Elevator Installer / Repair.
Philadelphia.
$89,000
median salary, 9% above the national average
$68,000 to $118,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
Philadelphia is 9% more expensive than the national average. For Elevator Installer / Repairs, that shakes out to a median of $89,000, with the full range spanning $68,000 to $118,000. Elevator mechanics consistently rank among the highest-paid trades due to the extensive apprenticeship, licensing requirements, and safety-critical nature of the work. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
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How Philadelphia compares
Philadelphia, PA
$89,000
Cost of living: 9% above average
National Average
$82,000
Philadelphia is $7,000 above
What you should know
Here is what the Elevator Installer / Repair market actually looks like in Philadelphia. Philadelphia combines a robust healthcare and life sciences sector with established finance and higher education institutions. The city's pharmaceutical corridor is among the strongest in the country. Tech growth has accelerated, particularly in health tech and enterprise software, offering salaries that stretch further than in nearby New York. Elevator mechanics consistently rank among the highest-paid trades due to the extensive apprenticeship, licensing requirements, and safety-critical nature of the work. Technicians specializing in modernization of older hydraulic and traction systems earn top rates. Union IUEC membership provides some of the strongest wage and benefit packages in the entire construction industry.
Elevator apprentices start at $40,000 to $50,000 during their four year program. Journeyman mechanics earn $62,000 to $90,000, while adjusters and modernization specialists reach $85,000 to $115,000. Elevator consultants and construction supervisors command $110,000 to $150,000 at major elevator companies. In Philadelphia, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. IUEC union benefits are among the best in any trade, adding $25,000 to $40,000 annually in health insurance, pension, and annuity contributions. Overtime is common during new construction pushes and can add $10,000 to $20,000 per year. And on the tax side: pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% state income tax, but Philadelphia adds a 3.75% city wage tax for residents. This combined local burden is worth factoring into salary negotiations. When someone quotes you $89,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income. The range for Elevator Installer / Repairs in Philadelphia runs from $68,000 to $118,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Philadelphia
Negotiating in Philadelphia
Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income.