How To Become A General Helper: What It Is and Career Path

What is a general helper and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

If you like to help out no matter what you're asked to do, then this might be the job for you. As a general helper, you would help out on a production or construction site with whatever the company needs you to do. You don't need a lot of specialized knowledge to be a general helper, but you do need a good work ethic and a can-do attitude.

Since you have to help out with many projects, your day-to-day tasks as a general helper could vary. You could help set up or clean up after an event, operate basic machinery like a saw, or do simple construction work like digging holes. You might also help others help themselves by making sure that everybody is following safety procedures.

As a general helper, you could work for a construction company, in a warehouse, or even in a school helping out in the cafeteria. In fact, the demand for general helpers is projected to grow 11% by 2028. It looks like a lot of businesses will need help.

ScoreGeneral HelperUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $35,793

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.4

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.36%

Asian 2.49%

Black or African American 10.96%

Hispanic or Latino 30.69%

Unknown 3.92%

White 50.57%

Gender

female 22.58%

male 77.42%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress Level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

4.1

Complexity Level is basic

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a general helper

Explore general helper education requirements

Most common general helper degrees

High School Diploma

48.1 %

Bachelor's

17.6 %

Associate

16.1 %

Start to develop specific general helper skills

Skills	Percentages
Tape Measure	10.83%
Pallets	7.53%
Hand Tools	7.23%
Machine Operators	6.33%
Math	5.43%

Complete relevant general helper training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New general helpers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a general helper based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real general helper resumes.

Research general helper duties and responsibilities

Operate grinders, saws, CNC machines, punch press, straighten metal parts, and package products for immediate shipment.
Require bundling of steel tubing.
Calculate requirements, using basic math.
Assist with reading and mathematics lessons as a small group leader.

Prepare your general helper resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your general helper resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a general helper resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable General Helper Resume templates

Build a professional General Helper resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your General Helper resume.

Apply for general helper jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a general helper job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do general helpers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

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2 Stars

1 Star

General Helper reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022

Pros

Getting the job done. Working smart and safe. Being productive and active.

Cons

Not being told what to do. Taking the initiative .