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 apprenticePay rises in steps as you progress.
- Mechanic license and journeyman scaleFull mechanic pay, with overtime and service calls on top.
Watch out:Getting in is the hard part. Heights, confined shafts and heavy equipment; on-call repair work.
Pay, licensing and demand vary by state, city and timing. Figures are averaged and partly approximate. Skill levels are illustrative. Sources: BLS OEWS (elevator and escalator installers: median ~$106,580, May 2024; mean $109,820, May 2025).