It’s actually a really really good job in terms of job security. You won’t ever be told that you’ll be let go as work is slow. Almost every public building with 3 or more stories in the US, has an elevator. Every office building. Every mall. Every airport.

alot of ups and downs

Plumber here. I always bribe the elevator guys so we can use it as much as possible. I installed a toilet in a unit in the upper floors for them, and they didn't have to use the Porta potty outside. They gave us priority in elevator use and made our lives easier. They even let us use it to move up and down floors when we were lazy. I learned that from my journeyman when going through school, and do it pretty much every job.

The real Cadillac job is the temporary construction elevator operator. Even better pay and you push a button for a living

That stock footage guy really knows what hes doing

Elevator is a good job if you live near a dense concrete jungle. You’ll get plenty of work and money off big office buildings, malls, universities ect. (New York City, Seattle, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Jersey City, Washington DC, Philadelphia).

I used to work around those gentlemen all the time in L.A. every single one of those guys had a nice rig and didn't have that worn and tattered look like us carpenters/ sparkys/ and plumbers. OTIS is definitely a good company to get in with.

These industries make it so hard to get in.

Omg..the elevator went out in our 55 yo building in central Tx, about 2 years ago. Because of the age, there were no replacement parts. It took two guys over a year to replace the entire thing - retrofit a modern system into an old funky building. It looks amazing and they did a very professional job. They earned every penny. ❤

Every HVAC/R guy I've met is averaging 120K and that's with minimal OT. Like 45hr work weeks.

Remember people if a union elevator constructor said he made 200k you can basically double that amount when you include their benefits. Those guys in my city make double time for their overtime. I worked along side one guy last year that was at 290k in October & that’s not counting the bennies. Lol!

A co worker left to go work for a local elevator conpany. Our boss told him he wont make more money and that he is a fool. It was a pay cut to start with but after a coupke uears he is making more then our boss was. Has a company truck and free gas. He is treated really well. I am happy for him. Was almost hired as his apprentice

Facts and the elevator union is strong. You'll be running overtime calls a lot. Once you get close to retirement they'll put you in a building to just be on standby from 7-3pm. I remember when I went to my union school for stationary engineering. Hvac guy told me try to get in the elevator union. That was 13 years ago. It's not easy to get in

130k as an elevator installer. Just go work in billing somewhere. Sit behind a desk and make the same. Mens jobs no longer pay what they should.

POWER POLE LINEMAN My son did a 15-week long trade school, then a two year apprenticeship. He's been a journeyman for about three years. He makes over $250,000 a year, in Texas. Some states pay lots more than that....

He is reputable on that note because my friend I sat next to in high school during lunches became an electrical tradesman. Through apprenticeship, he found a way to become educated in electrical work to become an engineer.

One of the hardest unions to get into as well

Navy certified pipefitter/coppersmith and Los Angeles City Inspector for 30 years here; The best and highest paying jobs in the building trades I know of are, Deputy Inspectors, they are required in many trades, and don't require apprenticeship experience. You can work observing others doing the job, and just writing a report for adherence to code requirements. You can have independence, and charge what you want.once you become known, you work whatever hours YOU want, as much or little as you like. You can find out more through the materials control division of LADBS. There are many new requirements for Deputy Inspectors all the time, just find out the requirements, pass the test, get certified and work.Good Luck !

I knew a guy pulling big bucks for elevator repair and installation in Chicago. However it is very stressful. He left for Texas. He's making good money in Texas and less stress.

Learn to run a concrete pump. In a good market (Houston, dfw, Denver, Atlanta, etc) you can make over 100k if you're willing to work.

It's one of the most dangerous jobs too.

Already considered, I got a buddy who does it, he tells everyone how awesome it is.

I’m a small one man show electrical contractor. Great trade-teaming up with a plumber and hvac guy and making a new biz…Trades are great. It is very very hard finding good reliable help. Most guys you will hire you can’t depend on. When I do bigger jobs, I just get guys from bigger contractors for a couple days-you pay more-but you don’t have to worry about keeping people working and you can still take on bigger jobs-dream big.

I drive an 18 wheeler for a living, day cab, home every night and off every weekend. I made $107K last year and am on par to make $110K this year! Finding the right company is key for your particular set of skills… I delivered beer for 10+ years and my highest grossing year was $59K… Every trade is hurting right now and you can make REALLY great money in these fields!! 👍

Definitely sounds like a great career. But from what I've heard it's pretty difficult to get one of these apprenticeships. The local Elevator union near me only opens for two weeks every two years, i was told you have a better chance of getting in with a few things like welding certificates and eletrical classes from college.

I know an elevator mechanic, when he first got hired it was mandatory to get a life insurance policy.. I’d rather clean shit and put pipes together

I've yet to find someone that can fix my uncle's old elevator from the early 70s.

The fact that this guy just always overlooks a union lineman is crazy

Work in Los Angeles as a journey union elevator constructor, the company I’m with is locked in for a 3 year 75 dollars an hour plus per diem and over time . Life is good . Use to be a plumber lol

My great grandfather did this his whole life, he was there when this was a new technology. He was never rich but he supported his whole family and was a good father, he could fix anything.

Every linemen I know are over 200k in my area. Most Powerline tree trimmers are over 100k.

Downside is that these jobs will only exist in larger cities with buildings that utilize escalators and elevators, which means cost of living and rent/housing prices will be much higher.

The person who trims that guys mustanche prolly brings home the bacon.

Their benefits from union are top notch. Basically free medical insurance + pension and a whole lot more.

Being an elevator constructor I have to agree with the man. Hard as hell to get in but there is a lot of money to Be made

The dB looking with tha harry home owner tape an the elevator pullys omg lol

How much you think the owners make Johnny? The more trades you learn. The more money we make. Dont waste this precious life brother. Im a man of my word, but if you dont put in the work, I cant help.

Good luck finding a job at the elevator technician they make really good money but training programs are few and far then finding an open position that doesn't require experience is even harder. As a NFPA fire 1&2 certified volunteer firefighter with elevator rescue certificates I couldn't even get an entry level job repairing and installing elevators lol.

Elevator installation is a tough, physically demanding job, so be ready to work your butt off every day.

The new apartment complex’s being built near me all have elevators. The hotels have them too. The max here is 3 stories tall. Lots of job security

I know a guy in the early 2000s making near 200k a year... granted he was also doing installs, maintenance and emergency calls in Vegas

I just got fired from my tech job for a major mistake. I have some sort of problem that impacts my ability to focus on a task for hours at a time with no lapse. I have a business degree and working on the site made me realize how much potential a masters in engineering has. I need to have a powerful and knowledgeable enough background where i cannot be turned away or terminated without SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES befalling the company that dares to let me go. I need to be the best at what i do. Life isnt worth living to me if i cant be that.

thats correct

Elevator workers are almost all unionized

Any sizable downtown area will have plenty of elevator work.

Apprentice elevator constructor here, it’s great!

As a CNC machine set up operator with OT I make over 100k a year but without it I’m around 80k. Programmers depending on your location can make north of 100k a year with no OT. I live in New England

The elevator trade is super union.

Where are my A&Ps at

Here in Canada it is so difficult to get in for because it is such a great job and there's not many of them. Its one of those gigs that you gotta know someone to get your foot in the door

My father was an Elevator Mechanic for over 30 years. Grew up in Hawaii, and never wanted for anything! Miss you Dad. RIP

what about maintenance directors

Auto body tech in an Insurance collision repair facility. I’m 24 now and made over 6 figures the last 3 years. Commission flat rate pay. Seems everyone over looks it when talking about trades. Every shop around here needs techs. It’s a dying trade and the industry will be in trouble in the next 5-10 years. Most co workers I have had are late 40s early 50s and ready to retire.

It’s one hell of a wait list in cali

Electrician here in Arizona do you know how hard it is to get that job you have to be born with somebody that has that job and then get in that way. They’re all union. Even in Arizona a non-union state.

I'm 2 years into a 4 year inside wireman apprenticeship with the IBEW. I welded for 8 years previous to this. I plan on getting certified again once I'm a journeyman and I'll be considered a wireman welder. I can take more calls and get paid foreman wage and sometimes more just to weld

Nah, I hate heights. Even the thought of looking down an elevator shaft terrifies me. For now I’ll keep cutting it as a mechanic

Wtf was that guy measuring?😂

Elevator techs and lineman both make more than plumbers and electricians however the later two have more options for in town work

Air Traffic Control. The FAA hires people several times a year and only requires 3 years work experience. No degree necessary. And the potential to make over $250k a year.

My school needs one bc the escalator ALWAYS don’t work

Any trade you can make a lot of money if you put your time in

I was just in Vegas... There's a lot of work there!

I doubt hvac is on his list bc I myself and everyone else I know that is in hvac doesn’t typically make more than $17-$20 per hour. It’s crazy how underpaid this trade is unless you are the owner of the company. Doing attic change outs during mid summer in south AL when the temp is 102 outside but 130+ in the attic you’d think we’d get paid fairly well but we don’t. It has definitely become a necessity but people don’t pay you as if it were.

How do you get into that field?

I see those Gary Vee 003s in the back.

Always been that way.

The only reason elevator repairmen "make a lot" is simply just because tall buildings are mostly located in Metropolitan cities like New York where the cost of living is high. $100k in NYC or Portland or LA is complete trash

In LA elevator mechanics are about 120-150 per year. Apprentices start at about 31 an hour.

Good luck getting in I’ve been waiting for a year

I almost did the elevator union in boston. 200k was easy to make there.

Pros: great union, cons: that makes the union hard to get into

I heard retirement pensions are great too

I used to be an elevator mechanic in NYC early 90's. It was a great paying job back then and I was in local 3 IBEW. If NY didn't suck so bad I'd still be doing it probably

I’m a trucker and make about 110k a year

And always remember control work.. many elevators need access cards, all need to work in conjunction with the fire alarm and many need additional control work for additional security...all of this requires an elevator person that knows what they are doing.. just getting to smoke detectors at the top and bottom of the shaft require the elevator company to test it and inspect and clean it

It’s also one of the highest risk jobs there is

Stucco is about $15-20 Sq ft in Canada/GTA and that shit adds up.

A lot of this is location based

I moved to Wyoming... This state is not ideal for elevators and escalators. I believe there are two escalators in the whole state lol.

Seems like an up and down industry 😂😂

E-elsss...... EELS?! 🤬 "*Dolphin noises*"

If your lucky enough to have a dad or an uncle to walk you in. They keep it pretty tight.

It's not just high rises,it's man lifts, wheel chair lifts,residential,hydraulic elevators,side walk lifts, escalators,freight elevator, and material lifts.But a lot are passenger 2 stop hydraulic. As a Elevator Mechanic we have the job of electrician,Pipefitter and mechanic. The job is very dangerous. I myself have climbed over 500 feet several times up the side of a smoke stack to get a man lift back down because the controllers are built inside the cab. It definitely has its ups and downs, but it does not pay enough. The risk is no longer worth the reward when electricians and Hvac guys are almost making the same nowadays. At one point, it was the highest paid trade. Millwright make more, but they travel a lot. Do a video on Millwrights.

Plus elevator union is one of the strongest. They make all the rules. 😅

English lift engineer here. In England, the industry is desperate for new engineers. That's made the salary go nuts. My money has nearly doubled in the last 2 or 3 years. You can quite easily earn 70 or 80000 pounds a year. I know self employed engineers that earn 120000 pound a year

I like doing refrigeration myself

Escalators can never break down. They just become stairs. You should never see an Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order sign, just Escalator Temporarily Stairs..... Sorry for the CONVIENCE! - Mitch Hedberg

It’s a good job no doubt. A few realities… Highest paying jobs are in new construction not the maintenance portion of the business. Also that new construction portion is usually within 500 miles of your home unless you live close enough to metropolitan areas to justify you’re staying closer to home. …again not complaining they’re great jobs no doubt but blanket statements about “average” and “topped out”hourly pay rates are not always true reality. Same can be said for aircraft mechanic. Avg pay across the industry is around $45 an hr. Top pay in the industry is over $140k and there’s a fairly easy path to get to those types of positions but you gotta be willing to make moves and work nights and weekends for decades. But at least your home every night…not necessarily the case in the elevator world.

"One of the highest"~ *ACCORDING TO WHOM?*

Thats class A union journey men. Who turned out after 5 years of the union school.

After 2 yrs of wasting my money on an mechanical engineering degree I decided to get my CDL and have now switched over to going to trade school for a millwright and was wondering if there’s any guys in here in the trade and wondering what there opinions are on it. I’m mainly going for it for job security and what I’ve heard your doing different shit regularly which I’m more than happy about. Kinda just wanting to see what the average guy can make in the trade and if you guys can give me some tricks or pointers of the trade for a 21yr old just getting in it’d be much appreciated.

Elevator union is hard to get in unless you have nepotism. Was making a mint doing PV electricity work and the younger guys that did install were “waiting for Otis to start hiring….” Bc they would get paid $30-$40/hr

New construction union jobs with 6 to 8 elevators 7 to 10 floors, they only use 3 people . Good luck

Heavy equipment operator (pipeline) getting 56 an hour

Welding is by far the best

Sprinkler fitter.. lawn sprinklers save your grass… fire sprinklers save your ass.. the most low key trade. Nobody thinks of us

Sign installers

Im in canada as a mechanic for 5-10 years now and the pay absolutely suck i can barely survive here

Anybody knowledgeable of the dangers? I'm curious, and had a friend that did it previously but I was told he was consistently put in sketchy situations by his sketchy boss.