How much do elevator installers make in the US in 2026?

Which state is best for elevator installers?

Different states win on different measures — here's the top on each. Pick the one that matters to you.

Across 23 states: $77,640–$141,180 (median $108,250).

Elevator Installer pay by state

Where is the union premium biggest for Elevator Installers?

Named locals and the premium over the BLS all-worker median.

We don't have union scale data for Elevator Installer across our states yet — these states are predominantly non-union, or we haven't added IBEW/UA data. Submitting your pay helps build complete data for Elevator Installer.

Union landscape

Elevator installation is a trade where collective bargaining agreements are common, and some workers in this field are covered by one. That matters because negotiated contract rates can differ — sometimes significantly — from the employer-reported averages you see in BLS data. The honest problem: TradesPays does not currently have union scale data for this trade in any of our 23 covered states. We're not going to fill that gap with guesses or outdated figures. If you're working under, or considering, a collective bargaining agreement, the only reliable source for current scale rates is your local. Go to the hall, call the business agent, or check your local's posted wage schedules directly. What we can tell you is that the state-level figures on TradesPays reflect what employers report across all workers — union and non-union — so the medians and percentiles here are a blended picture. They're useful for understanding the broad market, but they are not a substitute for your local's current negotiated rate sheet. Check there first for the number that actually applies to your paycheck.

What we don't track yet

A few honest gaps worth naming before you dig into the numbers. First, metro-level pay: TradesPays currently reports at the state level for Elevator Installers and Repairers. That means a statewide figure for California at $141,180 is exactly that — statewide. What an installer earns working high-rises in a dense urban core versus a smaller metro in the same state can differ considerably, and we don't yet have that breakdown published. Second, career-tier splits: we don't currently segment pay by apprentice, journeyman, or other experience tiers beyond what union scale data would provide — and as noted above, we have no union scale data for this trade yet. The percentile range (p25 to p75) is the closest proxy we have for the experience-and-skill spread right now. Both of these are on our list to fix. If you have reliable, verifiable wage data for this trade — your own W-2, a posted wage scale, a ratified contract — use the submission link on this page. Worker-submitted data, properly vetted, is how we close these gaps. The more elevator mechanics who contribute, the more useful this page gets for the next person who lands here.

Elevator Installer pay: FAQ

What is the national median wage for Elevator Installers and Repairers?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, the national median annual wage is $109,910. The 25th percentile sits at $79,290 and the 75th percentile at $135,720.

Which states pay elevator installers the most?

Among the 23 states TradesPays currently covers, the three highest-paying are California at $141,180, Massachusetts at $138,420, and New Jersey at $137,920 in annual median wages.

Which state has the lowest elevator installer pay in the TradesPays data set?

Wisconsin is the lowest in our current data at $77,640. Keep in mind we only cover 23 states, so this reflects our data set — not a universal floor across all 50 states.

How many states does TradesPays cover for this trade?

Currently 23 states. We're working to expand coverage. If you work in a state not yet listed, the submission tool on this page is the fastest way to help us add it.

Does the pay data include union scale rates?

No. TradesPays does not currently have union scale data for Elevator Installers and Repairers in any of our covered states. The figures shown are BLS employer-reported wages, which blend union and non-union workers. For negotiated scale rates, contact your local directly.

What does the gap between p25 and p75 tell me?

It tells you the spread across the middle half of workers in this trade. Nationally that gap runs from $79,290 to $135,720 — a $56,430 range. Factors like years in the trade, state, employer type, and whether you're covered by a collective bargaining agreement all push you up or down within that band.

Can I see pay broken down by apprentice, journeyman, or other tiers?

Not yet. TradesPays doesn't currently segment elevator installer pay by career tier. The percentile figures are the best available proxy for the experience-based spread until we have enough tier-level data to publish those breakdowns reliably.

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