What is the best state for elevator mechanics?

After cost of living, Maine: the median of $143,690 a year buys about what $148,060 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays elevator mechanics the most?

Before adjusting for prices, Maine has the highest median, $143,690. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 37.

What is the worst state for elevator mechanics after cost of living?

Kentucky, where the median of $42,670 buys about what $47,330 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

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

Best states for elevator mechanics

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, Maine is the best-paying state for elevator mechanics: its median of $143,690 a year buys what $148,060 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. It also has the highest pay before adjusting.

Elevator mechanic pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	Maine$143,690 median · prices 97.0	$148,060	$143,690	97.0
2	Nevada$141,950 median · prices 100.0	$141,980	$141,950	100.0
3	Missouri$126,750 median · prices 90.8	$139,570	$126,750	90.8
4	Oregon$138,600 median · prices 103.4	$134,090	$138,600	103.4
5	Illinois$133,690 median · prices 100.0	$133,750	$133,690	100.0
6	Iowa$115,300 median · prices 87.8	$131,380	$115,300	87.8
7	South Dakota$116,320 median · prices 88.6	$131,310	$116,320	88.6
8	Massachusetts$138,420 median · prices 105.8	$130,880	$138,420	105.8
9	Nebraska$117,690 median · prices 90.1	$130,620	$117,690	90.1
10	Minnesota$128,020 median · prices 98.6	$129,810	$128,020	98.6
11	Washington$137,180 median · prices 107.0	$128,190	$137,180	107.0
12	California$141,180 median · prices 110.7	$127,510	$141,180	110.7
13	New Jersey$137,920 median · prices 108.8	$126,760	$137,920	108.8
14	New York$135,720 median · prices 107.9	$125,760	$135,720	107.9
15	Pennsylvania$117,250 median · prices 97.6	$120,170	$117,250	97.6
16	Oklahoma$105,430 median · prices 87.8	$120,020	$105,430	87.8
17	Colorado$123,360 median · prices 103.1	$119,710	$123,360	103.1
18	Alabama$103,700 median · prices 88.8	$116,750	$103,700	88.8
19	Maryland$122,260 median · prices 105.0	$116,480	$122,260	105.0
20	North Carolina$107,700 median · prices 94.3	$114,180	$107,700	94.3
21	Ohio$105,020 median · prices 92.8	$113,200	$105,020	92.8
22	District of Columbia$122,570 median · prices 109.9	$111,530	$122,570	109.9
23	Tennessee$100,490 median · prices 91.9	$109,380	$100,490	91.9
24	Virginia$108,250 median · prices 101.1	$107,070	$108,250	101.1
25	Texas$102,140 median · prices 97.1	$105,240	$102,140	97.1
26	Michigan$99,140 median · prices 96.2	$103,040	$99,140	96.2
27	Florida$104,730 median · prices 103.4	$101,270	$104,730	103.4
28	Indiana$92,390 median · prices 93.3	$98,990	$92,390	93.3
29	South Carolina$90,860 median · prices 93.7	$96,920	$90,860	93.7
30	Montana$90,370 median · prices 94.6	$95,480	$90,370	94.6
31	Kansas$84,760 median · prices 90.1	$94,110	$84,760	90.1
32	Georgia$83,500 median · prices 96.3	$86,710	$83,500	96.3
33	Wisconsin$77,640 median · prices 94.1	$82,510	$77,640	94.1
34	Utah$81,060 median · prices 98.9	$81,990	$81,060	98.9
35	New Mexico$71,430 median · prices 92.2	$77,460	$71,430	92.2
36	Arkansas$61,530 median · prices 86.9	$70,780	$61,530	86.9
37	Kentucky$42,670 median · prices 90.2	$47,330	$42,670	90.2

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full elevator mechanic pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for elevator mechanics.

How we ranked them

Each state'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. Wages exclude self-employed elevator mechanics. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for elevator mechanics?: After cost of living, Maine: the median of $143,690 a year buys about what $148,060 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays elevator mechanics the most?: Before adjusting for prices, Maine has the highest median, $143,690. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 37.
What is the worst state for elevator mechanics after cost of living?: Kentucky, where the median of $42,670 buys about what $47,330 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.