Helpers--Electricians vs Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: Similar Median Pay, Different Work

Helpers--Electricians vs Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: what changes?

Consider Helpers--Electricians if you want to help electricians by performing duties requiring less skill. Consider Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters if you would rather help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties requiring less skill. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Helpers--Electricians and Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Helpers--Electricians

National median pay (2025): $42,670
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Strip insulation from wire ends, using wire stripping pliers, and attach wires to terminals for subsequent soldering.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 6,100

Know before you choose

BLS projects essentially flat employment (0.6%) through 2035. Annual openings mostly reflect replacement, not a rapidly expanding field.

See the full Helpers--Electricians brief

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

National median pay (2025): $42,360
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 4,400

Know before you choose

The job can require working in cramped or physically awkward positions for meaningful stretches of time.

See the full Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters brief

How the national numbers differ

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters has the edge on projected growth

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is at 2.4% projected growth, compared with 0.6% projected growth for Helpers--Electricians.

Helpers--Electricians has the edge on annual openings

Helpers--Electricians is at 6,100 annual openings, compared with 4,400 annual openings for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters.

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Compare actual offers, expected paid hours, schedule, and benefits before treating either career as the higher-paying option.

40.9/ 100

Helpers--Electricians

42.3/ 100

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Helpers--Electricians vs Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Dimension	Helpers--Electricians	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Median pay (2025)	$42,670	$42,360
Pay percentile	14.7 percentile	14.3 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	0.6%	2.4%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	6,100	4,400
2025 employment	65,000	45,300
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 2	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Helpers--Electricians brief Read Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters brief

Helpers--Electricians vs Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Helpers--Electricians

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

How the national numbers differ

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters has the edge on projected growth

Helpers--Electricians has the edge on annual openings

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Helpers--Electricians vs Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Try another comparison

Helpers--Electricians vs Hazardous Materials Removal Workers

Helpers--Electricians vs Segmental Pavers

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters vs Glaziers

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters vs Sheet Metal Workers