Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
Construction and Extraction
Puts together and services passenger and freight elevators, escalators, moving sidewalks, and dumbwaiters, using hand tools, power tools, and test meters. Blueprints show where frames, cables, and foundations go; car frames get tied to counterweights with steel cables, then wiring, doors, and hoistway clearances get checked. Failed units are taken apart so locks, gears, cables, or wiring can be replaced, while brakes, motors, and control systems are tested to find the fault. Safety codes have to be met, and service reports record that they were. A fit for people who like precise mechanical and electrical repair, tracing faults, and working from installation drawings.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$109'910
Median Wage Market Position
$109'910
What you might do
- Assemble and install elevators, escalators, and dumbwaiters
- Trace faults in motors, brakes, and control systems
- Take apart bad units and replace worn parts
- Check door alignments and hoistway clearances
- Connect car frames to counterweights with steel cables
- Confirm work meets safety codes and file service reports
Skills that matter
- Tracing faults with ammeters and voltmeters
- Repair of locks, gears, and wiring
- Blueprint reading for hoistway layouts
- Alignment checks of cars and doors
- Adjustment of brakes and counterweights
- Service reports verifying code compliance
AI & the future of this role
Installation and repair stay tied to physical work inside shafts and machine rooms, where safety codes and liability leave little room for remote shortcuts. Licensing and on-site troubleshooting are likely to keep skilled technicians in demand even as diagnostics get smarter.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details