How much do elevator mechanics make?
Elevator mechanics make $109,910 a year at the national median, and the middle half earn between $79,290 and $135,720.[onet_elev][oews] It is a small occupation, 23,790 jobs in May 2025 (SOC 47-4021), which installs, maintains and repairs elevators, escalators, moving walkways and lifts.[oews_api]
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Take-home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,270 | $28.50 | $49,803 |
| 25th | $79,290 | $38.12 | $64,611 |
| Median (50th) | $109,910 | $52.84 | $86,152 |
| 75th | $135,720 | $65.25 | $104,031 |
| 90th | $158,890 | $76.39 | $119,867 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare; before state tax.
Even the 10th percentile, $59,270, sits around the 43rd percentile of electrician pay.[onet_elec]
Elevator mechanic vs electrician pay
At every published percentile elevator mechanics out-earn electricians, by $46,720 at the median.[onet_elev][onet_elec] There are far fewer elevator jobs (23,790 against 757,220 electricians), and registered apprenticeship programs pay apprentices a rising share of the mechanic rate.[ecfr295]
| Percentile | Elevator mechanic | Electrician | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,270 | $42,640 | $16,630 |
| 25th | $79,290 | $49,430 | $29,860 |
| Median | $109,910 | $63,190 | $46,720 |
| 75th | $135,720 | $83,940 | $51,780 |
| 90th | $158,890 | $108,510 | $50,380 |
Elevator mechanic salary by state
Maine pays elevator mechanics the most at a median of $143,690, followed by Nevada ($141,950) and California ($141,180); Kentucky has the lowest published median at $42,670.[onet_elev][oews_api] BLS published no May 2025 wage for 14 states or DC with too few workers to estimate: Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming.
| State | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Maine | $143,690 | $69.08 | 110 |
| 2. Nevada | $141,950 | $68.25 | 510 |
| 3. California | $141,180 | $67.88 | 1,910 |
| 4. Oregon | $138,600 | $66.63 | 230 |
| 5. Massachusetts | $138,420 | $66.55 | — |
| 6. New Jersey | $137,920 | $66.31 | 800 |
| 7. Washington | $137,180 | $65.95 | 540 |
| 8. New York | $135,720 | $65.25 | 3,470 |
| 9. Illinois | $133,690 | $64.27 | 1,080 |
| 10. Minnesota | $128,020 | $61.55 | 550 |
| 11. Missouri | $126,750 | $60.94 | 450 |
| 12. Colorado | $123,360 | $59.31 | 530 |
| 13. District of Columbia | $122,570 | $58.93 | — |
| 14. Maryland | $122,260 | $58.78 | 810 |
| 15. Nebraska | $117,690 | $56.58 | 140 |
| 16. Pennsylvania | $117,250 | $56.37 | 900 |
| 17. South Dakota | $116,320 | $55.92 | — |
| 18. Iowa | $115,300 | $55.43 | 90 |
| 19. Virginia | $108,250 | $52.04 | 280 |
| 20. North Carolina | $107,700 | $51.78 | 240 |
| 21. Oklahoma | $105,430 | $50.69 | 140 |
| 22. Ohio | $105,020 | $50.49 | 690 |
| 23. Florida | $104,730 | $50.35 | 2,790 |
| 24. Alabama | $103,700 | $49.86 | 170 |
| 25. Texas | $102,140 | $49.11 | 2,030 |
| 26. Tennessee | $100,490 | $48.31 | 700 |
| 27. Michigan | $99,140 | $47.66 | 560 |
| 28. Indiana | $92,390 | $44.42 | 120 |
| 29. South Carolina | $90,860 | $43.68 | 540 |
| 30. Montana | $90,370 | $43.45 | 40 |
| 31. Kansas | $84,760 | $40.75 | 70 |
| 32. Georgia | $83,500 | $40.14 | 640 |
| 33. Utah | $81,060 | $38.97 | 280 |
| 34. Wisconsin | $77,640 | $37.33 | 370 |
| 35. New Mexico | $71,430 | $34.34 | 110 |
| 36. Arkansas | $61,530 | $29.58 | 60 |
| 37. Kentucky | $42,670 | $20.51 | — |
Highest-paying metro areas for elevator mechanics
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest elevator mechanic median, $173,920.[onet_elev] Metro estimates for small occupations rest on few workers; use them as a guide.
| Area | Median | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $173,920 | $83.62 |
| 2. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $168,270 | $80.90 |
| 3. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $150,120 | $72.17 |
| 4. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $146,580 | $70.47 |
| 5. Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $141,920 | $68.23 |
| 6. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $140,600 | $67.60 |
| 7. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $140,250 | $67.43 |
| 8. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $138,880 | $66.77 |
| 9. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $138,600 | $66.63 |
| 10. Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $138,100 | $66.39 |
Compare with lineman salary, the other top-paid electrical trade, the electrician salary page, or carpenter salary. See how elevator work ranks among 30 trades on highest paying trades.
Frequently asked questions
How much do elevator mechanics make an hour?
$52.84 at the national median (BLS, May 2025); $28.50 at the 10th percentile and $76.39 at the 90th.
What state pays elevator mechanics the most?
Maine ($143,690 median), then Nevada and California.
How much does an elevator mechanic take home?
About $86,152 a year after 2026 federal income tax and FICA for a single filer at the national median, before state tax.
Sources
- Local Wages: 47-4021.00 Elevator and escalator installers and repairers (state and metro percentiles)
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates
- OEWS May 2025 employment and median wage series (OEUN/OEUS), Public Data API v2
- Local Wages: 47-2111.00 Electricians (state and metro percentiles)
- 29 CFR 29.5, Standards of apprenticeship (2,000-hour minimum term; 144 hours related instruction recommended; progressive wage schedule)
- IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)