Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers: Job Description
Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.
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What Do Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers Do?
The core tasks performed by elevator and escalator installers and repairers cover:
- Inspect wiring connections, control panel hookups, door installations, and alignments and clearances of cars and hoistways to ensure that equipment will operate properly.
- Assemble, install, repair, and maintain elevators, escalators, moving sidewalks, and dumbwaiters, using hand and power tools, and testing devices such as test lamps, ammeters, and voltmeters.
- Disassemble defective units, and repair or replace parts such as locks, gears, cables, and electric wiring.
- Check that safety regulations and building codes are met, and complete service reports verifying conformance to standards.
- Locate malfunctions in brakes, motors, switches, and signal and control systems, using test equipment.
- Adjust safety controls, counterweights, door mechanisms, and components such as valves, ratchets, seals, and brake linings.
- Read and interpret blueprints to determine the layout of system components, frameworks, and foundations, and to select installation equipment.
- Connect car frames to counterweights, using steel cables.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful elevator and escalator installers and repairers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Accessibility Lift Technician (Accessibility Lift Tech)
- Accessibility and Private Residence Lift Technician (Accessibility and Private Residence Lift Tech)
- Building Serviceman
- Contract Serviceman
- Elevator Adjuster
- Elevator Builder
- Elevator Constructor
- Elevator Erector
Employment and Demand
There are about 545,721 elevator and escalator installers and repairers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -2.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $36,138 |
| Hourly median | $17.37 |
| 10th percentile | $22,428 |
| 25th percentile | $29,283 |
| 75th percentile | $42,993 |
| 90th percentile | $49,848 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $150,600 |
| Maine | $138,520 |
| Nevada | $137,950 |
| California | $137,340 |
| Oregon | $135,620 |
| New Jersey | $134,590 |
| Massachusetts | $134,360 |
| Washington | $133,030 |
| Illinois | $130,070 |
| District of Columbia | $125,030 |
| New York | $124,530 |
| Missouri | $123,710 |
| Kansas | $121,500 |
| Maryland | $119,200 |
| Colorado | $117,770 |
| Minnesota | $117,760 |
| Michigan | $114,570 |
| Indiana | $113,710 |
| Arizona | $110,500 |
| Iowa | $107,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $106,140 |
| Florida | $103,400 |
| Virginia | $102,720 |
| Oklahoma | $102,620 |
| North Carolina | $102,310 |
| Tennessee | $97,150 |
| Texas | $94,550 |
| Alabama | $89,750 |
| Montana | $84,550 |
| Delaware | $84,120 |
| Utah | $78,680 |
| South Carolina | $71,350 |
| Ohio | $70,290 |
| Georgia | $67,510 |
| Arkansas | $60,220 |
| Wisconsin | $57,470 |
| Kentucky | $43,500 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,720 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for elevator and escalator installers and repairers shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $136,079 | 18.9% | 1.37 |
| New England | $135,218 | 3.0% | 0.99 |
| Middle Atlantic | $121,815 | 28.5% | 2.28 |
| Plains States | $115,353 | 3.5% | 0.94 |
| Great Lakes | $111,795 | 10.2% | 0.87 |
| Rocky Mountains | $101,376 | 3.2% | 0.87 |
| Southwest | $95,102 | 6.9% | 0.63 |
| Southeast | $89,570 | 25.2% | 1.10 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $169,560 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $164,020 | 390 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $150,600 | |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $146,830 | 50 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $143,180 | |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $141,380 | 720 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $139,690 | 180 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $137,040 | 770 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of elevator and escalator installers and repairers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 19,690 | $108,130 |
| Manufacturing | 1,570 | $109,410 |
| Wholesale Trade | 400 | $93,720 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 210 | $73,170 |
| Educational Services | 150 | $97,910 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 40 | $37,780 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for elevator and escalator installers and repairers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Telephone Conversations
Education and Training
Most elevator and escalator installers and repairers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Boilermakers (Supplemental)
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers (Primary-Long)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Supplemental)
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment (Primary-Long)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Supplemental)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (Primary-Short)
- Rail Car Repairers (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for elevator and escalator installers and repairers often complete programs in:
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-4021.00 (Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers).
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