Elevator mechanic salary: what elevator mechanics actually make
BLS employer-survey wages for 23,790 elevator and escalator installers and repairers nationwide, plus the union scale contractors must pay on federal jobs.
What elevator and escalator installers and repairers earn: the full range
The middle half of elevator and escalator installers and repairers earn between $38.12 and $65.25 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $76.39 ($158,890 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $28.49.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $28.49 – $38.12 | $59,270 – $79,290 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $38.12 – $65.25 | $79,290 – $135,720 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $65.25 – $76.39 | $135,720 – $158,890 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification. Union journeyman scale by county is in the prevailing-wage section below.
Elevator mechanic pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | $69.08 | 31% above |
| Nevada | $68.25 | 29% above |
| California | $67.88 | 28% above |
| Oregon | $66.64 | 26% above |
| Massachusetts | $66.55 | 26% above |
| New Jersey | $66.31 | 25% above |
| Washington | $65.95 | 25% above |
| New York | $65.25 | 23% above |
| Illinois | $64.27 | 22% above |
| Minnesota | $61.55 | 16% above |
| Missouri | $60.94 | 15% above |
| Colorado | $59.31 | 12% above |
| District of Columbia | $58.93 | 12% above |
| Maryland | $58.78 | 11% above |
| Nebraska | $56.58 | 7% above |
| Pennsylvania | $56.37 | 7% above |
| South Dakota | $55.92 | 6% above |
| Iowa | $55.43 | 5% above |
| Virginia | $52.04 | 2% below |
| North Carolina | $51.78 | 2% below |
| Oklahoma | $50.69 | 4% below |
| Ohio | $50.49 | 4% below |
| Florida | $50.35 | 5% below |
| Alabama | $49.86 | 6% below |
| Texas | $49.11 | 7% below |
| Tennessee | $48.31 | 9% below |
| Michigan | $47.67 | 10% below |
| Indiana | $44.42 | 16% below |
| South Carolina | $43.68 | 17% below |
| Montana | $43.45 | 18% below |
| Kansas | $40.75 | 23% below |
| Georgia | $40.14 | 24% below |
| Utah | $38.97 | 26% below |
| Wisconsin | $37.33 | 29% below |
| New Mexico | $34.34 | 35% below |
| Arkansas | $29.58 | 44% below |
| Kentucky | $20.51 | 61% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | $69.08 | $71.22 | #1 | 110 |
| Nevada | $68.25 | $68.25 | #2 | 510 |
| California | $67.88 | $61.32 | #12 | 1,910 |
| Oregon | $66.64 | $64.45 | #4 | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $66.55 | $62.90 | #8 | — |
| New Jersey | $66.31 | $60.95 | #13 | 800 |
| Washington | $65.95 | $61.64 | #11 | 540 |
| New York | $65.25 | $60.47 | #14 | 3,470 |
| Illinois | $64.27 | $64.27 | #5 | 1,080 |
| Minnesota | $61.55 | $62.42 | #10 | 550 |
| Missouri | $60.94 | $67.11 | #3 | 450 |
| Colorado | $59.31 | $57.53 | #17 | 530 |
| District of Columbia | $58.93 | $53.62 | #22 | — |
| Maryland | $58.78 | $55.98 | #19 | 810 |
| Nebraska | $56.58 | $62.80 | #9 | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $56.37 | $57.76 | #15 | 900 |
| South Dakota | $55.92 | $63.12 | #7 | — |
| Iowa | $55.43 | $63.13 | #6 | 90 |
| Virginia | $52.04 | $51.47 | #24 | 280 |
| North Carolina | $51.78 | $54.91 | #20 | 240 |
| Oklahoma | $50.69 | $57.73 | #16 | 140 |
| Ohio | $50.49 | $54.41 | #21 | 690 |
| Florida | $50.35 | $48.69 | #27 | 2,790 |
| Alabama | $49.86 | $56.15 | #18 | 170 |
| Texas | $49.11 | $50.58 | #25 | 2,030 |
| Tennessee | $48.31 | $52.57 | #23 | 700 |
| Michigan | $47.67 | $49.55 | #26 | 560 |
| Indiana | $44.42 | $47.61 | #28 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $43.68 | $46.62 | #29 | 540 |
| Montana | $43.45 | $45.93 | #30 | 40 |
| Kansas | $40.75 | $45.23 | #31 | 70 |
| Georgia | $40.14 | $41.68 | #32 | 640 |
| Utah | $38.97 | $39.40 | #34 | 280 |
| Wisconsin | $37.33 | $39.67 | #33 | 370 |
| New Mexico | $34.34 | $37.25 | #35 | 110 |
| Arkansas | $29.58 | $34.04 | #36 | 60 |
| Kentucky | $20.51 | $22.74 | #37 | — |
Elevator mechanic wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $22.38 | $43.25 | 25,010 |
| 2000 | $22.78 | $42.59 | 25,100 |
| 2001 | $24.82 | $45.12 | 26,450 |
| 2002 | $25.99 | $46.51 | 20,920 |
| 2003 | $26.90 | $47.07 | 21,470 |
| 2004 | $28.23 | $48.11 | 21,110 |
| 2005 | $28.46 | $46.91 | 21,000 |
| 2006 | $30.59 | $48.85 | 21,700 |
| 2007 | $32.69 | $50.76 | 22,950 |
| 2008 | $33.35 | $49.87 | 25,070 |
| 2009 | $33.20 | $49.82 | 23,450 |
| 2010 | $34.09 | $50.33 | 20,430 |
| 2011 | $36.09 | $51.65 | 20,440 |
| 2012 | $36.85 | $51.67 | 19,700 |
| 2013 | $37.81 | $52.25 | 21,270 |
| 2014 | $37.80 | $51.41 | 20,590 |
| 2015 | $38.88 | $52.81 | 21,000 |
| 2016 | $37.93 | $50.88 | 22,240 |
| 2017 | $38.21 | $50.19 | 24,490 |
| 2018 | $38.36 | $49.18 | 26,830 |
| 2019 | $40.86 | $51.45 | 28,350 |
| 2020 | $42.57 | $52.95 | 24,730 |
| 2021 | $47.05 | $55.90 | 22,510 |
| 2022 | $47.60 | $52.36 | 24,380 |
| 2023 | $49.24 | $52.03 | 23,990 |
| 2024 | $51.24 | $52.59 | 23,340 |
| 2025 | $52.84 | $52.84 | 23,790 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median elevator mechanic wage changed by +0.1% over the last ten years.
Highest-paying metros for elevator mechanics
| Metro | Median $/hr | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $70.47 | $81.72 | 850 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $67.60 | $77.18 | 850 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $65.39 | $82.63 | 3,270 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63.77 | $76.86 | 540 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $52.01 | $59.53 | 1,050 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $52.00 | $58.58 | 500 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50.17 | $59.21 | 540 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $40.14 | $60.70 | 510 |
Union scale and prevailing wage for elevator mechanics
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for elevator mechanics in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 91% | $122.49 | $34.93 | 57/58 |
| Massachusetts | 100% | $112.61 | — | 14/14 |
| Maine | 91% | $112.61 | $73.17 | 11/16 |
| New Hampshire | 100% | $112.61 | — | 6/10 |
| Hawaii | 100% | $112.29 | — | 5/5 |
| Delaware | 100% | $110.29 | — | 3/3 |
| New Jersey | 85% | $110.29 | $51.43 | 20/21 |
| Alaska | 100% | $109.88 | — | 30/30 |
| Idaho | 100% | $106.05 | — | 8/44 |
| Montana | 100% | $106.05 | — | 40/56 |
| Washington | 60% | $106.05 | $76.64 | 10/39 |
| Connecticut | 100% | $105.16 | — | 7/17 |
| Michigan | 100% | $103.45 | — | 6/83 |
| Rhode Island | 100% | $102.96 | — | 5/5 |
| Missouri | 100% | $101.17 | — | 56/115 |
| North Dakota | 100% | $100.96 | — | 11/53 |
| Wisconsin | 100% | $100.96 | — | 16/72 |
| Indiana | 98% | $100.71 | $25.47 | 80/92 |
| New York | 100% | $99.96 | — | 48/62 |
| Pennsylvania | 100% | $99.85 | — | 37/67 |
| Kansas | 100% | $99.13 | — | 92/105 |
| Illinois | 100% | $96.43 | — | 102/102 |
| Kentucky | 68% | $95.85 | $93.52 | 60/120 |
| Ohio | 100% | $95.85 | — | 54/88 |
| District of Columbia | 100% | $95.60 | — | 1/1 |
| West Virginia | 100% | $95.60 | — | 5/55 |
| Colorado | 100% | $95.01 | — | 61/64 |
| Iowa | 100% | $94.74 | — | 97/99 |
| South Dakota | 100% | $94.74 | — | 52/66 |
| Nebraska | 100% | $94.32 | — | 59/93 |
| Utah | 100% | $93.87 | — | 4/29 |
| New Mexico | 100% | $91.79 | — | 4/33 |
| Tennessee | 100% | $91.25 | — | 14/95 |
| Georgia | 41% | $90.52 | $33.80 | 85/159 |
| South Carolina | 67% | $90.52 | $94.29 | 9/46 |
| Texas | 100% | $90.37 | — | 42/254 |
| Florida | 100% | $90.27 | — | 41/67 |
| Virginia | 100% | $89.83 | — | 40/133 |
| Oklahoma | 100% | $89.68 | — | 25/77 |
| Louisiana | 100% | $89.55 | — | 11/64 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $103.59 | 24/24 |
| Minnesota | 0% | — | $111.42 | 87/87 |
| Mississippi | 0% | — | $65.97 | 19/82 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $135.37 | 17/17 |
| Wyoming | 0% | — | $102.54 | 23/23 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects elevator and escalator installers and repairers employment to change by +5.7% over 2025-35, with about 1,900 openings a year from growth and people leaving the occupation. Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Compare elevator mechanic pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
How much do elevator mechanics make?
The median elevator mechanic earned $52.84 an hour, or $109,910 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 23,790 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $38.12 and $65.25 an hour.
How much do elevator mechanics make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $28.49 at the 10th percentile to $76.39 at the 90th, with a median of $52.84. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice elevator mechanic make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $28.49 to $38.12 an hour ($59,270 to $79,290 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays elevator mechanics the most?
Maine had the highest median at $69.08 an hour in May 2025, followed by Nevada ($68.25) and California ($67.88). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are elevator mechanic wages going up?
In today's dollars the median elevator mechanic wage changed by +0.1% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $38.88 to $52.84.
Is elevator mechanic a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $109,910 a year, a 90th percentile of $158,890, projected growth of +5.7% and about 1,900 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-4021 (Elevator and escalator installers and repairers). Wages exclude overtime and benefits.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, latest year.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national. Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.