How much do elevator installers make in Colorado in 2026?

Elevator installers in Colorado earn a median salary of $123,360 per year, which works out to about $59.31 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That puts this trade well above the national median for most construction occupations, and it reflects both the technical complexity of the work and the licensing requirements Colorado imposes on elevator mechanics.

The 25th percentile sits at $74,150 annually, or roughly $35.65 per hour. Workers at this level are typically earlier in their apprenticeship, working in less specialized settings, or logging fewer overtime hours. The gap between the 25th percentile and the median is substantial — nearly $49,000 per year — which tells you that experience and specialization move the needle hard in this trade.

The 75th percentile comes in at $125,950 per year, or about $60.55 per hour. The tight spread between the median ($123,360) and the 75th percentile ($125,950) — just $2,590 apart — suggests that the top of the regular wage band compresses quickly. In practice, what separates high earners is overtime, shift differentials, and whether they're working large commercial or industrial projects rather than residential or light commercial jobs.

Colorado's construction activity is concentrated along the Front Range, particularly in Denver, Aurora, Boulder, and Colorado Springs. High-rise residential towers, hospital expansions, and large commercial developments in the Denver metro drive consistent demand for elevator mechanics. Workers who are positioned in these markets typically see more hours and more complex, better-paying work than those in smaller markets like Pueblo or Grand Junction.

The standard path into this trade runs through a four-year apprenticeship program, typically administered through the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP). Apprentices earn a percentage of journeyman scale that steps up each year. By year four, apprentices are close to full journeyman wages. After completing the apprenticeship, Colorado requires elevator mechanics to hold a state license, which adds a credential layer that helps keep the wage floor elevated compared to unlicensed trades.

Overtime is a real factor in annual take-home pay for elevator installers. A journeyman working 10-hour days, five days a week during a busy project stretch — or picking up weekend calls for repairs and inspections — can add thousands of dollars to the annual total. The numbers on this page reflect straight-time base wages; actual annual earnings for full-time workers with overtime will often run higher than the figures shown.

No union scale data is currently available for this specific trade and state combination. The figures on this page come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025, which covers both union and non-union workers across all employer types in Colorado.

Elevator installers who branch into modernization work — upgrading older hydraulic and traction systems to meet current code — often command a premium because the work requires deeper diagnostic knowledge and comfort with older equipment alongside newer controls. Similarly, mechanics who hold additional certifications in escalators or moving walkways can expand their billable work and improve their standing for higher-paying assignments.

If you're comparing offers or evaluating whether to relocate, the Colorado numbers are strong. The median of $123,360 is a meaningful benchmark, but your actual pay will depend on where in the state you're working, how much overtime your employer or project schedule generates, and how far along you are in the apprenticeship or journeyman progression.