Trade Career Guide
How to Become an Elevator Mechanic
Elevator installers and repairers assemble, maintain, and fix elevators, escalators, and moving walkways. It's consistently one of the highest-paid skilled trades in the country.
Median salary
$106,580
per year · BLS May 2024
Typical range
$54,720–$149,250
~10th–90th percentile
Job outlook
+5%
2024–2034 · Faster than average
Time to qualify
About a 4-year apprenticeship
Step-by-step: becoming an Elevator Mechanic
- 1
Earn a high school diploma or GED.
- 2
Enter an elevator apprenticeship (such as NEIEP), typically about 4 years.
- 3
Complete on-the-job training plus classroom work on electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical systems.
- 4
Pass your state Elevator Mechanic licensing exam where required.
- 5
Earn certification (for example, a CET credential).
- 6
Keep your license current with continuing education.
Typical entry path: Apprenticeship (about 4 years); license required in most states.
Ready to pass the Elevator Mechanic licensing exam?
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Salary and job-outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers, SOC 47-4021; OEWS wages May 2024; Occupational Outlook Handbook projections 2024–2034). National medians; actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience. Verify current figures at bls.gov.