Median annual wages by state — BLS OEWS, May 2025
Elevator installers and repairers (elevator constructors) install, maintain, and modernize elevators, escalators, and lifts. It is consistently the highest-paid trade in the country — a product of demanding technical skill, strong union representation, and a deliberately selective apprenticeship. If you have the patience for precision electrical-mechanical work, no trade pays better.
The IUEC's National Elevator Industry Educational Program. Competitive — aptitude test, interview, ranked eligibility list. Persistence matters.
Assisting mechanics on installs and repairs. Union wage scale starts around 50% of mechanic rate — already strong pay.
Escalating wage percentages, paid classroom instruction, rotating through construction, maintenance, and repair.
Pass the mechanic exam. Adjusters — the elite troubleshooters who fine-tune new installs — top the pay scale.
Your skills and interests may align with more than one trade. Compare before committing.
Our Salary Compare tool shows Elevator Installer & Repairer wages — and compares them against other trades and a 4-year degree path.
Compare Elevator Installer & Repairer Salaries →Find apprenticeship programs and trade schools near you. Free search, no account required.
Find Programs Near You →