How much do elevator installers make in Georgia in 2026?

The median elevator installer salary in Georgia is $83,500 a year, which works out to about $40.14 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That puts Georgia's elevator trade solidly in skilled-trades territory, well above the state's general construction median. Half of all elevator installers here earn above that figure, half earn below it.

The full spread tells a more complete story. Workers at the 25th percentile — typically those earlier in their careers or working in slower markets — earn around $56,750 annually, or roughly $27.28 an hour. Workers at the 75th percentile bring in $107,990, which is about $51.92 an hour. That's a $51,240 gap between the bottom quarter and the top quarter of earners, which is unusually wide for a single trade. It signals that experience, specialization, and location within Georgia all move the needle significantly.

Elevator installation is one of the most technically demanding trades in construction. Installers work on hydraulic systems, traction elevators, escalators, and increasingly complex computerized controls. The job requires reading electrical schematics, understanding structural load requirements, and working in tight machine rooms and shafts. That complexity is a core reason the median here is higher than in many other construction trades. Employers can't easily backfill an experienced elevator mechanic — the knowledge takes years to build.

Entry into the trade in Georgia typically runs through a formal apprenticeship program, usually four to five years in length. Apprentices earn wages on a graduated scale — commonly starting around 50% of journeyman pay and stepping up in regular increments. By the time an apprentice completes the program and reaches journeyman status, they're generally earning wages that land near or above the state median. That progression is one reason experience is the single biggest driver of where you fall in the $56,750–$107,990 range.

Geography within Georgia matters. Atlanta and its suburbs — Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb counties — concentrate most of the commercial high-rise, hotel, and mixed-use construction that keeps elevator crews busy year-round. Installers working on large projects in Atlanta's urban core tend to earn toward the upper end of the range. Installers in smaller metro areas like Savannah, Augusta, or Macon see work volumes that are steadier than rural areas but typically can't match Atlanta's pace or top-end pay.

Overtime is a real part of this trade's compensation picture. Large commercial projects run on tight schedules, and elevator installation often falls on the critical path — meaning the building can't be occupied until the elevator passes inspection. That creates pressure to work nights, weekends, and extended shifts, particularly at job completion. For an installer at the median, 10 hours of overtime per week at time-and-a-half adds roughly $30,000 to annual take-home. The BLS figures reported here are base wage and salary data; they may or may not fully capture all overtime and premium-pay earnings depending on how individual employers report.

Some elevator installers in Georgia work under a collective bargaining agreement. If you're covered by one, your actual pay rates, overtime rules, and benefit contributions are set in that agreement — consult it directly. The BLS data here covers union and non-union workers together, so it reflects what the whole trade earns across the state.

Modernization work is an important segment of the business in Georgia. Older elevator systems in Atlanta's building stock need regular upgrades to meet code — motor replacements, controller upgrades, cab refurbishing, and door system overhauls. Modernization crews can keep busy even when new construction slows. Installers who build strong troubleshooting and modernization skills often find themselves in steadier demand and command pay toward the 75th percentile.

If you want to move your pay up the range, the clearest paths are accumulating journeyman hours on complex projects, gaining proficiency with computerized control systems and variable-frequency drives, and positioning yourself in the Atlanta market where project size and density push wages higher. Licenses and certifications tied to specific manufacturers' equipment can also make you harder to replace on a job, which translates directly to negotiating leverage.

All figures on this page are drawn from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. The BLS OEWS captures wages reported by employers across the state and represents a broad cross-section of the elevator installation workforce in Georgia.