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General-purpose, manufacturing and business-use mechanical apparatus assembly workers

How to become a Lift Installer

Also called: Elevator installer

Assembles lift equipment, installs it in place and makes sure it runs safely.

Workers in this job say high school or university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start, but you need an interest in and knowledge of building, machinery and electricity, as well as physical strength and nimble hands. Most people join a lift manufacturer or a building services maintenance company and receive basic training. They are then placed in the installation department and sent to installation sites as trainees. On site, they get practical training through real work from site supervisors and staff skilled in installation. Holding qualifications such as gas welding operator, slinging operator and scaffolding assembly work chief is an advantage for the future. Lift owners or managers must have their lifts inspected at least once a year by a certified lift inspector (or a first or second class kenchikushi, licensed architect) and report the results to the local authority. So if, after two to eleven years of work experience (depending on your education), you take a course designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and qualify as a certified lift inspector, you can widen the range of work you do.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Lift Installer?

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start, but you need an interest in and knowledge of building, machinery and electricity, as well as physical strength and nimble hands. Most people join a lift manufacturer or a building services maintenance company and receive basic training. They are then placed in the installation department and sent to installation sites as trainees. On site, they get practical training through real work from site supervisors and staff skilled in installation. Holding qualifications such as gas welding operator, slinging operator and scaffolding assembly work chief is an advantage for the future. Lift owners or managers must have their lifts inspected at least once a year by a certified lift inspector (or a first or second class kenchikushi, licensed architect) and report the results to the local authority. So if, after two to eleven years of work experience (depending on your education), you take a course designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and qualify as a certified lift inspector, you can widen the range of work you do.

How much does a Lift Installer earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,225,100 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group General-purpose, manufacturing and business-use mechanical apparatus assembly workers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Lift Installer?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 17% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: College of technology (高等専門学校, kosen).

Will AI change the work of a Lift Installer?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026