Elevator & Escalator Mechanic Apprenticeship in Virginia

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.

VA Median Salary
$102,720/yr
-4% vs. national
National Median
$106,580/yr
VA Employment
590
Elevator & Escalator Mechanics employed
VA Sponsors
7
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 Virginia: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered elevator & escalator mechanic apprenticeship in Virginia 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.

Virginia pay vs. national

Median elevator & escalator mechanic wages in Virginia are $102,720/year, -4% below the national median of $106,580. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Virginia has 7 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 — Virginia-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Virginia Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$47,420
Median
$102,720
90th pct
$127,090
Middle 50% of workers earn $66,960$122,470

Current Elevator & Escalator Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Virginia

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

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

Organization City County
Atlantic Blueridge Elevator Chesapeake
KONE Elevator Chesapeake
Southern Elevator Henrico
JAC INT UNION ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS - LOCAL 51 Mechanicsville Henrico County
Schindler Elevator Richmond
JAC INT. UNION ELEVATORS CONSTRUCTORS - LOCAL 52 Virginia Beach Virginia Beach City
Otis Elevator Virginia Beach
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Elevator & Escalator Mechanic openings

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

Elevator & Escalator Mechanic Apprenticeship in Virginia

The 7 Elevator & Escalator Mechanic-related registered sponsors in Virginia 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

What do Elevator & Escalator Mechanics earn in Virginia?
Elevator & Escalator Mechanics in Virginia earn a median salary of $102,720/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is below the national median of $106,580 for the trade.
What is the length of an Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprenticeship program?
A typical Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
Should I do an Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprenticeship or go to trade school?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Elevator & Escalator Mechanics combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
Where can I apply for an Elevator & Escalator Mechanic apprenticeship in Virginia?
Contact one of the 7 Elevator & Escalator Mechanic-adjacent registered sponsors in Virginia (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?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $51,360/yr in Virginia). 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 Virginia-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Elevator & Escalator Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Virginia

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