Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers vs Insulation Workers, Mechanical: $110K vs $58K Median Pay

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers vs Insulation Workers, Mechanical: what changes?

Consider Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers if you want to assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters. Consider Insulation Workers, Mechanical if you would rather apply insulating materials to pipes or ductwork, or other mechanical systems in order to help control and maintain temperature. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers and Insulation Workers, Mechanical. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

National median pay (2025): $109,910
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Inspect wiring connections, control panel hookups, door installations, and alignments and clearances of cars and hoistways to ensure that equipment will operate properly.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,900

Know before you choose

The usual entry route includes an apprenticeship. Interest in the subject is not a substitute for supervised, paid training.

See the full Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers brief

Insulation Workers, Mechanical

National median pay (2025): $58,340
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Measure and cut insulation for covering surfaces, using tape measures, handsaws, knives, and scissors.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,800

Know before you choose

The usual entry route includes an apprenticeship. Interest in the subject is not a substitute for supervised, paid training.

See the full Insulation Workers, Mechanical brief

How the national numbers differ

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers has the edge on median pay

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers is at $109,910, compared with $58,340 for Insulation Workers, Mechanical.

Typical preparation differs.

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers: High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements Insulation Workers, Mechanical: High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers has the edge on projected growth

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers is at 5.7% projected growth, compared with 5.1% projected growth for Insulation Workers, Mechanical.

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers has the edge on annual openings

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers is at 1,900 annual openings, compared with 1,800 annual openings for Insulation Workers, Mechanical.

62.2/ 100

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

52.4/ 100

Insulation Workers, Mechanical

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers vs Insulation Workers, Mechanical

Dimension	Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers	Insulation Workers, Mechanical
Median pay (2025)	$109,910	$58,340
Pay percentile	87.9 percentile	44.3 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.7%	5.1%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	1,900	1,800
2025 employment	24,700	26,700
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements	High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.	Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers brief Read Insulation Workers, Mechanical brief

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers vs Insulation Workers, Mechanical: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

Insulation Workers, Mechanical

How the national numbers differ

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers has the edge on median pay

Typical preparation differs.

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers has the edge on projected growth

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers has the edge on annual openings

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers vs Insulation Workers, Mechanical

Try another comparison

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers vs Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers vs Plumber / Pipefitter

Insulation Workers, Mechanical vs Plumber / Pipefitter

Insulation Workers, Mechanical vs Glaziers