How to become an elevator and escalator installers and repairer
Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree..Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
What elevator and escalator installers and repairers do
- Inspect wiring connections, control panel hookups, door installations, and alignments and clearances of cars and hoistways to ensure that equipment will operate properly.
- Disassemble defective units, and repair or replace parts such as locks, gears, cables, and electric wiring.
- 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 electrical wiring to control panels and electric motors.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
Is elevator and escalator installers and repairer a good career?
On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 116% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Maine $143,690
- Nevada $141,950
- California $141,180
- Oregon $138,600
- New Jersey $137,920
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.