How much do elevator mechanics make an hour in Chicago, IL-IN?

The median hourly wage is $70.47. The middle half earn between $48.48 and $79.57 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do apprentice elevator mechanics make in Chicago, IL-IN?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $33.04 an hour ($68,710 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $48.48.

Do elevator mechanics make more in Chicago or Davenport?

Chicago pays more: the median is $146,580 in Chicago and $115,980 in Davenport, a 26% difference.

How does Chicago pay compare with the rest of Illinois?

The Chicago median of $146,580 is 10% more than the Illinois median of $133,690.

Elevator mechanic salary in Chicago, IL-IN

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Elevator mechanics in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL-IN area earn a median of $146,580 a year, or $70.47 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The top 10% earn more than $169,990. That's 10% more than the Illinois median of $133,690.

Median yearly pay$146,580

Bottom 10% under$68,710Top 10% over$169,990

Apprentice starting pay (estimate): $33.04/hr
Jobs in this area: 850
After cost of living: $141,490
Median hourly pay: $70.47/hr
vs U.S. median: +33%
vs Illinois median: +10%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 16980, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN). Excludes self-employed elevator mechanics. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. *Starting pay is estimated from the 10th percentile; BLS does not report pay by license level.

Apprentice to top elevator mechanic pay

Stage	Yearly pay	Hourly pay
Apprentice	$68,710–$100,840$33.04–$48.48/hr
Mechanic	$146,580$70.47/hr
Top earners	$165,500–$169,990$79.57–$81.72/hr

Estimated from BLS percentiles (10th–25th, median, 75th–90th); BLS does not report pay by license level.

How Chicago, IL-IN compares

Elevator mechanics are more concentrated in the Chicago area than nationally: 0.2 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.2 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $169,990, is 2.5 times the 10th-percentile wage, $68,710: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Illinois metro areas

Davenport–Moline–Rock Island$115,980

Other trades in Chicago, IL-IN

Electrician HVAC technician Welder Lineman Plumber Diesel mechanic Carpenter Heavy equipment operator Auto mechanic Roofer Ironworker Millwright Boilermaker

Questions

How much do elevator mechanics make in Chicago, IL-IN?: Elevator mechanics in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL-IN area earn a median of $146,580 a year, or $70.47 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The top 10% earn more than $169,990.
How much do elevator mechanics make an hour in Chicago, IL-IN?: The median hourly wage is $70.47. The middle half earn between $48.48 and $79.57 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do apprentice elevator mechanics make in Chicago, IL-IN?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $33.04 an hour ($68,710 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $48.48.
Do elevator mechanics make more in Chicago or Davenport?: Chicago pays more: the median is $146,580 in Chicago and $115,980 in Davenport, a 26% difference.
How does Chicago pay compare with the rest of Illinois?: The Chicago median of $146,580 is 10% more than the Illinois median of $133,690.

About this data

Wages are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025, occupation 47-4021 (Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers), area code 16980 (Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN). BLS counts wage and salary workers only, so self-employed elevator mechanics and business owners aren't included. The cost-of-living figure divides the median by the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (103.6, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures