How to become an elevator constructor or mechanic
Official title: Elevator constructors and mechanics
Also called: Elevator builder, Elevator erector, Elevator adjuster, Elevator mechanic, Elevator repairer, Elevator installer, Elevator constructor, Elevator repair mechanic, Apprentice elevator mechanic, Elevator mechanic apprentice, Elevator constructor-mechanic, Elevator maintenance mechanic
Elevator constructors and mechanics assemble, install, maintain and repair freight and passenger elevators, escalators, moving walkways and other related equipment. They are employed by elevator construction and maintenance companies.
Main tasks
- Read and interpret blueprints to determine layout of system components
- Perform preparatory construction work including steel work, wiring and piping
- Install elevators, escalators, moving walkways, dumbwaiters and related equipment according to specifications
- Connect car frames to counterweights with cables and assemble elevator cars
- Install and wire electric and electronic control system devices
- Install, test and adjust safety control devices
- Test operation of newly installed equipment
- Troubleshoot electrical or mechanical systems failures
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a four- to five-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in elevator construction or repair is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Elevator constructor and mechanic trade certification is compulsory in Quebec and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Apprenticeship. Completion of a four- to five-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in elevator construction or repair is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Apprenticeships are run by each province and territory.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $87,750 a year The middle half earn $62,400 to $109,200.
- About 6,000 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 7,200 are projected by 2033. (+20%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
- Railway carmen/women
- Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
- Machine fitters
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Questions people ask
How do I become an elevator constructor or mechanic?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a four- to five-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in elevator construction or repair is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Elevator constructor and mechanic trade certification is compulsory in Quebec and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
How much does an elevator constructor or mechanic earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $87,750 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $62,400 to $109,200.
Is an elevator constructor or mechanic a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 20% by 2033, from about 6,000 to about 7,200 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an elevator constructor or mechanic?
Usually not. Only 7% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Apprenticeship.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03