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Elevator installer apprenticeships: what they pay, state by state
U.S. Department of Labor records list 5,230 registered apprentices active across the 50 states and the District of Columbia in fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024) under the occupation titles DOL maps to elevator and escalator installers and repairers (SOC 47-4021). The file's fiscal 2024 records largely stop after February 2024. In fiscal 2023 (October 2022 to September 2023) the median starting wage of registered apprentices ran from $23.80 an hour in Texas to $32.56 in Illinois, across the 8 states where 50 or more apprentices carry a starting wage DOL counts.
Apprentice counts and wages by state
The most are in Florida (834), California (774), Texas (512), Illinois (296), Maryland (281). Among the apprentices who completed in fiscal 2023, the median wage at completion ran from $39.26 an hour in Florida to $52.10 in Illinois, across the 6 states with 50 or more exit wages DOL counts. A median is shown only where 50 or more apprentices carry the wage; the counts are shown for every state with an active apprentice in fiscal 2024.
| State | Active, fiscal 2024 | Started, fiscal 2023 | Median starting wage | Median completing wage | BLS median, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 834 | 325 | $25.63 | $39.26 | $50.35 |
| California | 774 | 163 | $31.98 | $51.16 | $67.88 |
| Texas | 512 | 150 | $23.80 | $42.60 | $49.11 |
| Illinois | 296 | 62 | $32.56 | $52.10 | $64.27 |
| Maryland | 281 | 17 | fewer than 50 wages | $45.53 | $58.78 |
| Pennsylvania | 226 | 38 | fewer than 50 wages | $48.15 | $56.37 |
| Colorado | 210 | 88 | $24.87 | fewer than 50 wages | $59.31 |
| Michigan | 173 | 61 | $29.91 | fewer than 50 wages | $47.67 |
| Ohio | 169 | 43 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $50.49 |
| Georgia | 156 | 73 | $23.87 | fewer than 50 wages | $40.14 |
| Missouri | 143 | 42 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $60.94 |
| Nevada | 136 | 56 | $31.98 | fewer than 50 wages | $68.25 |
| Tennessee | 107 | 28 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $48.31 |
| Wisconsin | 104 | 43 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $37.33 |
| Minnesota | 103 | 36 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $61.55 |
| Virginia | 100 | 15 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $52.04 |
| Indiana | 97 | 35 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $44.42 |
| New Jersey | 94 | 12 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $66.31 |
| Arizona | 81 | 13 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | not published |
| Alabama | 79 | 35 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $49.86 |
| Kentucky | 67 | 17 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $20.51 |
| Utah | 65 | 15 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $38.97 |
| Iowa | 51 | 23 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $55.43 |
| Louisiana | 41 | 9 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | not published |
| Hawaii | 39 | 9 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | not published |
| Arkansas | 37 | 8 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $29.58 |
| Kansas | 31 | 10 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $40.75 |
| Oklahoma | 29 | 3 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $50.69 |
| Delaware | 23 | 4 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | not published |
| Nebraska | 22 | 7 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $56.58 |
| West Virginia | 21 | 12 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | not published |
| Montana | 17 | 7 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $43.45 |
| Mississippi | 15 | 2 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | not published |
| Idaho | 14 | 5 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | not published |
| Alaska | 12 | 3 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | not published |
| Rhode Island | 12 | 1 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | not published |
| District of Columbia | 11 | 0 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $58.93 |
| North Carolina | 10 | 6 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $51.78 |
| South Dakota | 10 | 2 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $55.92 |
| Massachusetts | 8 | 4 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $66.55 |
| North Dakota | 6 | 3 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | not published |
| Connecticut | 4 | 1 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | not published |
| Oregon | 3 | 0 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $66.64 |
| Washington | 3 | 0 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $65.95 |
| Wyoming | 3 | 3 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | not published |
| South Carolina | 1 | 1 | fewer than 50 wages | fewer than 50 wages | $43.68 |
Hourly wages, most active apprentices first. The starting wage is the median across the apprentices who started in fiscal 2023 and the completing wage the median across those who completed it: two groups of people. The BLS figure is the wage survey's median for the occupation in the state, a different source and a different period, so read the two side by side and not as a ratio. Which wages DOL counts and how the state is assigned are on the data page. As a file: every trade and state with an active apprentice (CSV).
What those wages come to a week and a year, at your hours →
How the apprenticeship runs
Unions, industry associations and employers sponsor the programs. The federal Apprenticeship Finder searches apprenticeship openings by occupation and by city, state or ZIP code. Apprenticeship Finder →
BLS wording
“A career in elevator or escalator installation and repair typically begins with a 4-year apprenticeship program sponsored by a union, industry association, or employer.”
How long. A career typically begins with a four-year apprenticeship; documented relevant experience and demonstrated skill may qualify a worker for a shorter one.
BLS wording
“A career in elevator or escalator installation and repair typically begins with a 4-year apprenticeship program ... Workers with relevant experience who can document it and demonstrate their skill may qualify for a shorter apprenticeship.”
From the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers, read 2026-09-23. The steps in order and pay by state are on How to become an elevator installer.
Common questions
How much do apprentice elevator installers make?
In fiscal 2023 (October 2022 to September 2023) the median starting wage of registered apprentices ran from $23.80 an hour in Texas to $32.56 in Illinois, across the 8 states where 50 or more apprentices carry a starting wage DOL counts. Among the apprentices who completed in fiscal 2023, the median wage at completion ran from $39.26 an hour in Florida to $52.10 in Illinois, across the 6 states with 50 or more exit wages DOL counts. The starters and the completers are different people, and the wages are in that year's dollars.
How long does it take to train as an elevator installer?
A career typically begins with a four-year apprenticeship; documented relevant experience and demonstrated skill may qualify a worker for a shorter one.
How many apprentice elevator installers are there?
U.S. Department of Labor records list 5,230 registered apprentices active across the 50 states and the District of Columbia in fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024) under the occupation titles DOL maps to elevator and escalator installers and repairers (SOC 47-4021). The file's fiscal 2024 records largely stop after February 2024. The most are in Florida (834), California (774), Texas (512), Illinois (296), Maryland (281).
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration: Apprenticeship Participant Characteristics and Training Outcomes (the dataset), retrieved 2026-09-24: every apprentice count and apprentice wage. Titles counted for this trade: ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTOR (Alternate Title: Elevator Constructor Mechanic); ELEVATOR REPAIRER.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, retrieved 2026-10-03: the median for the occupation, $109,910 a year nationally. How the numbers are built.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers, read 2026-09-23: how the apprenticeship runs and how long the training takes.
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