Electrician Helpers

Career summary

#no comparable wois occ, checked 3/3/15 lh

Electrician helpers gather the tools and supplies needed for jobs and transport them to job sites. They set up scaffolds at construction sites so electricians can reach ceilings and high walls. They also do some of the preparation work. They measure and cut wires and conduits (pipe or tubing). They put pieces of conduit together and secure them to walls, using brackets and hand tools. Helpers drill holes and thread wires through conduits to junction boxes. They strip the insulation from wire ends. Depending on the job, helpers may solder the wires together or just twist the ends together and cover them with plastic connectors.

Electrician helpers also help maintain and repair electrical systems. They help assess malfunctioning systems by using test meters to trace short circuits. They look for and tighten loose connections. Experienced helpers may take apart electrical equipment and replace worn or broken parts.

Some electrician helpers assist power line installers. They trim trees that are in the way of power lines. Helpers may use hoists or pulleys to get tools to installers at the top of power poles. They also bolt parts together to make assemblies that are attached to power poles. Some power lines are buried. Helpers clear undergrowth and dig trenches for these lines. Occasionally, they use jackhammers to break up concrete that is in the way.

All electrician helpers maintain tools and equipment, wash parts, and keep supplies in order.

Related careers

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Building Maintenance Workers
• Carpenters
• Construction Helpers
• Electricians
• General Construction Workers
• Mechanic and Repairer Helpers
• Metal and Plastic Processing Workers
• Pipelayers
• Precision Assemblers
• Solar Panel Installers

Military careers

• Building Electricians

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to electrician helpers.

• Maintain tools and equipment, wash parts, and keep supplies and parts in order.
• Transport equipment, tools, materials, and supplies to work sites.
• Measure, cut, and bend wire and conduit.
• Drill holes. Push or pull wire through openings.
• String cables or wires through conduits, underground, or to towers.
• Strip insulation from wire ends.
• Install grounding wires.
• Examine electrical units for loose or broken connections. Fix units using hand tools.
• Find short circuits in wiring, using test meters.
• Take apart electrical equipment that is not working. Replace broken or worn parts. Reassemble using hand tools.
• Put up barricades, scaffolding, and shoring.
• Raise or lower equipment, tools, and materials, using hoists or pulleys and ropes.
• Attach wires at a connecting point. May solder the connecting wires.
• Break up concrete with jackhammer, dig trenches, and trim trees.

Common work activities

Electrician helpers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Get information needed to do the job
• Handle and move objects
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Repair and maintain electronic equipment
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Evaluate information against standards
• Process information
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Coach others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, electrician helpers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a moderately high level of social interaction. They spend most of their time working with an electrician.
• Are greatly responsible for the health and safety of the people they work with.
• Are responsible for the work outcomes of the electricians. The electrician can't do their job if the helper doesn't bring the correct supplies.
• Work as part of a team.
• Communicate face-to-face with electricians daily.
• Often use the telephone.

Physical work conditions

• Always wear safety attire, such as hardhats, gloves, and goggles.
• Work both indoors and outdoors daily.
• Are exposed to contaminants daily
• Work in high places on a regular basis. They may climb ladders or scaffolding, or work on roofs.
• Are regularly exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures while working outdoors.
• Use or work around hazardous equipment often. They may use saws or welding equipment. They also work near heavy equipment.
• Are often exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable.
• Often work in cramped places that require getting into awkward positions.
• Are often exposed to hazardous conditions and situations that may produce cuts or minor burns.
• Often work in very bright or very dim light.
• Sometimes work in an enclosed vehicle.
• Work somewhat near other people, but have a few feet of space separating self from others.
• Occasionally are exposed to whole body vibration.

Work performance

• Must fully complete and be exact in their work. Errors could cause serious injuries to themselves or others.
• Make decisions daily that affect other people.
• Must meet strict daily and weekly project deadlines.
• Work in a moderately competitive environment.
• Can make most decisions without talking to a supervisor.
• Repeat the same physical and mental tasks throughout the day.

Hours/travel

• Usually work 40 hours per week.
• May work nights and weekends to meet construction deadlines or handle emergencies.
• Frequently travel to new job sites.

Physical demands

Electrician helpers frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Bend or twist their body.
• Climb ladders, scaffolds, or poles.
• Walk or run for long periods of time.
• Kneel, stoop, crouch, or crawl.
• Repeat the same movements.

It is important for electrician helpers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for electrician helpers to be able to:

• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Move arms and legs quickly.

Skills and abilities

Electrician helpers need to:

Communicate

• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand spoken information.

Reason and problem solve

• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.

Work with things

• Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.
• Determine the causes of technical problems and find solutions for them.
• Repair machines or systems.

Perceive and visualize

• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Building Construction Technology
• Electrical and Power Transmission

Other programs of study to consider

• Construction Trades

Training

To work as an electrician helper, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete short-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required beyond high school. However, you can prepare to work in this occupation by taking courses. Professional-technical schools and two-year colleges offer useful courses. For example, you could take courses in electronics, electricity, general math, and drafting.

On-the-job training

Almost all electrician helpers receive informal on-the-job training from an experienced worker. During training, you learn to:

• handle materials and tools; and
• clean the work area and equipment.

Training generally lasts about one month.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be building electricians. Training lasts from eight to 12 weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Blueprint Reading
• Carpentry
• Construction
• Drafting
• Industrial Arts
• Electricity

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers prefer to hire helpers who have a high school diploma or equivalent. They prefer applicants who are trained in, or experienced with, electrical equipment, systems, and codes. They also prefer applicants who are in good health. Many employers look to union hiring halls to find skilled workers.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Helpers--Electricians 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Pay varies with the area of the country, the employer, and the worker's experience.

Full-time electrician helpers may receive benefits. Typical benefits include health insurance, sick leave, and paid vacation. Helpers who work for small companies may have to provide their own insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Electrical contractors

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will be very strong. This is due to the rebound in construction after the recession. The increase of electronics in homes and offices also contributes to growth.

Job openings will occur as current helpers leave this occupation or become electricians.

Other resources

Independent Electrical Contractors 

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 
900 Seventh Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
202.833.7000

International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine, and Furniture Workers 
2701 Dryden Road
Dayton, OH 45439
937.298.9984

National Electrical Contractors Association 
3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1100
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.657.3110

National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee 
5001 Howerton Way, Suite N
Bowie, MD 20715
888.652.4007
301.715.2300

North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) 
815 16th ST, NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20006

Puget Sound Chapter, NECA 
16001 Aurora Ave N., Ste 200
Shoreline, WA 98133
206.284.2150

Puget Sound Electrical Apprenticeship & Training Trust 
550 SW 7th Street
Renton, WA 98057
425.228.1777

Seattle City Light Apprenticeship Program 
206.386.1603

Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council 
906 Columbia Street SW, Suite 107
Olympia, WA 98501
360.357.6778

References

Career cluster

• Architecture and Construction

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupation

• Helpers--Electricians (47-3013.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Electrician Helper (829.684-022) 
• Electrician Helper (829.684-026) 
• Electrician Helper, Automotive (825.684-010) 
• Helper, Electrical (821.667-010) 
• Protective-signal-installer Helper (822.664-010) 
• Protective-signal-repairer Helper (822.684-014) 
• Tower Erector Helper (821.684-014) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Realistic/Conventional/Investigative

COPSystem

• Technology Skilled