Elevator & Escalator Mechanic Apprenticeship in Illinois

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.

IL Median Salary
$130,070/yr
+22% vs. national
National Median
$106,580/yr
IL Employment
970
Elevator & Escalator Mechanics employed
IL 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 Illinois: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered elevator & escalator mechanic apprenticeship in Illinois 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.

Illinois pay vs. national

Median elevator & escalator mechanic wages in Illinois are $130,070/year, +22% above the national median of $106,580. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Illinois 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 — Illinois-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Illinois Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$46,610
Median
$130,070
90th pct
$159,260
Middle 50% of workers earn $106,450$142,230

Current Elevator & Escalator Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Illinois

No elevator & escalator mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Illinois. 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 Illinois

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

Organization City County
IUEC LOCAL #2 JAC Chicago Ridge Cook County
Nebraska Elevator Constructors Chicago Ridge Douglas County
IUEC LOCAL #55 JAC Peoria Peoria County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Elevator & Escalator Mechanic openings

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

Elevator & Escalator Mechanic Apprenticeship in Illinois

Illinois has only 3 Elevator & Escalator Mechanic-adjacent registered sponsors in our directory — program slots may be competitive and early applications give the best shot at placement. Direct outreach to union halls in the state's largest cities often matters more than formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Elevator & Escalator Mechanics make in Illinois?
The median annual wage for Elevator & Escalator Mechanics in Illinois is $130,070 as of May 2024. Wages range from $46,610 at the 10th percentile to $159,260 at the 90th percentile.
How long is an Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprenticeship?
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.
What's the difference between an Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprenticeship and trade school?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Elevator & Escalator Mechanics, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
How do I find an Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprenticeship in Illinois?
Our directory surfaces 3 Elevator & Escalator Mechanic-related registered sponsors in Illinois. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
How much do Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $65,035/yr in Illinois). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the 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 66 Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies programs nationwide →
Too few Illinois-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Elevator & Escalator Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Illinois

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