Elevator Mechanics: The Highest-Paid Trade Nobody Covers

An elevator mechanic earns a median of $106,580 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2024 data — more than the median for electricians ($62,350) or plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters ($62,970), and more than double the $49,500 median for all U.S. occupations. The entry requirement, per BLS, is typically a high school diploma or equivalent plus an apprenticeship. There is no four-year degree in the way.

So why does almost nobody talk about it? Because the field is small. BLS counted about 24,200 of these jobs nationally in 2024, and projects 5 percent growth from 2024 to 2034 — faster than average, but on a tiny base. That means a few hundred openings a year nationwide, spread across union locals that recruit on their own schedules. It is not a career your school counselor has a brochure for.

This guide walks you through what the work is, what the pay data actually says, how the apprenticeship application works step by step, what you earn while training, and how licensing differs depending on where you live. Where a rule varies by state, we say so and tell you where to check instead of guessing.

What an elevator mechanic actually does

BLS defines the occupation — code 47-4021 — as elevator and escalator installers and repairers: people who install, maintain and fix elevators, escalators, moving walkways and other lifts. Roughly speaking, the work splits into two lanes. Construction crews install new equipment in buildings going up. Service and repair crews maintain existing equipment on a route, answering callbacks when something stops.

The job is genuinely mixed. You are reading wiring diagrams and troubleshooting control boards one hour, rigging heavy steel rails the next. Modern elevators run on programmable controllers, so a working elevator mechanic today does a lot of electrical and electronic diagnostics, not just mechanical work.

It is also hazardous work in confined spaces, at height, around live power. BLS notes that workers in this occupation have a higher rate of injuries and illnesses than the national average. Safety training is not a formality here — it is the reason the apprenticeship is as long as it is.

What an elevator mechanic really earns

Here is the full BLS May 2024 wage picture, so you can see the range rather than one headline number.

Two things matter in that table. First, the bottom of the range is still near the all-occupation median — the floor is high. Second, the top 10 percent figure does not include overtime and callback premiums, which are a real part of many service routes. An elevator mechanic on call can earn meaningfully above the listed wage in a busy year.

Pay also varies a lot by metro area. BLS publishes state and metropolitan wage estimates in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables at bls.gov/oes — look up code 47-4021 for your state before you assume the national median applies to you. Dense high-rise markets pay differently than rural ones.

How to become an elevator mechanic step by step

Most people enter through the apprenticeship run by the International Union of Elevator Constructors and the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP). Some enter through non-union contractors that train through the National Association of Elevator Contractors. Here is the NEIEP path, based on the program’s own published rules.

1. Check for an open recruitment. NEIEP posts apprenticeship openings by local on its recruitment page. Locals recruit when they need people, so deadlines vary per recruitment — there is no single national application window.
2. Meet the basics. NEIEP requires a high school diploma or GED at time of hire, a minimum age of 17 to apply and 18 to be registered by the Local Joint Apprenticeship Committee, and authorization to work in the United States.
3. Apply online with documents. You submit the application plus a copy of your diploma or GED as the recruitment ad specifies.
4. Take the EIAT. The Elevator Industry Aptitude Test covers basic arithmetic, reading comprehension, mechanical comprehension and general tool knowledge. NEIEP scores it pass/fail with 70 percent as the minimum passing grade, and charges a $25 testing fee.
5. Interview. Applicants scoring 70 percent or above are scheduled for an interview with two Joint Apprenticeship Committee members — one from the union side, one from the employer side. NEIEP says interviews average 15 to 20 minutes.

Passing the test does not mean you get in. Locals rank applicants and hire as openings appear, so strong scores and a real interview improve your odds without promising a spot. Many successful applicants apply to more than one recruitment over more than one year.

What an elevator mechanic apprentice earns while training

You earn from day one. Under the NEIEP apprenticeship standards, a probationary apprentice in the first six months earns 50 percent of the mechanic’s rate. Pay then steps up: 55 percent as a first-year apprentice, 65 percent as a second-year, 70 percent as a third-year, and 80 percent as a fourth-year apprentice.

The program runs about four years. NEIEP requires at least 144 hours of classroom-related instruction per year — 576 hours total — alongside roughly 2,000 hours of on-the-job work each year, for about 8,000 hours supervised by an experienced elevator mechanic. At the end you test for journeyworker status through a written and a practical exam.

Compare that to the borrowing path. You are being paid a percentage of a six-figure rate while you train, instead of taking on loans. That is the single strongest financial argument for this trade, and it is why an elevator mechanic apprenticeship is competitive to get into.

Licensing rules vary by state — check your board

This is where you should be careful with anything you read online. There is no national elevator mechanic license. Requirements vary by state, and some states have no state-level license at all while cities within them do.

Some states require a written exam based on the ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators. Others accept a national credential instead. New York’s licensing rules, for example, require a current NAEC Certified Elevator Technician certification or an equivalent recognized by the commissioner, and New Jersey’s regulations accept proof of passing either the NAEC CET exam or the NEIEP exam. Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries lists NEIEP and NAEC CET/CAT among qualifying training programs.

Do not assume any of those apply to you. Search your state’s licensing or labor department directly — usually the department of labor, buildings, or public safety — and confirm the current rule before you plan around it. Reciprocity between states also varies, so ask specifically if you might move.

What most people get wrong

The biggest mistake is treating the wage number as the whole story and skipping the part about how few slots exist. About 24,200 jobs nationally means recruitments close fast and locals may not open one every year. If you want this, set a reminder to check the NEIEP recruitment page monthly and be ready to apply to multiple locals.

The second mistake is thinking a trade school certificate gets you in. BLS is clear that nearly all workers in this occupation learn through an apprenticeship. Paid programs marketing themselves as elevator mechanic training are not a substitute for a registered apprenticeship, and no school can promise placement — be skeptical of any that implies it.

Third: people assume it’s purely mechanical, muscle work. It isn’t. The EIAT tests arithmetic and reading comprehension for a reason, and modern control systems reward people who are comfortable with electrical theory and methodical troubleshooting.

Finally, some students rule it out because they’ve already started college. You can leave a program or finish it and still apply — the requirement is a diploma or GED, not the absence of a degree. If you’re currently on financial aid and considering leaving mid-term, talk to your school’s financial aid office first, because withdrawal rules, refunds and satisfactory academic progress standards vary by school and can affect any aid you’ve received.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a licensed elevator mechanic?

The NEIEP apprenticeship runs about four years — roughly 8,000 hours of supervised work plus at least 144 classroom hours per year — ending in written and practical exams. Any additional state license timeline varies, so check your state board.

Do I need college to be an elevator mechanic?

No. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education, with nearly all workers trained through apprenticeship. NEIEP requires a diploma or GED at time of hire.

What does the EIAT cost and what’s on it?

NEIEP charges a $25 testing fee and covers arithmetic, reading comprehension, mechanical comprehension and general tool knowledge. It is pass/fail with 70 percent as the minimum passing score.

Is the pay really six figures everywhere?

No. $106,580 is the May 2024 national median from BLS; the lowest 10 percent earned under $54,720. Pay varies by state, metro and employer, so check the BLS state estimates for code 47-4021.

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Content last reviewed August 2026. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.

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