Negotiating pay when I have been out of work (update)

A recruiter asked for my salary expectations on a first call as I look for work as an electrician's helper. I worked as an electrician's helper before this. I do not want to price myself out. How do you research fairly?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 4 months ago, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.