Skilled Wages

Elevator mechanic salary in California

Median $67.88 an hour for 1,910 elevator mechanics, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$67.88/hrMedian hourly wageCalifornia, May data
$141,180/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$35.90 – $83.6210th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,910Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Elevator mechanic pay in California: the full range

Wage percentiles, CaliforniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$20$40$60$80$100/hrCalifornia: 10th $35.90 · 25th $58.12 · median $67.88 · 75th $77.52 · 90th $83.62California$67.88$35.90$83.62United States: 10th $28.49 · 25th $38.12 · median $52.84 · 75th $65.25 · 90th $76.39United States$52.84
Hourly wage percentiles for elevator mechanics: California vs United States, May 2025.

California ranks 3rd of 37 states for median elevator mechanic pay, and 12th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $61.32). 1,910 elevator mechanics work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.3× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$35.90 – $58.12$74,670 – $120,900roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$58.12 – $77.52$120,900 – $161,230the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$77.52 – $83.62$161,230 – $173,920the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Elevator mechanic pay by metro in California

Ranked median wages$0$25$50$75$100/hrSan Jose: $83.62San Jose$83.62San Francisco: $80.90San Francisco$80.90Los Angeles: $67.60Los Angeles$67.60San Diego: $67.43San Diego$67.43Fresno: $60.63Fresno$60.63
Median hourly wage for elevator mechanics by metro area in California, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
San Jose$50.95$83.62$75.74$96.727023% above
San Francisco$40.83$80.90$69.98$94.4137019% above
Los Angeles$35.90$67.60$59.51$77.18850about the same as
San Diego$33.10$67.43$60.26$77.491701% below
Fresno$29.52$60.63$59.32$83.025011% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Elevator mechanic wages in California over time

California, 1999-2025CaliforniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$20$40$60$80200020052010201520202025$67.88California$52.84United States
Median hourly wage for elevator mechanics, California vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearCalifornia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$33.35$64.45$22.38—
2000$22.22$41.54$22.78—
2001$26.75$48.63$24.822,690
2002$29.19$52.24$25.991,890
2003$31.26$54.70$26.901,930
2004$34.58$58.93$28.231,810
2005$32.19$53.06$28.461,590
2006$35.01$55.91$30.591,790
2007$40.15$62.34$32.691,880
2008$40.64$60.77$33.352,190
2009$42.78$64.20$33.201,940
2010$46.77$69.05$34.091,780
2011$47.84$68.47$36.091,780
2012$46.35$64.99$36.851,930
2013$40.22$55.58$37.811,970
2014$44.05$59.90$37.801,590
2015$45.93$62.39$38.881,710
2016$48.38$64.90$37.931,730
2017$42.64$56.00$38.211,630
2018$38.79$49.73$38.362,500
2019$42.53$53.56$40.862,740
2020$46.18$57.44$42.572,740
2021$55.07$65.43$47.052,050
2022$60.98$67.08$47.602,280
2023$64.58$68.23$49.242,080
2024$66.03$67.77$51.242,830
2025$67.88$67.88$52.841,910

In today's dollars, the median elevator mechanic wage in California changed by +8.8% over the last ten years of data and by +26.7% since 2019.

Are there more elevator mechanic jobs in California?

0.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.7× the US share, 24th of 34 states

BLS counted 1,910 elevator mechanics in California in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 24%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.

Outlook for elevator mechanics in California

+5.0%Projected growth in California2024–2034, state agency
170Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
2,000Jobs in 20242,100 projected for 2034
+5.7%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

California's labor market agency projects the number of elevator mechanics in the state to change by +5.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 2,000 to 2,100, with about 170 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +5.7% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 1,910 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: California labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for elevator mechanics in California

On federally funded construction in California, contractors must pay elevator mechanics at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 52 of the 57 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $122.49 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $34.93). 5 of the 57 counties still use a survey rate dated 1985 or earlier (for example Amador County at $32.68). The market median for the state is $67.88.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, CAAlameda: $122.49 (union)Alpine: $122.49 (union)Amador: $32.68 (survey)Butte: $122.49 (union)Calaveras: $122.49 (union)Colusa: $122.49 (union)Contra Costa: $122.49 (union)Del Norte: $34.93 (survey)El Dorado: $122.49 (union)Fresno: $122.49 (union)Glenn: $122.49 (union)Humboldt: $34.93 (survey)Imperial: $107.87 (union)Inyo: $107.87 (union)Kern: $107.87 (union)Kings: $122.49 (union)Lake: $34.93 (survey)Lassen: $122.49 (union)Los Angeles: $107.87 (union)Madera: $122.49 (union)Marin: $122.49 (union)Mariposa: $122.49 (union)Mendocino: $34.93 (survey)Merced: $122.49 (union)Modoc: $122.49 (union)Mono: $107.87 (union)Monterey: $122.49 (union)Napa: $122.49 (union)Nevada: $122.49 (union)Orange: $107.87 (union)Placer: $122.49 (union)Plumas: $122.49 (union)Riverside: $107.87 (union)Sacramento: $122.49 (union)San Benito: $122.49 (union)San Bernardino: $107.87 (union)San Diego: $107.87 (union)San Francisco: $122.49 (union)San Joaquin: $122.49 (union)San Luis Obispo: $122.49 (union)San Mateo: $122.49 (union)Santa Barbara: $107.87 (union)Santa Clara: $122.49 (union)Santa Cruz: $122.49 (union)Shasta: $122.49 (union)Sierra: $122.49 (union)Siskiyou: $122.49 (union)Solano: $122.49 (union)Sonoma: $122.49 (union)Stanislaus: $122.49 (union)Sutter: $122.49 (union)Tehama: $122.49 (union)Trinity: $122.49 (union)Tulare: n/aTuolumne: $122.49 (union)Ventura: $107.87 (union)Yolo: $122.49 (union)Yuba: $122.49 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$107.87n/asurvey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for elevator mechanics by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)$40$60$80$100$120$140/hrFresno (Fresno): market median $60.63, prevailing (union) $122.49, gap +$61.86Fresno (Fresno)+$61.86Butte (California): market median $67.88, prevailing (union) $122.49, gap +$54.61Butte (California)+$54.61Alameda (San Francisco): market median $80.90, prevailing (union) $122.49, gap +$41.59Alameda (San Francisco)+$41.59San Diego (San Diego): market median $67.43, prevailing (union) $107.87, gap +$40.44San Diego (San Diego)+$40.44Los Angeles (Los Angeles): market median $67.60, prevailing (union) $107.87, gap +$40.27Los Angeles (Los Angeles)+$40.27San Benito (San Jose): market median $83.62, prevailing (union) $122.49, gap +$38.87San Benito (San Jose)+$38.87
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for elevator mechanics, metro counties in California.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AlamedaUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260018
AlpineUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260007
ButteUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260007
CalaverasUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260018
ColusaUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260007
Contra CostaUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260018
El DoradoUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260007
FresnoUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260018
GlennUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260007
KingsUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260018
LassenUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260007
MaderaUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260018
MarinUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260007
MariposaUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260018
MercedUnion ELEV0008-001 2025-01-01$84.05$38.44$122.49CA20260018

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the California prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in California?

895.7kConstruction jobsCalifornia, 2026-09
-0.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k1,200k19901995200020052010201520202025896kSep 2026
Construction employment in California (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Elevator mechanic pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in California

More on California

Questions this page answers

How much do elevator mechanics make in California?

The median elevator mechanic in California earned $67.88 an hour ($141,180 a year) in May 2025, 28% above the national median of $52.84. The middle half earn $58.12–$77.52; the top 10% earn more than $83.62.

Where does California rank for elevator mechanic pay?

California ranks 3rd of 37 states for elevator mechanic pay, with a median of $67.88 an hour, and 12th after adjusting for California's cost of living (BEA price parity 110.7, US = 100).

What is the union elevator mechanic rate in California?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for elevator mechanics in 52 counties, with a typical package of $122.49 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many elevator mechanics work in California?

BLS counted 1,910 elevator mechanics in California in May 2025, 0.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.69; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is elevator mechanic work growing in California?

California's labor market agency projects +5.0% growth for elevator mechanics between 2024 and 2034, from 2,000 to 2,100 jobs.

How many elevator mechanic openings a year are there in California?

California projects about 170 openings a year for elevator mechanics over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 1,900 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, California and metro areas, SOC 47-4021. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: California labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.