Elevator Constructor
IUEC Local 9
Install, modernize, and maintain the elevators and escalators that move millions of people every day.
Starting Pay
$31.26/hr
1st year apprentice
Journeyman Pay
$62.52/hr
~$125k/year
Apprenticeship
5 years
earn while you learn
Total Package
$170,000+
wages + benefits
Overview
The Work
Elevator constructors from IUEC Local 9 install, modernize, and service elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and dumbwaiters across the Twin Cities. The work is a blend of electrical, mechanical, and structural skills — you'll read blueprints, install guide rails, wire motors and controls, and commission complex systems. Elevator mechanics are among the highest-paid tradespeople in Minnesota, and the work is largely indoor, year-round, and in climate-controlled environments.
Day One as an Apprentice
Your first day will likely be in a building's elevator machine room or shaft under the supervision of a journeyman mechanic. You'll start learning the components of an elevator system — motors, controllers, cables, guide rails — and the safety protocols required to work in a shaft. It's technically complex, and the learning curve is steep, but journeymen are dedicated mentors.
This trade is
Pay Scale
Pay increases each year of the apprenticeship as a percentage of the journeyman rate. All rates are hourly; estimated annual at 2,000 hrs/year.
| Year | Stage | Hourly | Annual Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Year Apprentice | $31.26/hr | ~$63k |
| 2 | 2nd Year Apprentice | $37.51/hr | ~$75k |
| 3 | 3rd Year Apprentice | $43.76/hr | ~$88k |
| 4 | 4th Year Apprentice | $50.02/hr | ~$100k |
| 5 | 5th Year Apprentice | $56.27/hr | ~$113k |
| 6 | Journeyman Mechanic | $62.52/hr | ~$125k |
Benefits Package
Among the best benefits packages in the trades — full family health, dental, and vision, a strong pension through the National Elevator Industry Pension Fund, annuity, and paid holidays. Total compensation is consistently in the top tier of all building trades.
Apprenticeship Program
5 years
Program Length
900 hrs
Classroom Hours
10,000 hrs
On-the-Job Hours
How to Apply
Contact IUEC Local 9 at (952) 938-9444 or visit iuec9.org. The elevator trade is very selective — applications are taken when the local has work for new apprentices. You'll need a high school diploma (strong math grades help), a valid driver's license, and the ability to pass a physical, drug test, and background check.
Application Windows
Applications are accepted periodically — typically when major new construction starts in the metro. The local will post openings on their website. Competition is high; fewer spots are available than in other trades.
Requirements
General Requirements
- High school diploma — strong math grades highly valued
- Valid driver's license
- 18 years of age
- Pass a physical exam, drug test, and background check
- Ability to work in elevator shafts and machine rooms
Physical Requirements
- Comfortable working in enclosed elevator shafts
- Ability to work at heights within a shaft
- Lifting and positioning heavy components (motors, rails)
- Fine motor skills for wiring and precise assembly work
Tools You'll Need
- Electrician's hand tools — multimeter, wire strippers, pliers
- Mechanical tools — wrenches, ratchets, levels
- Personal fall protection for shaft work
- Standard PPE: hard hat, safety glasses, gloves
Physical Demand
3/5
Technical Level
5/5
Union Hall
Market Outlook
Steady Demand
BLS projects 5% growth for elevator and escalator installers and repairers (SOC 47-4021) 2024–2034 (faster than average). MN DEED projects 4% growth 2022–2032 — a small occupation (~250 MN workers) with steady demand from new high-rise construction and modernization.
Next Steps
Ready to learn more or apply? Here's what to do right now.
Wage source: Journeyman base hourly rate is sourced from the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry Commercial Prevailing Wage Schedule (effective 2025-12-22), which is derived from the prevailing collective bargaining agreement for Statewide (MN, ND, NW Wisconsin). Total package (with fringe benefits) is higher than the base rate shown. Apprentice progression rates are calculated as standard percentages of journeyman scale and may differ slightly from the actual CBA. This page is not affiliated with IUEC Local 9 or any union. Verify all information — including current pay rates, application windows, and requirements — directly with IUEC Local 9.