What are the training, occupation, jobs and salary for electrical assistants?

Anyone interested in becoming an electrical assistant has the opportunity to gain a foothold in the electrical industry without a long period of training. The electrical assistant is the support for the electrician or electrical engineer. They take on a variety of different tasks. The electrical assistant carries out standard work so that the skilled workers can concentrate on complex tasks.

The profession of an electrician is currently gaining more and more interest. Due to the shortage of skilled workers, not only employees but also employers are increasingly looking for employees who are committed to their work and have manual skills and technical understanding.

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What does an electrical assistant do?

In contrast to electricians or electrical engineers, electrical assistants are unskilled workers. As such, they carry out simple tasks in the field of electrical engineering. They work effectively on the tasks at hand and relieve the skilled workers on site. They can then concentrate on special tasks.

As a rule, electrical assistants only need a short briefing at the workplace. After that, they can carry out simple tasks such as replenishing machine stocks or assembling circuit boards, for example. The electrical assistant also accompanies skilled workers on construction sites. There they help to maintain, assemble or dismantle systems. 

The tasks an electrical assistant performs depends on the company they work for. For example, if you work as an electrical assistant in a large industrial company, you may work on an assembly line. Shift work is also often required. A classic job here is to assemble circuit boards with different components or elements. In a craft business, however, the electrical assistant is the electrician's right-hand man. They help the electrician to prepare and carry out installation work. A classic task of the electrical assistant is to prepare the walls for the laying of cables. In such a company, he often also helps the electrician to lay the cables and install sockets. There are also companies that install aerials or alarm systems. The electrician also helps with this.

What are the tasks and activities of an electrical assistant?

There are many people interested in the electrical industry. However, it can often be the case that candidates do not have the right school-leaving or educational qualifications. In this case, you have the opportunity to enter the electrical industry. As an electrical assistant, you are usually responsible for carrying out simple tasks. Instruction is provided by trained specialists on site.

Anyone with a technical understanding has a decisive advantage. However, this is not absolutely necessary for the job of an electrical assistant. Many individuals use this position to gain the necessary knowledge and build professional experience while working as an assistant. 

After a few years, they then go on to further education or training.

The electrical assistant is typically employed to relieve skilled workers of simple tasks and provide support. They often help on construction sites by slitting walls or laying cable ducts. Electrical assistants also carry out the simple installation of sockets. As they often act as the electrician's right-hand man, they can also install fridges, televisions or electric stoves. In doing so, they learn how the appliances work.

An electrical assistant is often also working in customer service. On behalf of customers, they support electricians with the installation, maintenance, repair and dismantling of systems. The activities of the electrical assistant are diverse and varied. Their role in supporting electricians should not be underestimated. This is why electrical assistants are sought after both in trade businesses and in industry. The job description is classified as very future-proof.

Once a suitable candidate has proven themselves as an electrician over several years, they can develop further. Numerous career options are then open to them. For example, they can train as an industrial electrician. This allows him to shorten a subsequent apprenticeship in the field of electrical engineering.

What are the job opportunities for electricians?

Electricians are in high demand, especially in the current shortage of skilled workers. This is because the profession of an electrician is currently on the list of shortage occupations. Trained electricians can work in a variety of fields, from building management, electrical installation and automation technology to mechanical engineering.

Because they deal with highly complex and often very modern systems and technologies on a daily basis, electronics technicians must always keep up to date. The profession is also very dynamic and is constantly evolving.

After completing the apprenticeship, there are many different opportunities for further training. Electronics technicians can specialize in different directions. It is also possible to attend a higher technical college and train as a technician or complete a university degree in electrical engineering or IT engineering.

Are there any prerequisites for learning the profession of electrical assistant?

As working as an electrical assistant is not a traditional apprenticeship, there is no prescribed apprenticeship or specific course of study that must be completed. Nevertheless, there are various ways to prepare for this job and improve your chances on the job market.

Although no special training is absolutely necessary, many employers expect a certain basic technical understanding. Manual dexterity, a quick grasp of things and a certain physical resilience are also an advantage, as the work is often physically demanding. Anyone who has already gained experience in the manual sector, for example through previous training as an electrician, mechatronics technician or a comparable profession, can further increase their chances of being hired.

Training or courses in the field of electrical engineering are also an advantage. Many training centers, chambers of trade or chambers of industry and commerce (IHK) offer courses that deal with the basics of electrical engineering, the safe use of tools or the most important regulations in the field of occupational safety. 

Qualifications in the field of occupational safety are particularly in demand, as electrical assistants often work with live systems and the risk of electric shock must be minimized. Those who can demonstrate such additional qualifications have better chances on the job market and can earn a higher salary in the long term.

Another advantage of such further training is that it often facilitates entry into further training. Anyone interested in a long-term career in the electrical industry can consider training as an electronics technician for energy and building technology or further training to become an industrial foreman in electrical engineering. These qualifications make it easier to progress to more responsible positions and offer better earning potential.

How much do you earn as an electrical assistant?

As no vocational training is required to work as an electrical assistant, there is also no training allowance. After a short training period, the electrical assistant takes on their tasks under the guidance of experienced specialists. As this is an unskilled job, the salary remains largely constant over the years and only increases by around 100 euros gross within ten years.

On average, full-time electrical assistants earn 2,883 euros gross per month. Salaries are slightly higher in southern Germany in particular: in Bavaria, the average gross salary is 2,946 euros, in Baden-Württemberg it is as high as 3,019 euros. 

The size of the company is absolutely crucial for the salary. Electrical assistants in small companies with fewer than 100 employees earn an average gross salary of 2,784 euros per month, while in large companies with more than 20,000 employees, an average gross salary of 3,610 euros per month is normal.

If you want to improve your income prospects in the long term, you can use your experience as an electrical assistant to complete an apprenticeship afterwards. For example, you can train as an industrial electrician or electrical systems fitter. In many cases, the professional experience you have already gained can shorten the training period. With several years of professional experience, it is even possible under certain conditions to be admitted to the examination as an industrial electrical engineering foreman or certified technician specializing in energy technology without prior training.

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