Career: Elevator Installers and Repairers
Without elevators, we’d be without some of the world’s greatest buildings. After all, what would be the point of a fifty-floor office building with no elevator? It would take too much time for people to reach their offices. And how long would it take just to move in?
Thanks to elevators, architects dream up buildings that reach toward the clouds, creating the skylines that grace cities worldwide. Thanks to elevator installers and repairers, people can travel to the great heights of those buildings in safety.
Elevator installers and repairers install, care for, and repair elevators and similar equipment, such as escalators and moving walkways.
Did You Know?
- Chicago’s Sears Tower has 110 stories and 109 elevators. The elevators reach speeds of up to eighteen hundred feet a minute.
Are You Ready To...?
- Be responsible for the safety of others
- Lift heavy equipment
- Work in small, cramped spaces and on scaffolding
- Work with electricity, electronics, and hydraulics
- Spend most of the day on your own
- Stay on call 24/7 if you have a maintenance job
It Helps to Be...
A strong, careful problem solver who’s good with your hands.
Make High School Count
- Take mechanical drawing and shop to get experience with blueprints and tools.
- Build computer skills. Computers are becoming an important part of the industry.
- Make sure you pay attention in English. You’ll need to read everything from blueprints to safety warnings.
- Get work experience. It will help you get into an apprenticeship program. Try volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, for example.
- Pay close attention in math and science, especially physics. Elevator installers and repairers need a solid understanding of electrical systems.
Did You Know?
- Adjustors are the most highly-skilled elevator workers. They check elevators to make sure that they’re stopping at each floor at exactly the right place and time.
Outlook
Government economists expect jobs for elevator installers and repairers to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. When the economy dips, people start fewer new buildings and jobs can be harder to come by. However, there will still be some work caring for existing equipment. The best job opportunities will be for those who keep learning new technologies.
Compensation
The average yearly salary for elevator installers and repairers in 2006 was $61,930, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Keep in mind that apprentices start work at less than the salary earned by experienced workers. You can expect to receive raises throughout your training though, often every six months. Most elevator installers and repairers belong to the International Union of Elevator Constructors. Union members earn more than nonunion workers.
