The median pay for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers is $109,910 a year ($52.84/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 5.7% through 2035, with about 1,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 47-4021
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Elevator Installer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $109,910a year, or $52.84/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $59KTop 10% $159K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.7%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,90024,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202524.7K
- Projected 203526.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 24.7K Projected 2035 26.1K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school47.5%
- Certificate47.1%
- Some college0.5%
- Associate's4.5%
- Bachelor's0.3%
Highest education held by elevator and escalator installers and repairers Segment Value High school 47.5% Certificate 47.1% Some college 0.5% Associate's 4.5% Bachelor's 0.3%
Also advertised as: Elevator Adjuster, Elevator Constructor, Elevator Installer, Elevator Mechanic, Elevator Repair and Maintenance Technician (Elevator Repair and Maintenance Tech), Elevator Service Mechanic.
Pay
How much do Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers make?
Every elevator installer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$109,910
Middle half earn $79,290 to $135,720
- 10th
- $59,270
- 25th
- $79,290
- 75th
- $135,720
- 90th
- $158,890
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $59,270 |
| 25th | $79,290 |
| Median | $109,910 |
| 75th | $135,720 |
| 90th | $158,890 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $109,910
- Median hourly wage
- $52.84/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $109,820
- People employed
- 23,790
Versus all US occupations
At $109,910, Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers earn 116% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $58,930 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 83% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $158,890 or more while the bottom 10% earn $59,270, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 81% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Maine pays the most at $143,690, and still leads at $148,058 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Maine | $143,690 | $148,058 | 110 |
| 2Nevada | $141,950 | $141,980 | 510 |
| 3California | $141,180 | $127,511 | 1,910 |
| 4Oregon | $138,600 | $134,093 | 230 |
| 5Massachusetts | $138,420 | $130,885 | N/A |
| 6New Jersey | $137,920 | $126,759 | 800 |
| 7Washington | $137,180 | $128,190 | 540 |
| 8New York | $135,720 | $125,759 | 3,470 |
| 9Illinois | $133,690 | $133,746 | 1,080 |
| 10Minnesota | $128,020 | $129,810 | 550 |
Job outlook
Is Elevator Installer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | +5.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers to change 5.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,900 openings are projected each year, 7.7% of the 24,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for elevator and escalator installers and repairers is closely tied to the construction of buildings that have elevators and escalators, and this type of construction is expected to slow over the projections decade. However, the need to regularly maintain, update, and repair old equipment; provide access for people with disabilities; and install increasingly sophisticated equipment and controls will sustain demand for elevator and escalator installers and repairers.
Getting in
How to become an Elevator Installer
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. Nearly all learn how to do the work through an apprenticeship. Most states require workers to be licensed.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Apprenticeship
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as elevator and escalator installers and repairers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)47.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate47.1%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree4.5%
- Some College Courses0.5%
- Bachelor's Degree0.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 47.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 47.1% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 4.5% |
| Some College Courses | 0.5% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Elevator Installer do?
Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers install, maintain, and fix elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and other lifts.
Day-to-day tasks
- Inspect wiring connections, control panel hookups, door installations, and alignments and clearances of cars and hoistways to ensure that equipment will operate properly.
- Locate malfunctions in brakes, motors, switches, and signal and control systems, using test equipment.
- Participate in additional training to keep skills up to date.
- Maintain log books that detail all repairs and checks performed.
- Adjust safety controls, counterweights, door mechanisms, and components such as valves, ratchets, seals, and brake linings.
- Disassemble defective units, and repair or replace parts such as locks, gears, cables, and electric wiring.
- Connect electrical wiring to control panels and electric motors.
- Test newly installed equipment to ensure that it meets specifications, such as stopping at floors for set amounts of time.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most elevator and escalator installers and repairers work full time. They may work overtime to make emergency repairs or to meet construction deadlines. They may be on call 24 hours a day.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where elevator and escalator installers and repairers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Building equipment contractors89%
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals1%
- Educational services; state, local, and private1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Building equipment contractors | 89% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 1% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Active Listening3.4
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Speaking3.0
- Writing2.8
- Learning Strategies2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Active Listening | 3.4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Equipment Maintenance4.0
- Troubleshooting4.0
- Repairing4.0
- Operations Monitoring3.6
- Installation3.5
- Quality Control Analysis3.5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Equipment Selection3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Equipment Maintenance | 4.0 |
| Troubleshooting | 4.0 |
| Repairing | 4.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Installation | 3.5 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.5 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Equipment Selection | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Facilities management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Elevator Installer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Elevator Installer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.9
- Investigative2.4
- Social1.4
- Enterprising1.2
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
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More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with elevator and escalator installers and repairers highlighted
- Elevator Installer$109,910
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Roofer$55,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Elevator Installer | $109,910 |
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Questions
Elevator Installer: frequently asked questions
How much do Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers make?
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers earn a median of $109,910 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 116% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $52.84/hr. The middle half earn between $79,290 and $135,720. The top 10% earn $158,890 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Elevator Installer?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers. BLS also lists apprenticeship as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 47.5% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Elevator Installer a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.7% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Elevator Installer do?
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers install, maintain, and fix elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and other lifts. A core O*NET task: inspect wiring connections, control panel hookups, door installations, and alignments and clearances of cars and hoistways to ensure that equipment will operate properly. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers the most?
The highest state medians for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers are Maine ($143,690), Nevada ($141,950), California ($141,180) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Elevator Installer?
O*NET scores Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.