How to Become an Elevator Technician: Training, Wages & Outlook

Elevator construction and maintenance is one of the highest-paying trades in the country — and one of the hardest to break into. Elevator technicians (officially called elevator constructors) install, maintain, repair, and modernize elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and dumbwaiters. The work requires a rare combination of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and electronic skills, and the pay reflects that complexity.

If you can get in, this trade offers six-figure earning potential, exceptional job security, and work that's both intellectually challenging and hands-on. Here's what you need to know.

What Elevator Technicians Do

Elevator work breaks down into four main categories:

Installation (new construction) involves building elevator systems from scratch in new buildings — installing guide rails, machine rooms, hoistways, cabs, doors, controls, and safety systems. Installation work is the most physically demanding and the most common assignment for newer mechanics. A single elevator installation can take months on a high-rise project.

Maintenance is the steady backbone of the trade. Every elevator in service requires regular inspection, lubrication, adjustment, and testing. Maintenance mechanics have regular routes of buildings they service, often on contract. The work is less physically intense than installation but requires strong diagnostic skills — you need to find and fix problems before they strand people between floors.

Repair and troubleshooting is the emergency side. When an elevator breaks down, a repair mechanic diagnoses the problem and gets it running. This work requires deep knowledge of electrical circuits, control systems, hydraulics, and mechanical components. Modern elevators are computer-controlled, so troubleshooting increasingly involves software diagnostics alongside traditional mechanical skills.

Modernization involves upgrading older elevator systems with new controllers, motors, door operators, and safety features — essentially rebuilding an elevator in place without demolishing the hoistway. Modernization is a growing segment as the installed base of elevators ages. Many buildings built in the 1960s-1980s are now due for full modernization.

Training Paths

NEIEP Apprenticeship (IUEC)

The National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP), run jointly by the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) and the National Elevator Industry Inc. (NEII), is the primary path into the trade. The apprenticeship is 4 years:

8,000 hours of on-the-job training rotating through installation, maintenance, and repair
Classroom instruction covering electrical theory, electronics, hydraulics, elevator code (ASME A17.1), and safety
Starting wages at approximately 50% of the mechanic rate, with increases every 6 months
Full benefits (health insurance, pension, annuity) from day one

This is one of the most competitive apprenticeship programs in any trade. Major locals receive thousands of applications for a handful of slots. First-year apprentices earn $25-35/hour depending on the local market. Journeyman elevator constructors earn $45-70/hour, with total compensation packages in major cities exceeding $100/hour.

Search elevator apprenticeships on SkillPlum.

Non-Union Path

A small number of non-union elevator companies train technicians through their own programs or through the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC). Non-union elevator work typically focuses on maintenance and modernization rather than new construction. Pay is generally lower than IUEC scale, but it's still well above the median for all construction trades.

Trade School Foundation

There are very few dedicated elevator technology programs, but electrical technology, electromechanical technology, or industrial maintenance programs provide relevant foundation skills. Strong electrical knowledge is the single most important prerequisite for elevator work — if you understand circuits, motors, control systems, and basic electronics, you'll have a significant advantage in the apprenticeship application process.

Compare elevator technology programs on SkillPlum.

Licensing and Certification

Elevator work is one of the most heavily regulated trades. Most states and many cities require licensing for elevator mechanics:

State licensing — the majority of states require elevator mechanic and/or elevator apprentice licenses. Requirements vary but typically include completing an apprenticeship, passing a written exam, and accumulating a minimum number of supervised work hours
QEI (Qualified Elevator Inspector) — a certification for experienced mechanics who move into inspection roles. QEI-certified inspectors verify that elevator installations and maintenance meet ASME A17.1 code requirements. This is a prestigious credential that commands premium pay
OSHA 10/30 — standard construction safety certifications. Required on most new construction sites
State-specific certifications — some states (New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and others) have their own elevator mechanic examinations beyond the base license

Because of licensing requirements, elevator work is not a trade where you can simply move to a new state and start working. You'll need to verify reciprocity or obtain the new state's license.

Wages

Elevator technician wages are the second highest among all construction trades, behind only [elevator constructors who also serve as inspectors or consultants]:

Apprentice (year 1): $25-35/hour
Apprentice (year 4): $40-58/hour
Journeyman elevator constructor: $45-70/hour
Foreman / mechanic-in-charge: $55-80/hour
National median: roughly $50/hour ($102,000/year)

The $102,000 median makes elevator constructors the second-highest-paid construction trade in BLS data. Union elevator constructors in major metro areas earn the highest rates — total compensation packages (wages + benefits) in cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston regularly exceed $120/hour.

Overtime is common, especially during installation and modernization projects with tight deadlines. Callback pay for after-hours emergency service adds to annual earnings. Many journeymen earn $120,000-160,000+ annually.

Job Outlook

The BLS projects about 6% growth for elevator installers and repairers through 2032 — faster than average. The drivers are straightforward:

Urbanization and high-rise construction — more buildings over 4 stories means more elevators
Aging installed base — millions of elevators installed decades ago need modernization
Code compliance — evolving ASME A17.1 code requirements mandate upgrades to older systems
Accessibility requirements — ADA compliance continues to drive elevator installations in existing buildings

The IUEC is a relatively small union (approximately 35,000 members), and the number of qualified elevator mechanics is limited by the apprenticeship bottleneck. This supply constraint keeps wages high and job security strong.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Highest wages in the building trades — $100K+ median, with many earning well above that
Exceptional job security — elevators require maintenance for as long as they exist
Intellectually challenging — the combination of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and electronic systems keeps the work engaging
Strong union — the IUEC negotiates excellent wages, benefits, and working conditions
Indoor work — most maintenance and modernization is inside, sheltered from weather
Small trade, tight community — elevator constructors know each other and take pride in their craft

Cons:

Extremely competitive entry — NEIEP apprenticeship slots are among the hardest to get in any trade
Long wait times — some locals have multi-year waitlists for apprenticeship applications
Confined and awkward work spaces — elevator pits, hoistways, and machine rooms are tight
On-call requirements — maintenance mechanics may be called out nights and weekends for emergencies
Heights and hazards — hoistway work involves heights, moving equipment, and electrical systems
Licensing complexity — moving between states requires navigating different licensing requirements

Getting Started

Apply to the NEIEP apprenticeship — search elevator apprenticeships on SkillPlum and contact your local IUEC about application windows. Apply as soon as applications open — the window may be short and competition is fierce
Build your electrical foundation — take electrical technology courses at a community college or trade school. Understanding circuits, motors, and control systems is the biggest differentiator in the selection process
Get construction experience — any construction experience helps your application. Working as an electrician's helper, in industrial maintenance, or in any building trade shows you understand job site realities
Be persistent — many successful elevator mechanics applied more than once before being accepted. If you're not selected on your first try, gain more experience and reapply
Consider non-union companies — if the IUEC apprenticeship isn't accessible in your area, non-union elevator companies like KONE, ThyssenKrupp, and Schindler occasionally hire trainees directly

Explore elevator technology programs and apprenticeships on SkillPlum, or read our guide to the best trade careers in 2026 to see how elevator construction compares to other high-paying trades.