Career comparison
Elevator Technician vs. Millwright
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. $65,700), while millwrights usually get to work faster (4 years (apprenticeship) of training). Elevator technicians install, maintain and repair elevators, escalators and moving walkways. Millwrights install, align and maintain the heavy machinery in factories, plants and power stations.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Elevator Technician | Millwright | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $109,910 ($52.84/hr) | $65,700 ($31.59/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $59,270 – $158,890 | $46,290 – $93,600 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.7% (faster than average) | +0.9% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 1,900 | 3,200 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 4–5 years (apprenticeship) | 4 years (apprenticeship) |
| Key credential | State elevator mechanic license | Apprenticeship completion |
| Work setting | Technicians work in elevator shafts, machine rooms and pits, often in tight, hot or dusty spaces. | Millwrights work in factories, power plants, mines and construction sites. |
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
Millwright
- Read blueprints and installation drawings
- Rig, move and set heavy machinery
- Level and anchor equipment to foundations
- Align shafts and couplings with precision tools
- Install and repair conveyors, pumps and gearboxes
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 patience and precision.
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 millwright if…
- I like big machines and precise work
- I enjoy measuring and aligning things exactly
- I can handle heavy, physical work
Still torn? Take the Elevator Technician fit quiz and the Millwright fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, elevator technician or millwright?
Elevator Technicians earn more at the median: $109,910 versus $65,700 for millwrights, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Millwrights typically train faster (4 years (apprenticeship)) than elevator technicians (4–5 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects elevator technicians to grow +5.7% from 2025–35, compared with +0.9% for millwrights.