Elevator and escalator installers and repairers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $59,270 | $28.49 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $109,910 | $52.84 |
| Mean (average) | $109,820 | $52.80 |
| 90th percentile | $158,890 | $76.39 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 39 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $103,700 | $73,010 | $113,550 | 170 | 0.51 |
| Arkansas | $61,530 | $37,870 | $106,860 | 60 | 0.3 |
| California | $141,180 | $74,670 | $173,920 | 1,910 | 0.69 |
| Colorado | $123,360 | $46,060 | $135,810 | 530 | 1.21 |
| District of Columbia | $122,570 | $65,870 | $148,490 | ||
| Florida | $104,730 | $58,440 | $123,830 | 2,790 | 1.84 |
| Georgia | $83,500 | $34,270 | $124,320 | 640 | 0.86 |
| Illinois | $133,690 | $67,460 | $166,740 | 1,080 | 1.15 |
| Indiana | $92,390 | $58,450 | $125,840 | 120 | 0.24 |
| Iowa | $115,300 | $65,470 | $128,160 | 90 | 0.36 |
| Kansas | $84,760 | $49,550 | $143,430 | 70 | 0.34 |
| Kentucky | $42,670 | $39,420 | $98,480 | ||
| Maine | $143,690 | $79,300 | $158,750 | 110 | 1.12 |
| Maryland | $122,260 | $78,620 | $132,540 | 810 | 1.92 |
| Massachusetts | $138,420 | $78,600 | $154,280 | ||
| Michigan | $99,140 | $47,820 | $142,110 | 560 | 0.83 |
| Minnesota | $128,020 | $64,940 | $135,490 | 550 | 1.23 |
| Mississippi | Data unavailable | 80 | 0.46 | ||
| Missouri | $126,750 | $76,980 | $150,590 | 450 | 0.99 |
| Montana | $90,370 | $60,380 | $100,350 | 40 | 0.46 |
| Nebraska | $117,690 | $62,150 | $122,410 | 140 | 0.87 |
| Nevada | $141,950 | $102,920 | $174,710 | 510 | 2.13 |
| New Jersey | $137,920 | $89,410 | $173,530 | 800 | 1.23 |
| New Mexico | $71,430 | $42,640 | $117,890 | 110 | 0.82 |
| New York | $135,720 | $78,180 | $168,370 | 3,470 | 2.34 |
| North Carolina | $107,700 | $46,710 | $123,770 | 240 | 0.32 |
| Ohio | $105,020 | $56,860 | $123,460 | 690 | 0.81 |
| Oklahoma | $105,430 | $36,110 | $122,310 | 140 | 0.55 |
| Oregon | $138,600 | $76,440 | $159,230 | 230 | 0.75 |
| Pennsylvania | $117,250 | $63,280 | $132,640 | 900 | 0.97 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,190 | $21,840 | $45,250 | 130 | 0.91 |
| South Carolina | $90,860 | $60,450 | $125,260 | 540 | 1.54 |
| South Dakota | $116,320 | $83,270 | $120,090 | ||
| Tennessee | $100,490 | $59,520 | $121,130 | 700 | 1.4 |
| Texas | $102,140 | $55,820 | $121,800 | 2,030 | 0.94 |
| Utah | $81,060 | $61,930 | $121,780 | 280 | 1.05 |
| Virginia | $108,250 | $50,220 | $131,620 | 280 | 0.45 |
| Washington | $137,180 | $76,120 | $160,420 | 540 | 1 |
| Wisconsin | $77,640 | $48,620 | $126,830 | 370 | 0.83 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Inspect wiring connections, control panel hookups, door installations, and alignments and clearances of cars and hoistways to ensure that equipment will operate properly.
- 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.
- Disassemble defective units, and repair or replace parts such as locks, gears, cables, and electric wiring.
- Check that safety regulations and building codes are met, and complete service reports verifying conformance to standards.
- Locate malfunctions in brakes, motors, switches, and signal and control systems, using test equipment.
- Adjust safety controls, counterweights, door mechanisms, and components such as valves, ratchets, seals, and brake linings.
- Read and interpret blueprints to determine the layout of system components, frameworks, and foundations, and to select installation equipment.
- Connect car frames to counterweights, using steel cables.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Elevator Controls INTERACT
- Scheduling software
- Troubleshooting software
- WORLD Electronics Freedomware
Transferable skills for career changers: Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Operations Monitoring, Installation, Quality Control Analysis.
Common job titles: Elevator Adjuster, Elevator Constructor, Elevator Installer, Elevator Mechanic, Elevator Repair and Maintenance Technician (Elevator Repair and Maintenance Tech), Elevator Service Mechanic, Elevator Service Technician (Elevator Service Tech), Elevator Serviceman, Elevator Technician (Elevator Tech), Elevator Troubleshooter.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do elevator and escalator installers and repairers make?
The national median annual wage for elevator and escalator installers and repairers was $109,910 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $59,270 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $158,890. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do elevator and escalator installers and repairers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and apprenticeship on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is elevator and escalator installers and repairers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of elevator and escalator installers and repairers to change +5.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay elevator and escalator installers and repairers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Maine ($143,690), Nevada ($141,950), California ($141,180). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.