Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers Salary
In California, elevator and escalator installers and repairers earn $141,180 at the median, or about $67.88 an hour. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $174K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $133,013 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 29.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $141K get you in California?
About elevator and escalator installers and repairers
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for elevator and escalator installers and repairers, local pay runs about 28% higher than the U.S. median of $110K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level elevator and escalator installers and repairers (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $141K. Top earners bring in $174K or more, a $99K spread from bottom to top.
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers salary by metro in California
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $174K | +23% | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $168K | +19% | 370 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $141K | -0% | 850 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $140K | -1% | 170 |
| Fresno | $126K | -11% | 50 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a elevator and escalator installers and repairer afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $141K, rent takes 30.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for elevator and escalator installers and repairers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new elevator and escalator installers and repairers typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,480/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is elevator and escalator installers and repairer a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 28% above the national median — $141K here vs. $110K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for elevator and escalator installers and repairers?
California pays $141K median vs. the U.S. average of $110K — that’s +28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $133K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do elevator and escalator installers and repairers make in California?
The median is $141,180 a year, that works out to about $68 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,670, and experienced elevator and escalator installers and repairers can clear $173,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $141K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,165/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 30.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a elevator and escalator installers and repairers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median elevator and escalator installers and repairers salary is worth about $133,013 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do elevator and escalator installers and repairers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.