What does a trades helper do?
As a Trades Helper, your duties will include obtaining parts and equipment for supervising tradesmen. You will have to carry out some complex routine tasks involving the use of machinery and equipment. You will be required to also carry out maintenance of the machinery and equipment that are not so complex such as boilers and automobiles. In some cases, you may have to attend to repairs of fixtures and equipment and also perform routine checkups.
Trades helper responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real trades helper resumes:
- Use of proper PPE, OSHA policies and regulations.
- Perform maintenance and repairs on HVAC and electrical equipment.
- Help the plumbers and A/C service techs when need.
- Operate heavy equipment; dig using shovels to expose main utility lines
- Replace and repair fixture lights, wall switches, ballast and receptacles.
- Assist in repairs with outlets, switches, lighting fixtures and circuit replacement.
- Install and bend rigid piping, install cable tray, underground PVC piping.
- Operate and direct front end loaders to build and maintain solid waste compost piles.
- Used hand and power tools such as floor polishers, ladders, floor strippers.
- Perform annual preventative maintenance repair checks to ensure HVAC equipment are operational for each season.
- Complete tasks using meters, vacuum pumps and gages, shovels, wheelbarrows, etc.
- Cut grass and shrubs; clean floors and carpets; assist maintenance supervisor - as needed.
- Work under supervision of journeymen carpenter removing and installing doors, painting as well as performing plumbing work and tile installations.
- Operate pickup trucks, bucket trucks, front end loaders, riding mowers, service trucks and other motorize transportation.
- Perform electricity installation and plumbing repairs.
Trades helper skills and personality traits
We calculated that 20% of Trades Helpers are proficient in Hand Tools, Ladders, and Plumbing. They’re also known for soft skills such as Color vision, Math skills, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Trades Helpers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Hand Tools, 20%
Prepare surfaces for painting and paint, using hand tools such as spray gun, caulking gun, rollers or brushes.
- Ladders, 19%
Hoist tar and roofing materials to roofs, using ropes and pulleys, or carry materials up ladders.
- Plumbing, 7%
Performed electricity installation and plumbing repairs.
- OSHA, 6%
Ensured strict compliance with all safety requirements including OSHA mandates and wore appropriate personal protective equipment according to work requirements.
- Loaders, 5%
Operated pickup trucks, bucket trucks, front end loaders, riding mowers, service trucks and other motorized transportation.
- Safety Equipment, 4%
Assist in the set up of work areas, including tools, safety equipment, lighting and power sources.
"hand tools," "ladders," and "plumbing" are among the most common skills that trades helpers use at work. You can find even more trades helper responsibilities below, including:
Color vision. One of the key soft skills for a trades helper to have is color vision. You can see how this relates to what trades helpers do because "construction laborers and helpers may need to be able to distinguish colors to do their job." Additionally, a trades helper resume shows how trades helpers use color vision: "worked under supervision of journeymen carpenter removing and installing doors, painting as well as performing plumbing work and tile installations. "
Math skills. Many trades helper duties rely on math skills. "construction laborers and some helpers need to perform basic math calculations while measuring on jobsites or assisting a surveying crew.," so a trades helper will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways trades helper responsibilities rely on math skills: "assisted with reading and mathematics lessons as a small group leader. "
Physical stamina. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of trades helpers is physical stamina. This skill is critical to many everyday trades helper duties, as "construction laborers and helpers must have the endurance to perform strenuous tasks throughout the day." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "developed excellent physical stamina for repetitive and demanding tasks"
Mechanical skills. A big part of what trades helpers do relies on "mechanical skills." You can see how essential it is to trades helper responsibilities because "construction laborers are frequently required to operate and maintain equipment, such as jackhammers." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical trades helper tasks: "diagnosed electrical problems as well as mechanical problems. "
Physical strength. Another crucial skill for a trades helper to carry out their responsibilities is "physical strength." A big part of what trades helpers relies on this skill, since "construction laborers and helpers must often lift heavy materials or equipment." How this skill relates to trades helper duties can be seen in an example from a trades helper resume snippet: "assisted pipefitters and welders on construction sites with materials, physical duties, and tools. "
The three companies that hire the most trades helpers are:
- Crossroads Diversified Services8 trades helpers jobs
- Jacobs Engineering Group
7 trades helpers jobs
- Jacobs Enterprises7 trades helpers jobs
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Compare different trades helpers
Trades helper vs. Construction assistant
A construction assistant performs various clerical and operational support tasks to assist construction managers and maintain smooth workflow operations. Their responsibilities usually include monitoring budgets and costs, handling calls and correspondence, purchasing construction materials according to project requirements, liaising with suppliers and construction contractors, and participating in managing the schedules and activities of the workers. A construction assistant may also perform inspections to identify problem areas and ensure that all procedures adhere to the safety codes and standards.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a trades helper are more likely to require skills like "hand tools," "ladders," "dexterity," and "plumbing." On the other hand, a job as a construction assistant requires skills like "construction projects," "general contractors," "drywall installation," and "equipment operators." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Construction assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than trades helpers. In fact, construction assistants are 1.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Trades helper vs. Concrete technician
Construction apprentices are individuals who are trained by experienced professionals for entry-level tasks involving the trade of construction work on the job. Their complimentary training experience helps them to become skilled in a specific trade by combining hands-on work and classroom learning, as they apply the lessons learned through working. Since apprenticeship is considered full-time employment with an average length of 3-4 years, these individuals are being paid just like other employees and may soon have a permanent job.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that trades helper responsibilities requires skills like "dexterity," "plumbing," "loaders," and "safety equipment." But a concrete technician might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "asphalt," "astm," "dot," and "demolition."
Concrete technicians earn similar levels of education than trades helpers in general. They're 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Trades helper vs. Construction apprentice
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, trades helpers are more likely to have skills like "dexterity," "osha," "loaders," and "safety equipment." But a construction apprentice is more likely to have skills like "demolition," "safety rules," "roofing," and "tape measure."
Most construction apprentices achieve a similar degree level compared to trades helpers. For example, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Trades helper vs. Carpentry and masonry specialist
Even though a few skill sets overlap between trades helpers and carpentry and masonry specialists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a trades helper might have more use for skills like "hand tools," "ladders," "dexterity," and "plumbing." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of carpentry and masonry specialists require skills like "control tests," "math," "roofing," and "structural steel. "
The average resume of carpentry and masonry specialists showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to trades helpers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.Types of trades helper
Updated January 8, 2025
