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Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $109,910 Median per year · $52.84/hr Most earn $59,270–$158,890

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Install outer doors and door frames at elevator entrances on each floor of a structure.
  • Operate elevators to determine power demands, and test power consumption to detect overload factors.
  • Participate in additional training to keep skills up to date.
  • Bolt or weld steel rails to the walls of shafts to guide elevators, working from scaffolding or platforms.
  • Check that safety regulations and building codes are met, and complete service reports verifying conformance to standards.
  • Assemble, install, repair, and maintain elevators, escalators, moving sidewalks, and dumbwaiters, using hand and power tools, and testing devices such as test lamps, ammeters, and voltmeters.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 1,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Other building equipment contractors89.0%
  • Machinery manufacturing4.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Elevator and escalator work is usually learned through a certificate or apprenticeship, often starting right after high school. Most people spend roughly 1 to 2 years getting hands-on experience before they work on their own, and it can take longer to reach the senior level.

  1. High school diploma with math, physics, and shop classes

    4 years

    Strong math and physics help you understand the electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical systems inside elevators and escalators.

  2. Millwright

    1-2 years

    Millwrights install and maintain heavy machinery, which builds the mechanical skills, tool use, and safety habits that elevator work depends on.

  3. Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer

    Ongoing

    Through an apprenticeship with an elevator company or union program, you learn to install, troubleshoot, and maintain elevator and escalator systems, and you earn your certification along the way.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Elevator Mechanic

    3-5 years of experience first

    You handle harder repairs and modernization jobs with less supervision and may train newer apprentices or technicians.

  2. Elevator Field Supervisor

    5+ years of experience first

    You lead a crew of installers and repairers, plan their work, and keep jobs on schedule and safe, which requires strong communication and leadership skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take algebra, geometry, physics, and any electronics or shop classesMath and physics help you understand forces, electricity, and how machines move, which are core ideas in elevator work.
  • Join a robotics, engineering, or technical clubBuilding and fixing things in a team teaches problem-solving and hands-on skills that apprentice employers look for.
  • Get a part-time job in a hands-on settingWorking at a hardware store, auto shop, or building maintenance job helps you practice tools, customer service, and reliability.
  • Volunteer with a Habitat for Humanity or community repair projectHelping build or repair homes gives you real experience with tools, safety, and following plans.
  • Talk to a working elevator mechanic or check local trade school informationLearning how the job really works helps you decide if it fits you and gives you names to contact about apprenticeships.

In college

  • Take electrical, electronics, or industrial maintenance coursesThese classes build the wiring and troubleshooting knowledge that elevator technicians use every day.
  • Look for an apprenticeship or co-op in mechanical or electrical tradesHands-on training while you study can lead directly to a job offer and gives you credit toward your experience.
  • Earn a basic safety certification such as OSHA 10-HourSafety training is valued by trade employers and shows you take job site rules seriously.
  • Get a campus job in facilities or maintenanceWorking with a campus maintenance crew gives you real experience with building systems and repairs.
  • Join a trade or engineering student groupGroups like these offer networking, practice with tools, and contacts with employers who hire apprentices.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local elevator contractor or union training office what their apprenticeship requires, such as age, math skills, or test scores, so you know what to prepare for.
  • Get comfortable with basic electrical work and tools now, since much of the job involves wiring, diagnosing faults, and reading schematics.
  • Show good safety habits and reliability early, because employers hire apprentices who show up on time and follow safety rules.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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