The ceiling for trades without a degree. The median is around $107k, the top tenth near $150k, and you are paid through a four-year apprenticeship instead of paying for school. The catch is getting in: apprenticeships are few, competitive and often have waiting lists. That scarcity is what keeps the pay this high.
Method
- Build relevant basicsElectrical or mechanical experience, or a related trade, helps you get selected.
- Apply to an IUEC apprenticeshipAptitude test, interview, and often a waiting list.
- Four years as a paid apprenticeMembers step
- Mechanic license and journeyman scaleMembers step
You've got the way in. Members guides cover the next 2 steps and every skill level this method needs: how long each takes, what it costs, and what it pays along the way.
Pay, licensing and demand vary by state, city and timing. Figures are averaged and partly approximate. Skill levels follow each skill's milestones (see Skills). Sources: BLS OEWS (elevator and escalator installers: median ~$106,580, May 2024; mean $109,820, May 2025). Something off? Suggest a fix