | 15,057 |
| Marine Pipefitter Helper | $38,036 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 29,754 |
| Plumber | $55,337 | $4,611 | $26.60 | 12,307 |
| Construction Helper | $34,148 | $2,846 | $16.42 | 49,381 |
| Installation Helper | $31,908 | $2,659 | $15.34 | 33,573 |
| Maintenance Helper | $30,824 | $2,569 | $14.82 | 105,592 |
Top companies hiring helpers now:
Helper salaries at National Grid plc and Triumph Group are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average helper salary at companies like General Electric and MDU Resources are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Grid plc | $48,565 | $23.35 |
| 2 | Triumph Group | $45,112 | $21.69 |
| 3 | General Electric | $44,996 | $21.63 |
| 4 | MDU Resources | $44,069 | $21.19 |
| 5 | Schlumberger | $42,023 | $20.20 |
| 6 | Portland General Electric | $41,866 | $20.13 |
| 7 | ENSTAR Natural Gas | $41,573 | $19.99 |
| 8 | Steel Dynamics | $41,525 | $19.96 |
| 9 | Rich Products | $41,137 | $19.78 |
| 10 | ABB | $40,676 | $19.56 |
| 11 | Peterson Holding | $40,509 | $19.48 |
| 12 | Syracuse University | $40,400 | $19.42 |
| 13 | Xcel Energy | $40,259 | $19.36 |
| 14 | SIFCO Industries | $40,141 | $19.30 |
| 15 | Entergy | $39,771 | $19.12 |
| 16 | New York State Restaurant Association | $39,631 | $19.05 |
| 17 | Pacifi | $39,571 | $19.02 |
| 18 | Precision Castparts | $39,440 | $18.96 |
| 19 | Hawaiian Electric Industries | $38,699 | $18.61 |
| 20 | Lydall, Inc. | $38,478 | $18.50 |
The average helper salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utilities | $36,088 | $17.35 |
| 2 | Transportation | $34,322 | $16.50 |
| 3 | Energy | $33,152 | $15.94 |
| 4 | Construction | $32,448 | $15.60 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $32,436 | $15.59 |
| 6 | Professional | $29,452 | $14.16 |
| 7 | Retail | $29,426 | $14.15 |
The average helper salary has risen by $7,202 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average helper earned $24,129 annually, but today, they earn $31,331 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for helpers over the last decade.
Compare helper salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare helper salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,300 | $15.06 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $30,200 | $14.53 | +6.6% |
| 2023 | $28,200 | $13.57 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $27,300 | $13.12 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $26,300 | $12.66 | +3.2% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCC Environmental Services | Compost Helper | Roseville, CA | 06/30/2025 | $39,653 |
| Gobeacon | Yard Helper | Bronxville, NY | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Bernhard | Helper | Long Beach, MS | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| Bernhard | Helper | Cocoa Beach, FL | 06/29/2025 | $33,142 |
| Beacon Mobility | Yard Helper | Bronxville, NY | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Sodexo | Food Prep Helper | Jacksonville, FL | 06/28/2025 | $29,218 |
| Pye-Barker Fire & Safety | Fire Alarm Helper | Pflugerville, TX | 06/28/2025 | $31,305 |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | Helper | Hammond, IN | 06/28/2025 | $27,361 |
| Sodexo S A | Food Prep Helper | Jacksonville, AL | 06/28/2025 | $25,044 |
| Sodexo S A | Food Prep Helper | Saint Louis, MO | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
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