What Does a Shop Helper Do?

A shop helper is in charge of providing technical assistance to staff. Their responsibilities include operating devices and machinery, assisting in kit arrangements, preparing and handing over tools to mechanics, monitoring the inventory of supplies, and performing basic repairs as needed. They may also perform clerical support tasks such as preparing and processing documentation, answering calls and correspondence, handling request procedures, and maintaining records of transactions. Furthermore, as a shop helper, it is essential to keep an active communication line with staff, coordinating for a smooth and efficient workflow.

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Shop Helper Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real shop helper resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

Help around the warehouse with press brake, fabrication, MIG, CNC, stainless steel, sheet metal
Process and build aluminum frames for commercial glass buildings.
Assist with trimming, sorting and preparing brochures and documents
Rig up and rig down power tongs and power units.
Perform a little bit of tig welding, but not much.
Assemble new ATV's, lawn mowers, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.
Perform tig welding, tacking, cutting, bevel edges on pipe.
Work in-shop, handle money, handle the register, work with customers.
Used and maintain safety relate equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Assist in-shop customers, take order, handle money, make sandwich, etc.
Use of hand grinder to deburr any rough edges on finish products for paint prep.
Powder coating, masking parts, Deburr, hardware installation, shipping department, assembly.
Work on a manual lathe, see table and with grinders to give the tensile its correct length and overall dimensions.
Used proper tools assign for the task such as grinders, blowtorch, pressure air hose, welding machine, etc.
Clean CNC machines from metal debris along with cleaning shop, load trucks and unload by operating fork lift.

Shop Helper Job Description

When it comes to understanding what a shop helper does, you may be wondering, "should I become a shop helper?" The data included in this section may help you decide. Compared to other jobs, shop helpers have a growth rate described as "as fast as average" at 5% between the years 2018 - 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, the number of shop helper opportunities that are predicted to open up by 2028 is 13,800.

Shop helpers average about $15.71 an hour, which makes the shop helper annual salary $32,686. Additionally, shop helpers are known to earn anywhere from $26,000 to $39,000 a year. This means that the top-earning shop helpers make $12,000 more than the lowest earning ones.

Once you've become a shop helper, you may be curious about what other opportunities are out there. Careers aren't one size fits all. For that reason, we discovered some other jobs that you may find appealing. Some jobs you might find interesting include an installation assistant, woodworking shop hand, shop assistant, and pinsetter mechanic helper.

Learn More About Shop Helper Job Descriptions

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12 Shop Helper Resume Examples

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Christina Foster Shop Helper Contact Information Philadelphia, PA (440) 555-3606 cfoster@example.com Skills Identify Building Materials Customer Vehicles Sales Floor Construction Activities Snow Removal Business Cards New Parts Car Parts General Construction Unload Trucks Employment History Shop Helper 2020 - Present T AND N Philadelphia, PA Worked long hours outdoor environment in various cement construction sites. Coordinate with Body Shop Manager and Mechanical Supervisor to order parts for repairs. Perform DOT inspections on tow trucks, Order parts new and used from numerous local vendors. Set up and take down ladders, scaffolding and other temporary structures. Shop Helper 2017 - 2020 Rowan University Philadelphia, PA Out of Business Change oil, help with minor auto repairs and clean shop Pipe inspection, shop hand, and cleaning pipe. Maintained high standards of customer service during high-volume, fast-paced operations. Shop Assistant (Heavy Equipment Repair Shop)a. Construction Helper 2016 - 2017 ERBACON CONSTR CONSTRUCTION Philadelphia, PA Started doing contract labor/construction part time in 2008-2013 while also working at other jobs. Lifted and transported construction materials * Laid roofing shingles * Installed insulation in homes Operated Heavy equipment including motor graders, & heavy loaders. Plastered walls Worked with heavy machinery Assured all equipment was safely secured at all times Rebuilt floors and backyards Education High School Diploma 2016 - 2016


Justin Harper Shop Helper Contact Info Houston, TX (590) 555-6713 jharper@example.com Skills CNCDrill PressCommunicationCar PartsBrake SystemsHaasBusiness CardsOrder PartsQuality StandardsTape Measure Employment History Shop Helper 2017 - Present Austin Industries Houston, TX worked with pipefitters and welders on new plant work. Assisted mechanics with various tasks-Delivered and picked up cars and car parts-Maintained shop cleanliness and organization- Assisted costumers with questions and purchases Oversee specific tasks to ensure safety of fellow workers. Shop Tailor Apprentice 2015 - 2017 Merit Electric Houston, TX Pull cable, Wire closet's, Meet deadlines, Team Working, Communication Helped repair HVAC and refrigeration equipment. Assisted journeyman in repair and installation of HVAC equipment. Installed doors, windows, light fixtures, electrical outlets, light switches, and wiring. Pulled wire,Installed Conduit, Bend Pipe, Troubleshoot electrical systems Security Qualities Solutions and Integrations Shop Helper 2013 - 2015 FedEx Houston, TX Serviced all systems from air conditioning to electrical* Specialized in servicing brake and fuel systems Used complex troubleshooting, testing to repair equipment on load banks, impedance bridges, multi-meters and flow meter panels. Specialized in servicing brakes and fuel systems. Coordinate with Body Shop Manager and Mechanical Supervisor to order parts for repairs. Education High School Diploma 2013 - 2013


Brittany Palmer Shop Helper Redondo Beach, CA (890) 555-6933 bpalmer@example.com Experience Shop Helper2018 - Present Southern California Edison•Redondo Beach, CA Shear Line Stack steel bundles Band bundles and coils Shipping Loading and unloading trucks and railcars of hazardous materials Shop hand working on diesel trucks and gas land scrape and taking car of the property Worked in various departments on the shop floor. Shop Hand To The Mechanic, Equipment Delivery Driver Canvas Shop Labour2017 - 2018 Northrop Grumman•Redondo Beach, CA Complied with all safety rules and project rules. Assemble various furniture Clean up construction sites Driver at auction Moving company Hospatality / Houskeeping / POS system / cashier Read work orders and received oral instructions to determine work assignments. Painter Helper2015 - 2017 Northrop Grumman•Redondo Beach, CA Conducted surface preparation and vessel painting. Brush and roll painting, power tooling, and made other necessary surface preparations. Demonstrated knowledge of quality assurance, safety procedures, and security standards.96 Tisbury Ct.O'Fallon, Mo. Maintained a log of daily activities, assisted in unit evaluations and collected data for After Action Reviews. Monitor weather condition for surface preparation and painting / coating application. Skills Job TrainingCustom DoorsPainting EquipmentHeavy EquipmentShop EquipmentIn-ShopPro ShopHeavy MachineryAir PressureCover Surfaces Education High School Diploma 2015 - 2015

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Shop Helper Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 16% of Shop Helpers are proficient in Customer Service, Tape Measure, and Grinders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Dexterity.

We break down the percentage of Shop Helpers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Customer Service, 16%
Packed and organized pastries, customer service and reconcile financial transactions
Tape Measure, 12%
Worked with simple tape measurements, angles, degrees.
Grinders, 9%
Operated shop equipment and tools such as, grinders, shear machine, drill press, hydraulic press brake, Etc.
Customer Vehicles, 9%
Performed routine inspection and maintenance on customer vehicles.
BARS, 8%
Worked while in Middle/High school Manufactured light bars for "Oversize Loads" and the Tulsa Police Dept.
Work Ethic, 6%
Commended by management for maintaining clean work area and demonstrating excellent work ethic, dependability and punctuality.

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Most shop helpers list "customer service," "tape measure," and "grinders" as skills on their resumes. We go into more details on the most important shop helper responsibilities here:

Customer-service skills can be considered to be the most important personality trait for a shop helper to have. According to a shop helper resume, "diesel technicians frequently discuss automotive problems and necessary repairs with their customers" shop helpers are able to use customer-service skills in the following example we gathered from a resume: "clean up body shop, help customers with their cars, help them find their cars and take out trash. "

While it may not be the most important skill, we found that many shop helper duties rely on detail oriented. This example from a shop helper explains why: "diesel technicians must be aware of small details when inspecting or repairing engines and components, because mechanical and electronic malfunctions are often due to misalignments and other easy-to-miss causes." This resume example is just one of many ways shop helpers are able to utilize detail oriented: "clean up all four auto body shops, detail vehicles, and make deliveries/pick up parts. "

Dexterity is also an important skill for shop helpers to have. This example of how shop helpers use this skill comes from a shop helper resume, "mechanics need a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination for many tasks, such as disassembling engine parts, connecting or attaching components, and using hand tools." Read this excerpt from a resume to understand how vital it is to their everyday roles and responsibilities, "hooked up sheet lifter, slings, chains, spreader bar, clamps, and magnets to overhead cranes. "

In order for certain shop helper responsibilities to be completed, the job requires the skill "organizational skills." According to a shop helper resume, "diesel technicians must keep workspaces clean and organized in order to maintain safety and accountability for parts." As an example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies: "created visual renderings and organizational plots in conjunction with costume shop manager in designing production costuming. "

Another common skill for a shop helper to be able to utilize is "troubleshooting skills." Diesel technicians use diagnostic equipment on engine systems and components in order to identify and fix problems in mechanical and electronic systems a shop helper demonstrated the need for this skill by putting this on their resume: "oil changes, tire changes and rotation, full service brake jobs, belt replacement, troubleshooting, and diagnosis. "

Lastly, this career requires you to be skillful in "mechanical skills." According to shop helper resumes, "diesel technicians must be familiar with engine components and systems and know how they interact with each other." This resume example highlights how shop helper responsibilities rely on this skill: "separate tubes tires from wheels, using rubber mallets and metal bars, or mechanical tire changers. "

See the full list of shop helper skills.

Those shop helpers who do attend college, typically earn either a business degree or a automotive technology degree. Less commonly earned degrees for shop helpers include a general studies degree or a precision metal working degree.

When you're ready to become a shop helper, you might wonder which companies hire shop helpers. According to our research through shop helper resumes, shop helpers are mostly hired by Caliber Collision, Aerotek, and TPI. Now is a good time to apply as Caliber Collision has 44 shop helpers job openings, and there are 35 at Aerotek and 30 at TPI.

Since salary is important to some shop helpers, it's good to note that they are figured to earn the highest salaries at NBCUniversal, Fluid Components International, and Olympic Steel. If you were to take a closer look at NBCUniversal, you'd find that the average shop helper salary is $40,604. Then at Fluid Components International, shop helpers receive an average salary of $40,521, while the salary at Olympic Steel is $39,815.

View more details on shop helper salaries across the United States.

If you earned a degree from the top 100 educational institutions in the United States, you might want to take a look at Jimmy John's, UPS, and Purdue University. These three companies have hired a significant number of shop helpers from these institutions.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious shop helpers are:

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What Installation Assistants Do

A woodworking shop hand is responsible for assisting woodwork tasks, creating high-quality products, and inspecting the items thoroughly before packaging and releasing for delivery. Woodworking shop hands maintain clean and safe construction tools and equipment, perform repairs as needed, and disposing of defective items that may affect operational efficiency. They also work closely with woodworkers, accept customized requests from clients, and strategize on minimizing material costs without compromising the quality of wood products. A woodworking shop hand must have excellent organizational skills, as well as strictly adhering to the production's safety processes and regulations at all times.

In this section, we take a look at the annual salaries of other professions. Take installation assistant for example. On average, the installation assistants annual salary is $3,058 higher than what shop helpers make on average every year.

While their salaries may differ, one common ground between shop helpers and installation assistants are a few of the skills required in each craft. In both careers, employees bring forth skills like tape measure, work ethic, and hand tools.

As far as similarities go, this is where it ends because a shop helper responsibility requires skills such as "customer service," "grinders," "customer vehicles," and "bars." Whereas a installation assistant is skilled in "roofing," "customer satisfaction," "ladders," and "installation process." So if you're looking for what truly separates the two careers, you've found it.

On average, installation assistants reach similar levels of education than shop helpers. Installation assistants are 2.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Woodworking Shop Hand?

A shop assistant is primarily responsible for handling customers and maintaining the upkeep of a sales floor in a retail store. They are in charge of greeting customers, answering inquiries, offering assistance, recommending products, and handling complaints. A shop assistant also has duties that involve receiving, verifying, processing, and sorting shipments from suppliers, managing inventory, and re-stocking shelves while keeping them presentable. To maintain the sales floor's cleanliness, a shop assistant may also perform light chores and keep all equipment organized. Furthermore, it is essential to accomplish tasks while adhering to the policies and regulations of the company.

Next up, we have the woodworking shop hand profession to look over. This career brings along a lower average salary when compared to a shop helper annual salary. In fact, woodworking shop hands salary difference is $840 lower than the salary of shop helpers per year.

A similarity between the two careers of shop helpers and woodworking shop hands are a few of the skills associated with both roles. We used resumes from both professions to find that both use skills like "tape measure," "torches," and "cnc. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences that are worth noting. For example, shop helper responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "grinders," "customer vehicles," and "bars." Meanwhile, a woodworking shop hand might be skilled in areas such as "shop hand," "cdl," "load trucks," and "general shop." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

In general, woodworking shop hands study at similar levels of education than shop helpers. They're 0.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Shop Assistant Compares

Let's now take a look at the shop assistant profession. On average, these workers make lower salaries than shop helpers with a $1,470 difference per year.

Using shop helpers and shop assistants resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as "customer service," "customer vehicles," and "cnc," but the other skills required are very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from shop helper resumes include skills like "tape measure," "grinders," "bars," and "work ethic," whereas a shop assistant might be skilled in "sales floor," "pos," "costume shop," and "scheduling appointments. "

Interestingly enough, shop assistants earn the most pay in the construction industry, where they command an average salary of $32,963. As mentioned previously, shop helpers highest annual salary comes from the energy industry with an average salary of $36,026.

When it comes to education, shop assistants tend to earn similar education levels than shop helpers. In fact, they're 1.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of a Pinsetter Mechanic Helper

Pinsetter mechanic helpers tend to earn a higher pay than shop helpers by about $36,125 per year.

While their salaries may vary, shop helpers and pinsetter mechanic helpers both use similar skills to perform their jobs. Resumes from both professions include skills like "customer service," "hand tools," and "routine maintenance. "

Each job requires different skills like "tape measure," "grinders," "customer vehicles," and "bars," which might show up on a shop helper resume. Whereas pinsetter mechanic helper might include skills like "electrical components," "electric motors," "solenoids," and "maintenance manuals."

In general, pinsetter mechanic helpers reach similar levels of education when compared to shop helpers resumes. Pinsetter mechanic helpers are 1.8% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Updated October 2, 2020