Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers vs Plumber / Pipefitter: $110K vs $64K Median Pay

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers vs Plumber / Pipefitter: 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 Plumber / Pipefitter if you would rather assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. 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 Plumber / Pipefitter. 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

Plumber / Pipefitter

National median pay (2025): $63,800
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: Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 42,000

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 Plumber / Pipefitter brief

How the national numbers differ

Plumber / Pipefitter has the edge on annual openings

Plumber / Pipefitter is at 42,000 annual openings, compared with 1,900 annual openings for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers.

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

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers is at $109,910, compared with $63,800 for Plumber / Pipefitter.

Plumber / Pipefitter has the edge on projected growth

Plumber / Pipefitter is at 6.8% projected growth, compared with 5.7% projected growth for Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers.

62.2/ 100

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

70.4/ 100

Plumber / Pipefitter

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 Plumber / Pipefitter

Dimension	Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers	Plumber / Pipefitter
Median pay (2025)	$109,910	$63,800
Pay percentile	87.9 percentile	54.7 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	5.7%	6.8%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	1,900	42,000
2025 employment	24,700	510,600
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 3
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 Plumber / Pipefitter brief

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers vs Plumber / Pipefitter: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

Plumber / Pipefitter

How the national numbers differ

Plumber / Pipefitter has the edge on annual openings

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

Plumber / Pipefitter has the edge on projected growth

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers vs Plumber / Pipefitter

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