Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between senior 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 senior electrician and an electrician helper. Additionally, a senior electrician has an average salary of $55,615, which is higher than the $36,733 average annual salary of an electrician helper.
The top three skills for a senior electrician include electrical equipment, hand tools and ladders. The most important skills for an electrician helper are hand tools, run conduit, and receptacles.
| Senior Electrician | Electrician Helper | |
| Yearly salary | $55,615 | $36,733 |
| Hourly rate | $26.74 | $17.66 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 17,633 | 27,886 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | High School Diploma, 47% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A senior electrician needs to be aware of the various electric problems that occur within their company's system. Using a variety of testing devices, they identify potential electrical problems. They replace wiring equipment or fixtures and work with voltages ranging from 12V DC to 12470V AC. They must have the ability to read electrical diagrams and blueprints of any electrical system.
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.
Senior electricians and electrician helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Electrician | Electrician Helper | |
| Average salary | $55,615 | $36,733 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $81,000 | Between $28,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stockton, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Vermont |
| Best paying company | JELD-WEN | Exelon |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Construction |
There are a few differences between a senior electrician and an electrician helper in terms of educational background:
| Senior Electrician | Electrician Helper | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | High School Diploma, 47% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between senior electricians' and electrician helpers' demographics:
| Senior Electrician | Electrician Helper | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0% | Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.3% White, 65.4% 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 Percentage | 3% | 3% |