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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Don't just look at the top-paying city — look at the cost-adjusted column. The national median salary for Elevator Mechanics in 2026 is $112,897, with entry-level positions averaging $81,286 and senior roles reaching $160,314. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $205,640, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Elevator Mechanic sits at the intersection of Installation & Maintenance and Skilled Trades. Most professionals enter with Apprenticeship, and the field is characterized by high demand. The work itself is building. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$125,130 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Elevator Mechanic in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $205,640 — $125,130 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($80,510). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Elevator Mechanics in 2026: $81,286 at entry (P10), $112,897 at midpoint, and $160,314 at the senior end (P90). Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The $79,028 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $32,530 above the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $192,060 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $81,157 (average of the bottom 3). That $110,903 delta is real money — $9,242/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Elevator Mechanic in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $205,640 — $125,130 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($80,510). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Elevator Mechanic is $81,286, while senior-level (P90) earners average $160,314. That $79,028 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Elevator Mechanics at $136,261 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $119,795) is $16,466.
At the 90th percentile, Elevator Mechanics pull in an average of $160,314. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $81,286 | $112,897 | $160,314 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £44,679 | £62,053 | £88,116 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$68,382 | CA$94,975 | CA$134,865 |
| Australia | 13 | A$83,579 | A$116,082 | A$164,837 |
| Sweden | 24 | 468,725 kr | 651,007 kr | 924,431 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $98,108 | $136,261 | $193,491 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $94,808 | $131,678 | $186,982 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $94,284 | $130,950 | $185,949 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $87,300 | $121,250 | $172,175 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $86,252 | $119,795 | $170,109 |
| Washington | 8 | $84,594 | $117,491 | $166,838 |
| New York | 5 | $79,617 | $110,580 | $157,023 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $79,618 | $110,580 | $157,024 |
| Florida | 22 | $79,014 | $109,742 | $155,834 |
| Colorado | 11 | $77,649 | $107,846 | $153,142 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $77,522 | $107,670 | $152,891 |
| Nevada | 5 | $77,383 | $107,476 | $152,616 |
| Arizona | 12 | $76,999 | $106,943 | $151,858 |
| Oregon | 5 | $76,824 | $106,700 | $151,514 |
| Idaho | 3 | $76,591 | $106,377 | $151,055 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $75,986 | $105,536 | $149,861 |
| Utah | 4 | $75,776 | $105,245 | $149,448 |
| Virginia | 7 | $74,529 | $103,513 | $146,988 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $73,565 | $102,173 | $145,086 |
| Alaska | 1 | $73,332 | $101,850 | $144,627 |
| Illinois | 5 | $72,494 | $100,686 | $142,974 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $70,694 | $98,186 | $139,424 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $69,840 | $97,000 | $137,740 |
| Montana | 1 | $69,840 | $97,000 | $137,740 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $69,607 | $96,677 | $137,281 |
| Texas | 40 | $69,264 | $96,200 | $136,604 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $69,142 | $96,030 | $136,363 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $68,793 | $95,545 | $135,674 |
| Georgia | 6 | $68,560 | $95,222 | $135,215 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $68,443 | $95,060 | $134,985 |
| Kansas | 4 | $68,094 | $94,575 | $134,297 |
| Michigan | 6 | $67,861 | $94,252 | $133,837 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $67,047 | $93,120 | $132,231 |
| Maryland | 1 | $67,046 | $93,120 | $132,230 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $66,348 | $92,150 | $130,853 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $66,348 | $92,150 | $130,853 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $64,602 | $89,725 | $127,410 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $64,253 | $89,240 | $126,721 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $63,380 | $88,028 | $124,999 |
| Missouri | 4 | $63,380 | $88,028 | $124,999 |
| Alabama | 5 | $63,136 | $87,688 | $124,517 |
| Indiana | 3 | $62,158 | $86,330 | $122,589 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $62,158 | $86,330 | $122,589 |
| Iowa | 2 | $61,459 | $85,360 | $121,211 |
| Ohio | 6 | $61,343 | $85,198 | $120,982 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $58,666 | $81,480 | $115,702 |
The state salary map for Elevator Mechanics: California at $136,261, Massachusetts at $131,678, Hawaii at $130,950 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($81,480), Ohio ($85,198), Iowa ($85,360) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $54,781.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($205,640 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $97,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $205,640 | 212 | $97,000 | $119,067 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $192,060 | 198 | $97,000 | $112,678 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $178,480 | 184 | $97,000 | $105,211 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $175,570 | 181 | $97,000 | $103,609 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $172,660 | 178 | $97,000 | $102,007 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $171,690 | 177 | $97,000 | $101,473 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $171,690 | 177 | $97,000 | $101,473 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $167,810 | 173 | $97,000 | $99,337 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $167,810 | 173 | $97,000 | $99,337 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $163,930 | 169 | $97,000 | $97,201 |
From a career planning perspective, Elevator Mechanic offers a $79,028 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Apprenticeship. Day-to-day, expect building work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Elevator Mechanics is $112,897 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $81,286, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $160,314.
The highest-paying city for Elevator Mechanics is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $205,640. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($205,640), Santa Clara ($192,060), Irvine ($178,480). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Elevator Mechanic salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $80,510. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Elevator Mechanics (10th percentile) average $81,286 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $148,061. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Elevator Mechanics average $160,314 nationally — $79,028 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Elevator Mechanics can earn up to $292,009.
The top-paying states for Elevator Mechanics are California ($136,261 median), Massachusetts ($131,678 median), Hawaii ($130,950 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Elevator Mechanic involves Apprenticeship. The field is in the Skilled Trades sector (Installation & Maintenance), and the career outlook is high demand. Work style is typically building.
With a national median of $112,897 and representation across 288 metro areas, Elevator Mechanic offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $79,028 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.