Elevator Installers and Repairers

When an installer/repairer has completed the approximately four-year training program, met any local licensure requirements, and successfully passed a validated mechanic's exam, he or she is considered fully qualified—a journeyman. After gaining further experience, installers and repairers who work for elevator contracting firms may be promoted to positions such as mechanic-in-charge or supervisor, coordinating the work done by other installers. Other advanced positions include adjusters, highly skilled professionals who check equipment after installation and fine-tune it to specifications, and estimators, who figure the costs for supplies and labor for work before it is done. Those who work for an elevator manufacturer may move into sales positions, jobs related to product design, or management. Other experienced workers become inspectors employed by the government to inspect elevators and escalators to ensure that they comply with specifications and safety codes.