Elevator Installers and Repairers

Overview

Elevator Installers and Repairers

Introduction

Elevator installers and repairers, also called elevator constructors or elevator mechanics, are skilled crafts workers who assemble, install, and repair elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, automated people movers, and similar equipment. They may also be responsible for modernizing this equipment. Approximately 24,400 elevator installers and repairers are employed in the United States.

Quick Facts


Median Salary

$102,420

Employment Prospects

Good

Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma|Apprenticeship


Experience

Six months on-the-job experience for helpers


Skills

Building/Trades|Math|Mechanical/Manual Dexterity


Personality Traits

Hands On|Realistic|Technical

Earnings

Earnings depend on experience, geographic location, and other factors. Workers who are not fully qualified journeymen earn less than full-time professionals; for example, apprentices start at about 50 percent of the full wage, with their pay increasing as they obtain experience.

The median hourly wage for fully qualified elevator installers and repairers was $49.24 in May 2023, according...

Work Environment

The standard workweek for elevator installers and repairers is 40 hours. Some workers put in overtime hours (for which they are paid extra), and some repairers are on call for 24-hour periods to respond to emergency situations. Most repair work is done indoors, so little time is lost because of bad weather. It frequently is necessary to lift heavy equipment and parts and to work in very hot or ...

Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for elevator installers and repairers will grow faster than the average for all careers through 2033. Job prospects for those who wish to enter this field should be good, despite a slowdown in commercial construction. There will be a need to replace existing workers, although the turnover in this field is relatively low because the extensive...