What is the best city for elevator mechanics?

After cost of living, the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area: the median of $173,920 a year buys about what $157,500 would at average U.S. prices.

Which city pays elevator mechanics the most?

Before adjusting for prices, the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area has the highest median, $173,920. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 46.

What is the best big city for elevator mechanics?

Among the 20 metro areas with the most elevator mechanics, the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA area, 2nd overall: its median of $168,270 buys what $145,550 would nationally.

Where does elevator mechanic pay go the least far?

Of the 46 metro areas ranked, the Albuquerque, NM area, where the median of $71,430 buys about what $74,760 would nationally.

Which cities are included?

The 46 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for elevator mechanics and at least 50 of them work. Smaller metros and rural areas are on each state's elevator mechanic pay page.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each metro's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A metro with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best-paying cities for elevator mechanics

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area is the best-paying metro for elevator mechanics: its median of $173,920 a year buys what $157,500 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. It also has the highest pay before adjusting. Among the 20 metros with the most elevator mechanics, the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA area ranks highest (2nd overall).

Elevator mechanic pay by metro area, after cost of living

#	Metro area	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level	Jobs
1	San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa ClaraCA · $173,920 median · prices 110.4	$157,500	$173,920	110.4	70
2	San Francisco–Oakland–FremontCA · $168,270 median · prices 115.6	$145,550	$168,270	115.6	370
3	Las Vegas–Henderson–North Las VegasNV · $141,920 median · prices 100.2	$141,620	$141,920	100.2	410
4	Chicago–Naperville–ElginIL-IN · $146,580 median · prices 103.6	$141,490	$146,580	103.6	850
5	Grand Rapids–Wyoming–KentwoodMI · $133,080 median · prices 95.5	$139,280	$133,080	95.5	80
6	Spokane–Spokane ValleyWA · $138,100 median · prices 100.3	$137,620	$138,100	100.3	60
7	Kansas CityMO-KS · $124,120 median · prices 92.5	$134,120	$124,120	92.5	200
8	SyracuseNY · $126,630 median · prices 95.7	$132,260	$126,630	95.7	130
9	Portland–Vancouver–HillsboroOR-WA · $138,600 median · prices 105.4	$131,470	$138,600	105.4	240
10	Davenport–Moline–Rock IslandIA-IL · $115,980 median · prices 89.1	$130,200	$115,980	89.1	50
11	Philadelphia–Camden–WilmingtonPA-NJ-DE-MD · $132,640 median · prices 102.6	$129,340	$132,640	102.6	540
12	PittsburghPA · $121,920 median · prices 94.7	$128,780	$121,920	94.7	140
13	OmahaNE-IA · $117,690 median · prices 91.9	$128,050	$117,690	91.9	110
14	San Diego–Chula Vista–CarlsbadCA · $140,250 median · prices 111.9	$125,350	$140,250	111.9	170
15	Seattle–Tacoma–BellevueWA · $138,880 median · prices 111.1	$124,970	$138,880	111.1	290
16	Los Angeles–Long Beach–AnaheimCA · $140,600 median · prices 113.6	$123,800	$140,600	113.6	850
17	FresnoCA · $126,110 median · prices 102.2	$123,450	$126,110	102.2	50
18	Minneapolis–St. Paul–BloomingtonMN-WI · $128,020 median · prices 104.8	$122,130	$128,020	104.8	380
19	Albany–Schenectady–TroyNY · $121,470 median · prices 99.6	$122,000	$121,470	99.6	90
20	Indianapolis–Carmel–GreenwoodIN · $116,520 median · prices 95.7	$121,760	$116,520	95.7	50
21	New York–Newark–Jersey CityNY-NJ · $136,000 median · prices 112.6	$120,820	$136,000	112.6	3,270
22	TulsaOK · $107,440 median · prices 89.2	$120,430	$107,440	89.2	90
23	Baltimore–Columbia–TowsonMD · $122,690 median · prices 104.5	$117,420	$122,690	104.5	400
24	Denver–Aurora–CentennialCO · $123,360 median · prices 105.8	$116,620	$123,360	105.8	450
25	BirminghamAL · $103,700 median · prices 91.6	$113,160	$103,700	91.6	90
26	Washington–Arlington–AlexandriaDC-VA-MD-WV · $122,260 median · prices 108.9	$112,280	$122,260	108.9	400
27	Beaumont–Port ArthurTX · $100,350 median · prices 90.0	$111,440	$100,350	90.0	70
28	RichmondVA · $108,250 median · prices 97.9	$110,620	$108,250	97.9	90
29	Austin–Round Rock–San MarcosTX · $107,630 median · prices 98.1	$109,750	$107,630	98.1	110
30	San Antonio–New BraunfelsTX · $103,700 median · prices 94.7	$109,490	$103,700	94.7	220
31	Nashville–Davidson––Murfreesboro––FranklinTN · $105,290 median · prices 96.3	$109,290	$105,290	96.3	300
32	Detroit–Warren–DearbornMI · $106,610 median · prices 100.3	$106,290	$106,610	100.3	280
33	Pensacola–Ferry Pass–BrentFL · $103,630 median · prices 97.7	$106,050	$103,630	97.7	130
34	Houston–Pasadena–The WoodlandsTX · $104,350 median · prices 98.6	$105,800	$104,350	98.6	540
35	Tampa–St. Petersburg–ClearwaterFL · $105,990 median · prices 100.9	$105,060	$105,990	100.9	380
36	Dallas–Fort Worth–ArlingtonTX · $108,150 median · prices 103.1	$104,910	$108,150	103.1	500
37	Orlando–Kissimmee–SanfordFL · $104,860 median · prices 101.4	$103,390	$104,860	101.4	360
38	North Port–Bradenton–SarasotaFL · $104,130 median · prices 102.4	$101,670	$104,130	102.4	100
39	Myrtle Beach–Conway–North Myrtle BeachSC · $93,360 median · prices 93.6	$99,700	$93,360	93.6	70
40	Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm BeachFL · $108,170 median · prices 114.2	$94,760	$108,170	114.2	1,050
41	ColumbiaSC · $80,830 median · prices 93.7	$86,300	$80,830	93.7	60
42	Atlanta–Sandy Springs–RoswellGA · $83,500 median · prices 100.1	$83,450	$83,500	100.1	510
43	Salt Lake City–MurrayUT · $82,750 median · prices 100.9	$82,040	$82,750	100.9	190
44	AppletonWI · $75,250 median · prices 92.4	$81,420	$75,250	92.4	80
45	Milwaukee–WaukeshaWI · $78,110 median · prices 96.9	$80,580	$78,110	96.9	140
46	AlbuquerqueNM · $71,430 median · prices 95.5	$74,760	$71,430	95.5	90

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every metro links to its full elevator mechanic pay page. By state: best states for elevator mechanics.

How we ranked them

Each metro area's median annual wage for elevator and escalator installers and repairers (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-4021) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Metros are included when BLS publishes a median and at least 50 elevator mechanics work there. Wages exclude self-employed elevator mechanics. Methodology

Questions

What is the best city for elevator mechanics?: After cost of living, the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area: the median of $173,920 a year buys about what $157,500 would at average U.S. prices.
Which city pays elevator mechanics the most?: Before adjusting for prices, the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area has the highest median, $173,920. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 46.
What is the best big city for elevator mechanics?: Among the 20 metro areas with the most elevator mechanics, the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA area, 2nd overall: its median of $168,270 buys what $145,550 would nationally.
Where does elevator mechanic pay go the least far?: Of the 46 metro areas ranked, the Albuquerque, NM area, where the median of $71,430 buys about what $74,760 would nationally.
Which cities are included?: The 46 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for elevator mechanics and at least 50 of them work. Smaller metros and rural areas are on each state's elevator mechanic pay page.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each metro's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A metro with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.