Career profile for Elevator Mechanic

What does an Elevator Mechanic do?

Elevator Mechanics assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.

What kind of tasks does an Elevator Mechanic perform regularly?

Elevator Mechanics are often responsible for overseeing or executing some or all of the following tasks:

Assemble, install, repair, and maintain elevators, escalators, moving sidewalks, and dumbwaiters, using hand and power tools, and testing devices such as test lamps, ammeters, and voltmeters.
Test newly installed equipment to ensure that it meets specifications, such as stopping at floors for set amounts of time.
Locate malfunctions in brakes, motors, switches, and signal and control systems, using test equipment.
Check that safety regulations and building codes are met, and complete service reports verifying conformance to standards.
Connect electrical wiring to control panels and electric motors.
Adjust safety controls, counterweights, door mechanisms, and components such as valves, ratchets, seals, and brake linings.
Read and interpret blueprints to determine the layout of system components, frameworks, and foundations, and to select installation equipment.
Inspect wiring connections, control panel hookups, door installations, and alignments and clearances of cars and hoistways to ensure that equipment will operate properly.
Disassemble defective units, and repair or replace parts such as locks, gears, cables, and electric wiring.
Maintain log books that detail all repairs and checks performed.
Participate in additional training to keep skills up to date.
Attach guide shoes and rollers to minimize the lateral motion of cars as they travel through shafts.
Connect car frames to counterweights, using steel cables.
Bolt or weld steel rails to the walls of shafts to guide elevators, working from scaffolding or platforms.
Assemble elevator cars, installing each car's platform, walls, and doors.
Install outer doors and door frames at elevator entrances on each floor of a structure.
Install electrical wires and controls by attaching conduit along shaft walls from floor to floor and pulling plastic-covered wires through the conduit.
Cut prefabricated sections of framework, rails, and other components to specified dimensions.

The above responsibilities are specific to Elevator Mechanics. More generally, Elevator Mechanics are involved in several broader types of activities:

Activities	Importance	Details
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment		Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment		Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems		Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Performing General Physical Activities		Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
Handling and Moving Objects		Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment

Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment

Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Performing General Physical Activities

Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Handling and Moving Objects

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

What is an Elevator Mechanic salary?

The median salary for an Elevator Mechanic is $88,540, and the average salary is $86,200. Both the median and average roughly describe the middle of the Elevator Mechanic salary range, but the average is more easily affected by extremely high or low salaries.

Many Elevator Mechanics earn significantly more or less than the average, due to several factors. About 10% of Elevator Mechanics earn less than $45,950 per year, 25% earn less than $62,050, 75% earn less than $108,080, and 90% earn less than $128,500.

Between the years of 2020 and 2030, the number of Elevator Mechanics is expected to change by 6.0%, and there should be roughly 2,500 open positions for Elevator Mechanics every year.

Median annual salary: $88,540
Typical salary range: $45,950 - $128,500
Projected growth (2020 - 2030): 6.0%

What personality traits are common among Elevator Mechanics?

Interests

Career interests describe a person's preferences for different types of working environments and activities. When a person's interest match the demands of an occupation, people are usually more engaged and satisfied in that role.

Compared to most occupations, those who work as an Elevator Mechanic are usually higher in their Realistic, Investigative, and Conventional interests.

Elevator Mechanics typically have very strong Realistic interests. Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Also, Elevator Mechanics typically have strong Investigative interests. Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Lastly, Elevator Mechanics typically have moderate Conventional interests. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Values

People differ in their values, or what is most important to them for building job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Compared to most people, those working as an Elevator Mechanic tend to value Support, Working Conditions, and Independence.

Most importantly, Elevator Mechanics very strongly value Support. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

Second, Elevator Mechanics moderately value Working Conditions. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions.

Lastly, Elevator Mechanics moderately value Independence. Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

Psychological Demands

Each occupation brings its own set of psychological demands, which describe the characteristics necessary to perform the job well.

In order to perform their job successfully, people who work as Elevator Mechanics must consistently demonstrate qualities such as dependability, attention to detail, and analytical thinking.

Below, you'll find a list of qualities typically required of Elevator Mechanics, ranked by importance:

Demands	Importance	Details
Dependability		Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail		Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Analytical Thinking		Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Persistence		Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Independence		Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Dependability

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Attention to Detail

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Analytical Thinking

Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Persistence

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Independence

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

What education and training do Elevator Mechanics need?

Elevator Mechanics often have training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Elevator Mechanics usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with this occupation.

Educational degrees among Elevator Mechanics

3.5% did not complete high school or secondary school
41.7% completed high school or secondary school
32.3% completed some college coursework
9.9% earned a Associate's degree
10.8% earned a Bachelor's degree
1.7% earned a Master's degree
0.2% earned a doctorate or professional degree

Knowledge and expertise required by Elevator Mechanics

Elevator Mechanics may benefit from understanding of specialized subject areas, such as mechanical, customer and personal service, or building and construction knowledge.

The list below shows several areas in which most Elevator Mechanics might want to build proficiency, ranked by importance.

Knowledge areas	Importance	Details
Mechanical		Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Customer and Personal Service		Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Building and Construction		Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Public Safety and Security		Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Design		Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Building and Construction

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Design

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Important Abilities needed by Elevator Mechanics

Elevator Mechanics must develop a particular set of abilities to perform their job well. Abilities are individual capacities that influence a person's information processing, sensory perception, motor coordination, and physical strength or endurance. Individuals may naturally have certain abilities without explicit training, but most abilities can be sharpened somewhat through practice.

For example, Elevator Mechanics need abilities such as problem sensitivity, oral comprehension, and deductive reasoning in order to perform their job at a high level. The list below shows several important abilities for Elevator Mechanics, ranked by their relative importance.

Abilities	Importance	Details
Problem Sensitivity		The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Oral Comprehension		The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Deductive Reasoning		The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral Expression		The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Arm-Hand Steadiness		The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Arm-Hand Steadiness

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Critical Skills needed by Elevator Mechanics

Skills are developed capacities that enable people to function effectively in real-world settings. Unlike abilities, skills are typically easier to build through practice and experience. Skills influence effectiveness in areas such as learning, working with others, design, troubleshooting, and more.

Elevator Mechanics frequently use skills like repairing, troubleshooting, and equipment selection to perform their job effectively. The list below shows several critical skills for Elevator Mechanics, ranked by their relative importance.

Skills	Importance	Details
Repairing		Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting		Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Equipment Selection		Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Operations Monitoring		Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Equipment Maintenance		Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Repairing

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Equipment Selection

Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Equipment Maintenance

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

What is the source of this information?

The information provided on this page is adapted from data and descriptions published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration under the CC BY 4.0 license. TraitLab has modified some information for ease of use and reading, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this information, please send a message.

Career profile Elevator Mechanic

Elevator Mechanic

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