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Elevator mechanic salary in California

Updated November 2, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$141,180median pay per year in California, or $67.88 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $74,670lowest 10% earn less
  2. $120,90025th percentile
  3. $141,180median
  4. $161,23075th percentile
  5. $173,920top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $109,910[3]

The median pay for elevator mechanics in California was $141,180 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $31,270 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
1,910[4]
Rank by median pay
3 of 37[5]
Compared with US median
+28.5%[6]

How much do elevator mechanics make in California?

Half of the elevator mechanics in California earned more than $141,180 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $67.88 an hour[1]. The average was $137,670 a year[7]. About 1,910 people worked as elevator mechanics in the state in wage and salary jobs[4].

Across the US, the median was $109,910, so California sits $31,270 (28.5%) above it[3][6]. California had the 3rd highest median for elevator mechanics out of the 36 states and DC with a published median[5]. Compared with all jobs in California, the median for elevator mechanics was $82,940 higher than the $58,240 all-jobs median[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $74,670, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $173,920[2]. Of the 5 metro areas with a published median, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest at $173,920[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had a median of $168,270 and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had $140,600[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and owners of unincorporated firms, and it does not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for elevator mechanics in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$141,180[1]$109,910[3]
Median per hour$67.88[1]$52.84[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$74,670[2]$59,270[13]
Top 10% earn more than$173,920[2]$158,890[13]
Jobs1,910[4]23,790[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for elevator mechanics, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$140,600850
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$168,270370
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$140,250170
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$173,92070
Fresno, CA$126,11050

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for elevator mechanics in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Nevada[14]$141,950510
Oregon$138,600230

Median pay for elevator mechanics in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for elevator mechanics are projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an elevator mechanic make in California?
The median was $141,180 a year in May 2025, and the average was $137,670[1][7].
How much does an elevator mechanic make an hour in California?
The median was $67.88 an hour, and the average was $66.19 an hour[1][7].
Which city in California pays elevator mechanics the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median among the 5 metro areas with a published figure, at $173,920 a year[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont followed at $168,270[11].
Is California a good state for elevator mechanics?
California ranked 3rd of the 36 states and DC with a published median for elevator mechanics[5]. The median was $31,270 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become an elevator mechanic in California?
This is a US figure and not specific to California. Across the US, the typical entry path is a high school diploma or equivalent, no related work experience, and an apprenticeship[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers in California was $141,180 per year and $67.88 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers in California: 10th percentile $74,670, 25th percentile $120,900, 75th percentile $161,230, 90th percentile $173,920. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers in the US as a whole was $109,910 per year and $52.84 per hour, with about 23,790 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,910 people worked as Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 3rd highest median annual wage for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers out of the 36 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers in California ($141,180) was $31,270 (28.5%) higher than the US median ($109,910). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers in California was $137,670 per year and $66.19 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers in California was $82,940 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 5 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $173,920. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers in the US: 10th percentile $59,270, 25th percentile $79,290, 75th percentile $135,720, 90th percentile $158,890. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers in states that border California (highest first): Nevada $141,950; Oregon $138,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers is projected to grow 5.7% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,900 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Apprenticeship. BLS Employment Projections

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.