Trade Career Comparison

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Elevator Installer

Install, fix, and maintain elevators, escalators, and moving walkways. One of the highest-paid trades.

$106,580/yr median

$57,490$131,710

Faster Than AvgHeavyUnion: HighEntry: High

Training Path

4 year apprenticeship

Environment

Indoor

Outlook

Faster Than Avg (+6%)

BLS Code

47-4021

Pros

✓One of the highest-paying trades in the country — median pay exceeds $100K, and experienced installers can earn well over $130K.
✓Extremely strong union (IUEC) with excellent benefits, pension, and job security. Nearly all elevator work is union.
✓Relatively small workforce means less competition — there are far fewer elevator mechanics than electricians or plumbers.
✓Interesting and varied technical work involving electrical systems, hydraulics, electronics, and computer controls.
✓Buildings are getting taller and elevators are getting smarter — the demand for skilled installers and repair mechanics continues to grow.

Cons

✗The apprenticeship is highly competitive — IUEC programs receive many more applicants than they accept, and wait times can be long.
✗The work involves significant heights and confined spaces, including elevator shafts and machine rooms at the top of buildings.
✗On-call emergency work is common for repair mechanics — elevators can trap people at any time of day or night.
✗The learning curve is steep — modern elevators involve complex electrical, electronic, and computer control systems.
✗Geographic limitations — elevator work is concentrated in urban areas with tall buildings. Rural areas have very few positions.
✗Working in elevator shafts involves genuine hazards including falls, pinch points, and the risk of being struck by moving equipment.

What the Life Is Like

Elevator installers and mechanics spend their days in elevator shafts, machine rooms, and pits beneath elevator cars. New installation work involves assembling guide rails, installing motors and controllers, running electrical wiring, and programming control systems. Repair and maintenance mechanics travel between buildings, responding to service calls and performing scheduled maintenance. Modernization work — upgrading older elevator systems — combines elements of both.

The typical schedule is a 40-hour work week, but overtime is common during new construction pushes. Repair mechanics often work on-call shifts, responding to emergency calls when elevators break down or trap passengers. The culture within the IUEC is tight-knit and professional. Because the work is safety-critical — people's lives depend on properly functioning elevators — there is zero tolerance for shortcuts.

The work is physically demanding in ways unique to this trade. You work in vertical shafts, climbing ladders, working on top of elevator cars, and muscling heavy components into place in tight spaces. The combination of heights, confined spaces, and heavy electrical systems makes this one of the more hazardous trades. But the pay and benefits reflect that — this is one of the few trades where a high school graduate can consistently earn six figures with union protection.

How to Get Started

Meet the basic requirements

You need a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license, and you must be at least 18 years old. Strong math and mechanical aptitude are essential. Any background in electrical work is a significant advantage.

Apply to the IUEC (International Union of Elevator Constructors) apprenticeship

The IUEC's National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) is the primary path into this trade. Applications are typically accepted during specific windows. The process includes an aptitude test and interview. Be prepared for high competition — many locals accept fewer than 10% of applicants.

Strengthen your application while waiting

If you are not accepted on your first try, take electrical courses at a community college, gain construction experience, or work as a helper for an elevator company. Some local unions value persistence and prior trade experience on reapplication.

Complete the 4-year apprenticeship

The NEIEP apprenticeship combines on-the-job training with classroom and online instruction covering electrical theory, hydraulics, elevator codes, and safety. Apprentice wages start at roughly 50% of journeyman scale and increase each six months.

Pass your licensing exam (where required)

Many states and cities require elevator mechanics to hold a specific license. After completing your apprenticeship, you will sit for the required exams. Some jurisdictions use the QEI (Qualified Elevator Inspector) certification as a standard.

Felony Record & Licensing

Varies by State

State licensing required in most states. Background check policies vary. Union apprenticeship programs may have their own screening.

Check your state's licensing board before enrolling in a program. Rules vary significantly.

Training Funding & Support

Pell Grants Are Available Again

As of July 2023, the FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. The FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. If a past drug conviction kept you from financial aid before, you can apply again.

WIOA Workforce Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds free job training, career counseling, and supportive services (transportation, work clothes, childcare) for people reentering the workforce. Contact your local American Job Center (careeronestop.org) to see what's available in your area.

Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Hiring

Over 37 states and 150+ cities have "ban-the-box" or fair chance hiring laws that prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications. Many require waiting until after an interview or conditional job offer. These laws are expanding rapidly — check your state's specific rules.

Licensing laws vary by state and change frequently. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Always verify with your state's licensing board before enrolling in a training program.

Data last verified March 2026 · View sources

We verify our data against official sources. Verification dates show when we last checked — they do not guarantee the information is still current. Laws, rates, and thresholds can change at any time. Always confirm critical information at the official source or with a qualified professional.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) — Fair Chance Hiring

General trade accessibility levels for people with felony convictions — categorized as generally-accessible, varies-by-state, often-restricted, or highly-restricted

https://www.nelp.org/policy-issue/criminal-records-and-employment/

Verified March 2026

trade-schools.net — Jobs for Felons

Trade accessibility and reentry employment guidance for specific trades

https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/jobs-for-felons

Verified March 2026

Hire Felons — Reentry Employment Guide

Employer reentry hiring policies and trade accessibility for people with felony convictions

https://www.hirefelons.org/

Verified March 2026

ASE — About ASE Testing

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.ase.com/certification-series/

Verified March 2026

OSHA — Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA forklift certification — employer-provided, no criminal history screening

https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks

Verified March 2026

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification

EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.epa.gov/section608

Verified March 2026

Federal Student Aid — FAFSA Simplification Act

Pell Grant eligibility restored for people with drug convictions and incarcerated individuals, effective July 1, 2023; PELL_GRANT_RESTORED_DATE: "July 2023"

FAFSA Simplification Act, Pub. L. 117-103 (2021); 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-simplification

Verified March 2026

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — Ban the Box Legislation

Ban-the-box and fair chance hiring laws — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities as of 2026; BAN_THE_BOX_STATE_COUNT: 37; BAN_THE_BOX_CITY_COUNT: 150

https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/ban-the-box-legislation

Verified March 2026

NELP — Ban the Box: U.S. Cities, Counties, and States

Fair chance hiring law coverage — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities; BAN_THE_BOX_PRIVATE_EMPLOYER_STATES: ["California", "Illinois", "New Jersey", "Washington"]

https://www.nelp.org/publication/ban-the-box-fair-chance-hiring-state-and-local-guide/

Verified March 2026

U.S. Department of Labor — Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)

WIOA Section 169 workforce funding for reentry — job training, career counseling, and supportive services

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. § 3224; WIOA Sec. 169

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/reentry

Verified March 2026

Legal Information Institute — 18 U.S.C. § 922

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, effectively barring law enforcement careers

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

Verified March 2026