Elevator mechanic salary: what elevator mechanics actually make
Elevator mechanics earned a median $52.84 an hour ($109,910 a year) in May 2025, across 23,790 jobs in the BLS employer survey. Pay by state and metro, the 20-year trend, and the union scale contractors must pay on federal work.
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.
The middle half of elevator mechanics 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. The top 10% earn 2.7× what the bottom 10% earn.
Apprentice, journeyman and master elevator mechanic pay
Pay tracks licence and experience: an apprentice or entry-level elevator mechanic earns near the bottom of the range, a journeyman around the median, and a master elevator mechanic, foreman or specialist in the top quarter. The union pay scale (journeyman base plus fringe) for every county is in the prevailing-wage section.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $28.49 – $38.12 | $59,270 – $79,290 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $38.12 – $65.25 | $79,290 – $135,720 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $65.25 – $76.39 | $135,720 – $158,890 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification or licence requirement.
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 and by +2.7% since 2019.
Are there more elevator mechanic jobs than there used to be?
The BLS employer survey counted 23,790 elevator mechanics in May 2025, +13.3% compared with 21,000 ten years earlier and -16.1% since 2019.
Table
| Year | Jobs |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 25,010 |
| 2000 | 25,100 |
| 2001 | 26,450 |
| 2002 | 20,920 |
| 2003 | 21,470 |
| 2004 | 21,110 |
| 2005 | 21,000 |
| 2006 | 21,700 |
| 2007 | 22,950 |
| 2008 | 25,070 |
| 2009 | 23,450 |
| 2010 | 20,430 |
| 2011 | 20,440 |
| 2012 | 19,700 |
| 2013 | 21,270 |
| 2014 | 20,590 |
| 2015 | 21,000 |
| 2016 | 22,240 |
| 2017 | 24,490 |
| 2018 | 26,830 |
| 2019 | 28,350 |
| 2020 | 24,730 |
| 2021 | 22,510 |
| 2022 | 24,380 |
| 2023 | 23,990 |
| 2024 | 23,340 |
| 2025 | 23,790 |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Where the elevator mechanic jobs are
New York has the highest concentration of elevator mechanics, 2.3× the national share, followed by Nevada (2.1×) and Maryland (1.9×). The lowest is Indiana at 0.2×. Concentration says where the trade is a large part of the local economy; the job count says where the most positions are.
| State | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 3,470 | 0.4 | 2.3× |
| Nevada | 510 | 0.3 | 2.1× |
| Maryland | 810 | 0.3 | 1.9× |
| Florida | 2,790 | 0.3 | 1.8× |
| South Carolina | 540 | 0.2 | 1.5× |
| Tennessee | 700 | 0.2 | 1.4× |
| Minnesota | 550 | 0.2 | 1.2× |
| New Jersey | 800 | 0.2 | 1.2× |
| Colorado | 530 | 0.2 | 1.2× |
| Illinois | 1,080 | 0.2 | 1.1× |
| Maine | 110 | 0.2 | 1.1× |
| Utah | 280 | 0.2 | 1.1× |
| Washington | 540 | 0.1 | 1.0× |
| Missouri | 450 | 0.1 | 1.0× |
| Pennsylvania | 900 | 0.1 | 1.0× |
| Texas | 2,030 | 0.1 | 0.9× |
| Nebraska | 140 | 0.1 | 0.9× |
| Georgia | 640 | 0.1 | 0.9× |
| Michigan | 560 | 0.1 | 0.8× |
| Wisconsin | 370 | 0.1 | 0.8× |
| New Mexico | 110 | 0.1 | 0.8× |
| Ohio | 690 | 0.1 | 0.8× |
| Oregon | 230 | 0.1 | 0.8× |
| California | 1,910 | 0.1 | 0.7× |
| Oklahoma | 140 | 0.1 | 0.6× |
| Alabama | 170 | 0.1 | 0.5× |
| Mississippi | 80 | 0.1 | 0.5× |
| Montana | 40 | 0.1 | 0.5× |
| Virginia | 280 | 0.1 | 0.5× |
| Iowa | 90 | 0.1 | 0.4× |
| Kansas | 70 | 0.1 | 0.3× |
| North Carolina | 240 | 0.1 | 0.3× |
| Arkansas | 60 | 0.1 | 0.3× |
| Indiana | 120 | 0.0 | 0.2× |
Metros with the most elevator mechanic jobs
| Metro | Jobs | Median $/hr |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,270 | $65.39 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,050 | $52.01 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 850 | $70.47 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 850 | $67.60 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 540 | $50.17 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 540 | $63.77 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 510 | $40.14 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 500 | $52.00 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 450 | $59.31 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 410 | $68.23 |
Highest-paying metros for elevator mechanics
| Metro | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $70.47 | $68.02 | #1 | $81.72 | 850 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $67.60 | $59.51 | #3 | $77.18 | 850 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $65.39 | $58.07 | #4 | $82.63 | 3,270 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63.77 | $62.15 | #2 | $76.86 | 540 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $52.01 | $45.54 | #7 | $59.53 | 1,050 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $52.00 | $50.44 | #6 | $58.58 | 500 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50.17 | $50.88 | #5 | $59.21 | 540 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $40.14 | $40.10 | #8 | $60.70 | 510 |
Metros with at least 500 elevator mechanics. Cost-of-living adjustment divides the median by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100); the adjusted rank is among the 8 metros with a parity.
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 | — | 7/8 |
| 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 | — | 47/133 |
| 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 the number of elevator mechanics to change by +5.7% over 2025-35, from 24,700 to 26,100, with about 1,900 openings a year.
Of those openings, 200 a year come from growth in the number of jobs and 1,700 from replacement: 600 for people who retire or leave the workforce and 1,100 for people who move to another occupation.
BLS worker characteristics, 2025-35: typical education for entry: high school diploma or equivalent; related work experience: none; on-the-job training: apprenticeship. The Occupational Outlook Handbook entry describes the work.
What each state projects
State labor market agencies publish their own projections on a 2024–2034 cycle. Colorado projects the fastest growth for elevator mechanics at +25.9%; by openings, New York (260 a year), Florida (210 a year), California (170 a year) lead. 33 states publish a figure for this occupation.
| State | Jobs, 2024 | Projected, 2034 | Change | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 380 | 470 | +25.9% | 40 |
| Arizona | 120 | 160 | +25.0% | 10 |
| Tennessee | 790 | 930 | +17.6% | 80 |
| Utah | 230 | 270 | +17.5% | 20 |
| Florida | 2,120 | 2,450 | +15.6% | 210 |
| Montana | 60 | 70 | +15.0% | 10 |
| Mississippi | 200 | 220 | +12.7% | 20 |
| Nebraska | 60 | 70 | +11.5% | 10 |
| Texas | 1,340 | 1,480 | +10.2% | 120 |
| Georgia | 500 | 550 | +9.4% | 40 |
| Minnesota | 480 | 530 | +8.9% | 40 |
| New Jersey | 410 | 440 | +8.8% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | 260 | 280 | +8.6% | 20 |
| Arkansas | 90 | 100 | +8.5% | 10 |
| Iowa | 170 | 190 | +8.1% | 20 |
| Maryland | 810 | 870 | +7.3% | 70 |
| Massachusetts | 490 | 520 | +7.2% | 40 |
| Washington | 390 | 420 | +7.2% | 40 |
| Alabama | 280 | 300 | +6.4% | 20 |
| North Carolina | 390 | 410 | +6.2% | 30 |
| South Carolina | 380 | 400 | +6.0% | 30 |
| Illinois | 950 | 1,010 | +5.8% | 80 |
| Kansas | 70 | 80 | +5.5% | 10 |
| Virginia | 590 | 620 | +5.4% | 50 |
| Ohio | 150 | 160 | +5.3% | 10 |
| California | 2,000 | 2,100 | +5.0% | 170 |
| Oklahoma | 110 | 120 | +4.5% | 10 |
| Pennsylvania | 680 | 700 | +3.7% | 50 |
| Michigan | 670 | 690 | +3.1% | 50 |
| Alaska | 30 | 40 | +2.9% | 0 |
| Maine | 130 | 130 | +1.6% | 10 |
| New York | 3,680 | 3,570 | -2.9% | 260 |
| Missouri | 410 | 370 | -8.8% | 20 |
Source: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central, 2024–2034 projections. State base counts include the self-employed, so they run higher than the BLS survey count above.
Compare elevator mechanic pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
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.
Are elevator mechanic jobs growing?
The BLS employer survey counted 23,790 elevator mechanics in May 2025, +13.3% compared with ten years earlier and -16.1% since 2019. Looking ahead, BLS projects +5.7% growth over 2025-35 with about 1,900 openings a year, most of them replacing people who leave the occupation.
Which states will need the most elevator mechanics?
By projected annual openings, the state agencies' figures put New York (260 a year, -2.9% growth), Florida (210 a year, +15.6% growth), California (170 a year, +5.0% growth) at the top. Every state's projection is in the outlook table above.
Where are elevator mechanics most concentrated?
Relative to the size of each state's workforce, New York has the highest concentration at 2.3× the national share, then Nevada (2.1×) and Maryland (1.9×). The largest absolute job counts are usually in the most populous states; see the map above.
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; job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, 2024.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35 (Tables 1.2, 1.10 and 1.12). Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.
- State projections: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central (Projections Managing Partnership), 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05. State figures include the self-employed.