Elevator Installer Salary (2025) — National Average Pay
Here is what elevator installers earn across the United States, broken down by experience level, union status, and state. All figures reflect base pay before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
Elevator Installer Pay by Experience Level
Your pay as a elevator installer depends heavily on where you are in your career. Apprentices start at the lower end, but wages climb quickly as you gain experience and credentials.
| Experience Level | Hourly Rate | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | $27.60/hr | $57,400/yr |
| Journeyman | $46/hr | $95,700/yr |
| Master | $59.80/hr | $124,400/yr |
| Foreman | $64.40/hr | $134,000/yr |
Apprentice
Hourly
$27.60
Annual
$57,400
Journeyman
Hourly
$46
Annual
$95,700
Master
Hourly
$59.80
Annual
$124,400
Foreman
Hourly
$64.40
Annual
$134,000
Union vs. Non-Union Pay
Union elevator installers consistently out-earn their non-union peers. The gap widens further when you factor in pension contributions, healthcare, and other benefits that most union contracts include.
Union vs. Non-Union Pay
Average hourly rate for elevator installers
Union elevator installers earn $15.18/hr more (34.0% premium)
Elevator Installer Salary by Specialty
Not all elevator installer roles pay the same. Here’s how estimated pay varies by specialization, based on the national median.
| Specialty | Est. Hourly | Est. Annual | vs. Median |
|---|---|---|---|
Elevator Modernization Technician IUEC Mechanic License, Certified Elevator Technician (CET) | $48.30/hr | $100,500 | +5% |
Elevator Constructor IUEC Mechanic License, Certified Elevator Technician (CET) | $46/hr | $95,700 | +0% |
Escalator Technician IUEC Mechanic License | $45.08/hr | $93,800 | -2% |
Elevator Modernization Technician
+5%$48.30/hr
$100,500/yr
Elevator Constructor
+0%$46/hr
$95,700/yr
Escalator Technician
-2%$45.08/hr
$93,800/yr
Elevator Installer Salary by State
Elevator Installer pay varies significantly by state. Cost of living, union presence, and local demand all play a role. Click any state to see the full breakdown.
| # | State | Median Hourly | Median Annual | Jobs | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $62.50/hr | $130,000 | 1,898 | +6.0% |
| 2 | Hawaii | $61.88/hr | $128,700 | 138 | +6.0% |
| 3 | California | $59.12/hr | $123,000 | 3,450 | +7.0% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $59.12/hr | $123,000 | 759 | +6.5% |
| 5 | Illinois | $58.28/hr | $121,200 | 1,449 | +5.5% |
| 6 | Alaska | $57.50/hr | $119,600 | 104 | +6.5% |
| 7 | New Jersey | $55.90/hr | $116,300 | 966 | +6.0% |
| 8 | Washington | $55.20/hr | $114,800 | 863 | +7.5% |
| 9 | Connecticut | $52.90/hr | $110,000 | 380 | +6.0% |
| 10 | Maryland | $50.60/hr | $105,200 | 587 | +6.5% |
| 11 | Colorado | $49.68/hr | $103,300 | 656 | +7.5% |
| 12 | Oregon | $49.68/hr | $103,300 | 449 | +7.0% |
| 13 | Minnesota | $48.30/hr | $100,500 | 621 | +6.5% |
| 14 | Nevada | $48.30/hr | $100,500 | 345 | +8.5% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $48.30/hr | $100,500 | 1,380 | +6.0% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $48.30/hr | $100,500 | 104 | +6.0% |
| 17 | Delaware | $46.92/hr | $97,600 | 104 | +6.5% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $46.92/hr | $97,600 | 138 | +6.5% |
| 19 | Virginia | $46.92/hr | $97,600 | 863 | +6.5% |
| 20 | Arizona | $45.08/hr | $93,800 | 794 | +8.0% |
| 21 | Michigan | $45.08/hr | $93,800 | 1,035 | +5.5% |
| 22 | Texas | $45.08/hr | $93,800 | 2,933 | +8.0% |
| 23 | Vermont | $45.08/hr | $93,800 | 69 | +6.0% |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $44.16/hr | $91,900 | 621 | +6.0% |
| 25 | Florida | $43.70/hr | $90,900 | 2,243 | +9.0% |
| 26 | Maine | $43.70/hr | $90,900 | 138 | +6.0% |
| 27 | North Dakota | $43.70/hr | $90,900 | 104 | +7.0% |
| 28 | Ohio | $43.70/hr | $90,900 | 1,311 | +5.5% |
| 29 | Utah | $43.70/hr | $90,900 | 345 | +8.5% |
| 30 | Indiana | $42.78/hr | $89,000 | 759 | +6.5% |
| 31 | Missouri | $42.78/hr | $89,000 | 690 | +6.0% |
| 32 | Georgia | $42.32/hr | $88,000 | 1,104 | +7.5% |
| 33 | Louisiana | $42.32/hr | $88,000 | 552 | +6.0% |
| 34 | North Carolina | $42.32/hr | $88,000 | 1,035 | +7.5% |
| 35 | Wyoming | $42.32/hr | $88,000 | 69 | +6.5% |
| 36 | Idaho | $41.40/hr | $86,100 | 207 | +8.0% |
| 37 | Iowa | $41.40/hr | $86,100 | 345 | +6.0% |
| 38 | Montana | $41.40/hr | $86,100 | 104 | +7.0% |
| 39 | Nebraska | $41.40/hr | $86,100 | 207 | +6.0% |
| 40 | Tennessee | $41.40/hr | $86,100 | 759 | +7.0% |
| 41 | Kansas | $40.94/hr | $85,200 | 311 | +5.5% |
| 42 | New Mexico | $40.48/hr | $84,200 | 173 | +6.0% |
| 43 | Kentucky | $40.02/hr | $83,200 | 483 | +5.5% |
| 44 | South Carolina | $39.56/hr | $82,300 | 518 | +7.5% |
| 45 | Alabama | $39.10/hr | $81,300 | 518 | +5.0% |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $39.10/hr | $81,300 | 414 | +6.0% |
| 47 | South Dakota | $39.10/hr | $81,300 | 104 | +6.5% |
| 48 | Arkansas | $37.72/hr | $78,500 | 311 | +4.5% |
| 49 | West Virginia | $37.72/hr | $78,500 | 173 | +4.0% |
| 50 | Mississippi | $36.80/hr | $76,500 | 276 | +4.0% |
New York
1,898 jobs
$62.50/hr
$130,000/yr
Hawaii
138 jobs
$61.88/hr
$128,700/yr
California
3,450 jobs
$59.12/hr
$123,000/yr
Massachusetts
759 jobs
$59.12/hr
$123,000/yr
Illinois
1,449 jobs
$58.28/hr
$121,200/yr
Alaska
104 jobs
$57.50/hr
$119,600/yr
New Jersey
966 jobs
$55.90/hr
$116,300/yr
Washington
863 jobs
$55.20/hr
$114,800/yr
Connecticut
380 jobs
$52.90/hr
$110,000/yr
Maryland
587 jobs
$50.60/hr
$105,200/yr
Colorado
656 jobs
$49.68/hr
$103,300/yr
Oregon
449 jobs
$49.68/hr
$103,300/yr
Minnesota
621 jobs
$48.30/hr
$100,500/yr
Nevada
345 jobs
$48.30/hr
$100,500/yr
Pennsylvania
1,380 jobs
$48.30/hr
$100,500/yr
Rhode Island
104 jobs
$48.30/hr
$100,500/yr
Delaware
104 jobs
$46.92/hr
$97,600/yr
New Hampshire
138 jobs
$46.92/hr
$97,600/yr
Virginia
863 jobs
$46.92/hr
$97,600/yr
Arizona
794 jobs
$45.08/hr
$93,800/yr
Michigan
1,035 jobs
$45.08/hr
$93,800/yr
Texas
2,933 jobs
$45.08/hr
$93,800/yr
Vermont
69 jobs
$45.08/hr
$93,800/yr
Wisconsin
621 jobs
$44.16/hr
$91,900/yr
Florida
2,243 jobs
$43.70/hr
$90,900/yr
Maine
138 jobs
$43.70/hr
$90,900/yr
North Dakota
104 jobs
$43.70/hr
$90,900/yr
Ohio
1,311 jobs
$43.70/hr
$90,900/yr
Utah
345 jobs
$43.70/hr
$90,900/yr
Indiana
759 jobs
$42.78/hr
$89,000/yr
Missouri
690 jobs
$42.78/hr
$89,000/yr
Georgia
1,104 jobs
$42.32/hr
$88,000/yr
Louisiana
552 jobs
$42.32/hr
$88,000/yr
North Carolina
1,035 jobs
$42.32/hr
$88,000/yr
Wyoming
69 jobs
$42.32/hr
$88,000/yr
Idaho
207 jobs
$41.40/hr
$86,100/yr
Iowa
345 jobs
$41.40/hr
$86,100/yr
Montana
104 jobs
$41.40/hr
$86,100/yr
Nebraska
207 jobs
$41.40/hr
$86,100/yr
Tennessee
759 jobs
$41.40/hr
$86,100/yr
Kansas
311 jobs
$40.94/hr
$85,200/yr
New Mexico
173 jobs
$40.48/hr
$84,200/yr
Kentucky
483 jobs
$40.02/hr
$83,200/yr
South Carolina
518 jobs
$39.56/hr
$82,300/yr
Alabama
518 jobs
$39.10/hr
$81,300/yr
Oklahoma
414 jobs
$39.10/hr
$81,300/yr
South Dakota
104 jobs
$39.10/hr
$81,300/yr
Arkansas
311 jobs
$37.72/hr
$78,500/yr
West Virginia
173 jobs
$37.72/hr
$78,500/yr
Mississippi
276 jobs
$36.80/hr
$76,500/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
Elevator Installer salaries in the United States vary based on experience, certifications, and whether you work union or non-union. Entry-level elevator installers typically earn around 60-70% of the median wage, while experienced professionals and those with master-level credentials can earn 25-50% above the median.
Entry-level elevator installers in the United States typically start at the lower end of the pay range, which reflects apprentice or helper-level positions. As you gain experience and complete your training program, your pay increases significantly within the first 2-3 years.
Yes. Union elevator installers earn 15-30% more per hour on average than their non-union counterparts. When you factor in benefits like pensions, healthcare, and annuity contributions, the total compensation gap is even wider. However, union availability varies significantly by region.
The path to becoming a fully qualified elevator installer depends on the route you take. Apprenticeship programs typically last 3-5 years and combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Trade school programs can be completed in 6-24 months, though you will still need field experience to reach journeyman level.
Elevator Installer work offers solid pay, strong job security, and doesn't require a four-year degree. The national job outlook shows steady demand, and the ongoing skilled labor shortage means qualified elevator installers have strong bargaining power. The work can be physically demanding, but many professionals find the trade rewarding and well-compensated.
Certifications can significantly boost a elevator installer's earning potential. Industry-recognized credentials, advanced specializations, and safety certifications all help you stand out to employers and command higher hourly rates. Master-level licenses typically result in the biggest pay increases.
Sources & Methodology
Salary data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Data reflects May 2024 estimates, the most recent available. Figures represent base pay before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.