Career comparison
Elevator Technician vs. Industrial Maintenance Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Elevator technicians earn more at the median ($109,910 vs. $64,520), while industrial maintenance technicians usually get to work faster (1–4 years of training). Elevator technicians install, maintain and repair elevators, escalators and moving walkways. Industrial maintenance technicians keep factory machinery running with mechanical, electrical and PLC troubleshooting.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Elevator Technician | Industrial Maintenance Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $109,910 ($52.84/hr) | $64,520 ($31.02/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $59,270 – $158,890 | $46,120 – $95,170 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.7% (faster than average) | +17.8% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,900 | 44,400 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 4–5 years (apprenticeship) | 1–4 years |
| Key credential | State elevator mechanic license | CMRT (SMRP) |
| Work setting | Technicians work in elevator shafts, machine rooms and pits, often in tight, hot or dusty spaces. | Technicians work in manufacturing plants, warehouses, food processing facilities and utilities. |
What each job does
Elevator Technician
- Install elevator rails, cars, machines and controls
- Wire controllers and safety circuits
- Perform preventive maintenance on routes
- Troubleshoot electrical, mechanical and hydraulic faults
- Test safety devices and perform code-required inspections
Industrial Maintenance Technician
- Perform preventive and predictive maintenance on equipment
- Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic problems
- Repair or replace bearings, belts, motors, pumps and gearboxes
- Read schematics, prints and PLC ladder logic
- Align shafts and adjust machinery
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, problem-solving, indoor work, and teamwork. They sit in different fields, skilled trades & construction and mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing, but share transferable skills such as problem solving and problem-solving under pressure.
Which should you choose?
Choose elevator technician if…
- I like electrical and mechanical systems
- I enjoy troubleshooting
- I’m comfortable in tight spaces and at heights
Choose industrial maintenance technician if…
- I like figuring out how machines work and why they break
- I’m comfortable with both mechanical and electrical work
- I can stay calm when production is down
Still torn? Take the Elevator Technician fit quiz and the Industrial Maintenance Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, elevator technician or industrial maintenance technician?
Elevator Technicians earn more at the median: $109,910 versus $64,520 for industrial maintenance technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Industrial Maintenance Technicians typically train faster (1–4 years) than elevator technicians (4–5 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects industrial maintenance technicians to grow +17.8% from 2025–35, compared with +5.7% for elevator technicians.