What is the salary and career path for a elevator installer?
Elevator installers are reported under Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers (SOC 47-4021), a close match for the role. The occupation shows a median of $109,910/yr ($52.84/hr) in the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates - the highest of the major construction trades - with $59,270 at the 10th percentile and $158,890 at the 90th. BLS Employment Projections show 5.0% growth 2024-2034 with roughly 2,000 openings a year, a small number reflecting a small occupation. Entry is almost entirely through the four-year International Union of Elevator Constructors apprenticeship, and the work is governed by ASME A17.1, the Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators.
- Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers (SOC 47-4021) report a national median of $109,910/yr ($52.84/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025) - the highest of the major construction trades - with the top 10% above $158,890.
- Entry is overwhelmingly through the four-year IUEC National Elevator Industry Educational Program apprenticeship, a DOL Registered Apprenticeship with competitive, periodic intakes.
- The work is governed by ASME A17.1/CSA B44, the Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, plus NEC Article 620 for elevator wiring; many states and cities separately license elevator mechanics.
- BLS projects 5.0% growth 2024-2034 but only about 2,000 openings a year, reflecting a small occupation - the pay is high partly because entry is genuinely restricted.
Career Path
How do you become a elevator installer?
Elevator apprentice / helper
Rigging rails and cars, running wire and assisting a mechanic while completing the four-year apprenticeship; entry pay sits near the SOC 47-4021 10th percentile of $59,270.
Elevator mechanic (constructor)
Installing and adjusting units independently to ASME A17.1 and completing acceptance testing; around the BLS national median of $109,910.
Adjuster / service mechanic
Tuning controllers and ride quality, or running a maintenance route with callback responsibility and overtime; tracks toward the 75th percentile of $135,720.
Supervisor / inspector / superintendent
Field superintendents, QEI-certified inspectors and modernisation supervisors reach the 90th percentile at $158,890.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays elevator installers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-4021. National median: $109,910. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does elevator installer pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles elevator installers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: elevator installers rank 1 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +5% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly elevator installers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-4021 (elevator installers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do elevator installers need?
A four-year DOL Registered Apprenticeship combining paid on-the-job hours with classroom instruction; it is the dominant entry route into the trade and produces mechanic status on completion. See all state licences →
Required in many jurisdictions before performing elevator work unsupervised, typically requiring apprenticeship completion or documented experience plus an examination on the adopted A17.1 edition.
The certification for inspecting elevator installations against ASME A17.1, accredited under the QEI standard; the main route from mechanic into inspection work.
Work occurs in hoistways, pits and on car tops, engaging OSHA 29 CFR 1926 fall protection, lockout/tagout and confined-space requirements alongside industry-specific hoistway procedures.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do elevator installers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 47-4021
Salary Levers
How do elevator installers earn above the $109,910 BLS median?
Completing the apprenticeship to mechanic
Apprentice wage steps start near the $59,270 10th percentile and reach mechanic scale at around the $109,910 median on turnout - the single largest jump in the trade.
Adjusting and service routes
Adjusters who tune controllers and ride quality, and service mechanics carrying callback routes with on-call overtime, track toward the $135,720 75th percentile.
Overtime, on-call and modernisation work
Entrapment callbacks and after-hours modernisation in occupied buildings carry premium rates, which is a common route past the $158,890 90th percentile in annual earnings.
Inspection and supervision
A QEI certification or a field superintendent role converts hoistway experience into salaried work with the same upper-decile earnings and less physical exposure.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming an elevator installer worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-4021. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Elevator Installer Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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