Elevator & Escalator Mechanic Apprenticeship in California

Wages, programs & career outlook

Elevator and escalator mechanics install, maintain, and repair the vertical transport systems in office buildings, hospitals, and apartment towers. It's a small, specialized trade with strict safety certification and strong union representation.

CA Median Salary
$137,340/yr
+29% vs. national
National Median
$106,580/yr
CA Employment
2,830
Elevator & Escalator Mechanics employed
CA Sponsors
3
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
5.0%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
2,000
Nationally, per yr

Elevator & Escalator Mechanic Apprenticeship in California: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered elevator & escalator mechanic apprenticeship in California combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

California pay vs. national

Median elevator & escalator mechanic wages in California are $137,340/year, +29% above the national median of $106,580. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

California has 3 registered apprenticeship sponsors for elevator & escalator mechanic listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.0% job growth for elevator & escalator mechanics nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 2,000 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — California-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

California Wage Spread

Annual wages for Elevator & Escalator Mechanics in California across all experience levels.

10th pct
$70,720
Median
$137,340
90th pct
$167,470
Middle 50% of workers earn $82,600$153,540

Current Elevator & Escalator Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in California

No elevator & escalator mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for California. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Elevator & Escalator Mechanic Apprenticeship Sponsors in California

3 elevator & escalator mechanic-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for California. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current elevator & escalator mechanic apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Southern California Elevator Constructor JATC Glendora Los Angeles County
ELEVATORS LOCAL 8 JATC San Francisco Washoe County
IUEC Local 8 JATC San Francisco San Francisco County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Elevator & Escalator Mechanic openings

Filter by occupation code 47-4021 and state CA for the most relevant results.

Elevator & Escalator Mechanic Apprenticeship in California

The 3 Elevator & Escalator Mechanic-related registered sponsors in California mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Elevator & Escalator Mechanics make in California?
Elevator & Escalator Mechanics in California earn a median salary of $137,340/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $106,580 for the trade.
What is the length of an Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprenticeship program?
Most Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprenticeships run 4 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
Should I do an Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprenticeship or go to trade school?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 4 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
Where can I apply for an Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprenticeship in California?
Contact one of the 3 Elevator & Escalator Mechanic-adjacent registered sponsors in California (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
Do Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In California, a first-year Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprentice might earn around $68,670/yr (roughly half the $137,340 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Elevator & Escalator Mechanics also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies programs in California →
Or see all 66 programs nationwide.

Elevator & Escalator Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in California

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.