MECHANICAL HELPER 3771

City of Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Los Angeles seeks a Mechanical Helper to assist skilled trades, perform routine maintenance, and support a range of mechanical craft activities. The position requires basic mechanical training or experience and may lead to entry into craft roles.

Salary ranges between $54,475 and $79,657 annually. Applicants must meet specified training or experience requirements and prepare for a weighted online examination scheduled for December 2026.

Qualifications

• Completion of a course in automotive mechanics, machine shop, welding, plumbing, pipefitting or any other mechanical craft course from the Los Angeles Unified School District, or a college or trade school.
• Six months of full-time paid experience in mechanical work; or
• Completion of eight months in the Utility Pre-Craft Trainee training program sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Responsibilities

• A Mechanical Helper assists mechanics, machinists, welders, blacksmiths, pipefitters, plumbers, boilermakers and other mechanical craft workers; and performs routine mechanical maintenance and repair tasks.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Automotive mechanics

Machine shop

Education

Course in automotive mechanics, machine shop, welding, plumbing, pipefitting or any other mechanical craft course

Job description

DUTIES

ANNUAL SALARY

$54,475 to $79,657

The salary in the Department of Water and Power is $59,299 to $73,643 and $82,288 to $102,249.

NOTES

• In some positions, higher salaries are paid for night, hazardous or obnoxious work.
• Candidates from the eligible list are normally appointed to vacancies in the lower pay grade positions.
• Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.
• For information regarding reciprocity between the City of Los Angeles departments and LADWP, go to https://personnel.lacity.gov/Reciprocity_CityDepts_and_DWP.pdf.

A Mechanical Helper assists mechanics, machinists, welders, blacksmiths, pipefitters, plumbers, boilermakers and other mechanical craft workers; and performs routine mechanical maintenance and repair tasks.

REQUIREMENT(S)/MINIMUM QUALIFICATION(S)

• Completion of a course in automotive mechanics, machine shop, welding, plumbing, pipefitting or any other mechanical craft course from the Los Angeles Unified School District, or a college or trade school; or
• Six months of full-time paid experience in mechanical work; or
• Completion of eight months in the Utility Pre-Craft Trainee training program sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

PROCESS NOTES

• Applicants filing under Requirement #1 must list their school name and location, appropriate course titles, their respective number of semester or quarter units, and completion dates for each course claimed as qualifying in the text box which will appear in the Supplemental Questions section of the on-line application.
• Applicants filing under Requirement #3 who lack two months or less of the required experience at the time of filing may file for this examination. However, they cannot be appointed until they have completed eight months in the Utility Pre-Craft Trainee program, as indicated in Requirement #3.
• As a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required at the time of appointment for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), Harbor Department, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Department of Public Works - Bureau of Sanitation, and the Department of Public Works - Bureau of Street Services. Applicants will be deemed ineligible for hire if their DMV record reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation within the last 36 months in any state or jurisdiction. The City of Los Angeles reserves the right to issue a notice of ineligibility at any time before a final job offer is extended.
• Some positions may require a crane operator certification.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications must be received by THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026.

SELECTION PROCESS

In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process in the following order: 1) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles who meet the minimum requirements, or are on a reserve list; 2) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applications submitted during the filing period may be kept on file in the event that additional applicants need to be tested to meet hiring needs.

Examination Weight: Multiple-Choice Test - 100%

The examination will consist entirely of a weighted multiple-choice test administered and proctored on-line. In the on-line multiple choice test, the following competencies may be evaluated: Reading Comprehension; Mathematics; Judgment and Decision Making; Mechanical Aptitude; Interpersonal Skills; Safety Focus, including knowledge of: potential safety hazards encountered when working in the shop or in the field, and the methods used to prevent, identify, and/or address them; Job Knowledge, including knowledge of: primary functions and proper use of basic hand and power tools commonly found in a variety of mechanical shops, including machine, sheet metal, structural steel, automotive repair, pump, and plumbing shops; specialized tools and equipment used to complete a variety of mechanical maintenance and repair tasks; methods and techniques used to fabricate, cut, shape, and repair a variety of materials, metals, machinery, and equipment; proper operation and maintenance of machine shop tools and equipment; methods used to disassemble, reassemble, and assist in the repair of a variety of machinery and equipment; procedures and equipment required to load, hoist, and rig heavy materials; and other necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to https://personnel.lacity.gov/jobs/job-analyses.cfm and clicking on Competencies under Mechanical Helper.

The multiple-choice test will be proctored and administered on-line during a single session. Candidates invited to participate in the on-line multiple-choice test will be able to take the test as instructed from a remote location (i.e. their home) using a computer with a webcam and a reliable internet connection. Candidates will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the dates and specific steps on how to take the multiple-choice test on-line. It is anticipated that the remote proctored multiple-choice test will be administered between TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2026 and MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2026. Candidates who do not complete and submit the remote proctored multiple-choice test on-line using a computer by the specified date and time will not be considered further in this examination.

FAQs for on-line testing are available at https://personnel.lacity.gov/faqs/employment-testing-process.html. Only candidates who demonstrate a hardship may be offered the option to take the multiple-choice test onsite at a City facility.

• This examination is based on a validation study, and as provided by Civil Service Commission Rule 4.20, the multiple-choice test will not be subject to candidate inspection.
• As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application. The Disability Accommodation Form can be obtained at https://personnel.lacity.gov/exams/verify_disability.pdf.
• Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that the minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.
• Based on City policy, before being hired in one of these positions, you may be required to undergo a drug and alcohol-screening test.
• A final average score of 70% or higher is required to be placed on the eligible list.
• In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22 and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list.

NOTICE

If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position.

All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.

THIS EXAMINATION IS TO BE GIVEN ONLY ON AN OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS

The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity,