Elevator mechanics: licensing, jobs and pay in the United States
23,340 people work as elevator mechanics in the United States, and the median pay is $106,580 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
The Census Bureau counts 8,107 building equipment contractor businesses with employees, with 150,522 employees and a payroll of $13,641,385,000 a year (2023 County Business Patterns).
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 23,340
- Median pay, a year
- $106,580
- Businesses with employees
- 8,107
Elevator mechanics by state
| State | Jobs | Median pay, a year | Businesses with employees | Businesses per 10,000 homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 3,710 | $124,530 | 496 | 0.6 |
| California | 2,830 | $137,340 | 817 | 0.6 |
| Florida | 2,100 | $103,400 | 569 | 0.6 |
| Texas | 1,360 | $94,550 | 730 | 0.6 |
| Maryland | 1,200 | $119,200 | 137 | 0.5 |
| Washington | 1,170 | $133,030 | 182 | 0.6 |
| Illinois | 970 | $130,070 | 344 | 0.6 |
| Pennsylvania | 680 | $106,140 | 291 | 0.5 |
| Tennessee | 670 | $97,150 | 187 | 0.6 |
| Michigan | 660 | $114,570 | 233 | 0.5 |
| Virginia | 590 | $102,720 | 162 | 0.4 |
| Georgia | 510 | $67,510 | 266 | 0.6 |
| Massachusetts | 500 | $134,360 | 159 | 0.5 |
| Minnesota | 480 | $117,760 | 148 | 0.6 |
| New Jersey | 410 | $134,590 | 204 | 0.5 |
| North Carolina | 390 | $102,310 | 246 | 0.5 |
| Colorado | 380 | $117,770 | 179 | 0.7 |
| South Carolina | 330 | $71,350 | 126 | 0.5 |
| Alabama | 260 | $89,750 | 124 | 0.5 |
| Wisconsin | 250 | $57,470 | 188 | 0.7 |
| Utah | 230 | $78,680 | 94 | 0.8 |
| Kentucky | 210 | $43,500 | 126 | 0.6 |
| Iowa | 190 | $107,010 | 129 | 0.9 |
| Mississippi | 190 | — | 66 | 0.5 |
| Ohio | 150 | $70,290 | 277 | 0.5 |
| Indiana | 130 | $113,710 | 194 | 0.7 |
| Maine | 130 | $138,520 | 36 | 0.5 |
| Arkansas | 100 | $60,220 | 89 | 0.6 |
| Oklahoma | 100 | $102,620 | 70 | 0.4 |
| Kansas | 70 | $121,500 | 77 | 0.6 |
| Montana | 60 | $84,550 | 36 | 0.7 |
| Delaware | 40 | $84,120 | 28 | 0.6 |
| Alaska | — | — | 20 | 0.6 |
| Arizona | — | $110,500 | 124 | 0.4 |
| Connecticut | — | — | 97 | 0.6 |
| District of Columbia | — | $125,030 | 5 | 0.1 |
| Hawaii | — | $150,600 | 34 | 0.6 |
| Idaho | — | — | 56 | 0.7 |
| Louisiana | — | — | 118 | 0.6 |
| Missouri | — | $123,710 | 158 | 0.6 |
| Nebraska | — | — | 86 | 1.0 |
| Nevada | — | $137,950 | 82 | 0.6 |
| New Hampshire | — | — | 38 | 0.6 |
| New Mexico | — | — | 20 | 0.2 |
| North Dakota | — | — | 46 | 1.2 |
| Oregon | — | $135,620 | 93 | 0.5 |
| Rhode Island | — | — | 33 | 0.7 |
| South Dakota | — | — | 31 | 0.8 |
| Vermont | — | — | 14 | 0.4 |
| West Virginia | — | — | 24 | 0.3 |
| Wyoming | — | — | 18 | 0.6 |
The highest median pay is in Hawaii ($150,600), Maine ($138,520), Nevada ($137,950).
The lowest is in Kentucky ($43,500), Wisconsin ($57,470), Arkansas ($60,220).
What elevator mechanics earn
| United States | |
|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $106,580 |
| Median pay, an hour | $51.24 |
| 10th percentile | $54,720 |
| 25th percentile | $76,700 |
| 75th percentile | $131,740 |
| 90th percentile | $149,250 |
| Average pay, a year | $104,860 |
Federal rules and model codes for elevator mechanics
OSHA’s construction standard for electrical work sets the rules for wiring, ground-fault protection, lockout and working near energized parts on a job site (29 CFR part 1926, subpart K).
On a construction job, a worker 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by guardrails, safety nets or a personal fall arrest system, with the rules for roofs in OSHA’s fall protection standard (29 CFR part 1926, subpart M).
Elevators and escalators are built, maintained and inspected to the ASME A17.1 safety code as the state or city has adopted it, usually with periodic inspections by a state or city inspector.
A model code becomes law only where a state or city adopts it; the building or licensing department says which edition applies.
- OSHA electrical safety in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart K)
- OSHA fall protection in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart M)
- Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators (ASME A17.1)
Licenses for elevator mechanics
Licensing for this trade is set by each state, and often by the city or county as well; each state’s page links the official license lookup for it.
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Questions about Elevator mechanics
How much do elevator mechanics make?
The median pay for elevator mechanics in the United States is $106,580 a year, and half earn between $76,700 and $131,740 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many elevator mechanics are there in the United States?
23,340 people work as elevator mechanics, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
Where do elevator mechanics earn the most?
The highest median pay is in Hawaii ($150,600), Maine ($138,520), Nevada ($137,950).
Do elevator mechanics need a license?
Licensing is set by each state, and often by the city or county as well; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists the licenses each state requires and the agency that issues each.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023
- US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop License Finder
- OSHA electrical safety in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart K)
- OSHA fall protection in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart M)
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them. Rules are summarized from their official text, which governs; this page is not legal advice, and a state or city may add requirements of its own.
Figures last updated on .