Trade licensing overview · elevator constructor
How elevator constructor licensing works — New Jersey
How this trade is regulated in New Jersey. partial The framework below describes the national pathway most elevator constructors in New Jersey follow.
Elevator constructor is a licensed trade in most U.S. states, with the dominant pathway a four- to five-year NEIEP apprenticeship sponsored jointly by the IUEC and the elevator industry under the ASME A17.1 safety code.
Elevator Constructor wages in New Jersey · BLS OES A01 2024
Wages are state-level annual figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program (A01 2024). Specific elevator constructor earnings in New Jersey vary by metro area, employer type, union membership, and years of experience. Verify the current state and metro figures on the BLS OES site (bls.gov/oes).
What this trade actually looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey elevator work is dense, regulated, and concentrated in the urban North Jersey corridor (Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken, Paterson) plus the New York City commuter market, with secondary volume in Trenton, Princeton, and the Atlantic City casino corridor. The state issues elevator mechanic licenses through the Department of Community Affairs.
Where they work
Jersey City and Hoboken hold dense Gold Coast high-rise volume facing Manhattan, with continuous new construction. Newark covers downtown commercial, hospital (University Hospital, Newark Beth Israel), and Newark Liberty Airport scope. Paterson, Edison, and the Route 1 corridor cover commercial and hospital work. Atlantic City covers casino and hotel modernization. Princeton covers university and corporate-campus work.
Pay context
BLS OOH reports a national median annual wage of $106,580 for elevator and escalator installers and repairers (SOC 47-4021, May 2023). State-level OES medians are published at the same source. New Jersey OES medians for SOC 47-4021 are among the highest in the country, driven by NYC commuter-market wage pressure and the state-license requirement. Cost of living across North Jersey is among the highest in the US, particularly in Hudson County. IUEC Local 1 (NYC area, with NJ jurisdiction) publishes the NEIEP scale that anchors most union work.
Training pathway
The NEIEP apprenticeship through IUEC Local 1 (which covers New York City and parts of New Jersey) is the primary union pathway, paired with NJ-side jurisdiction handled through Local 1 or adjacent locals depending on geography. New Jersey requires an elevator mechanic license through the Department of Community Affairs, Division of Codes and Standards, Bureau of Code Services, Elevator Safety Section.
Considerations
If you want a state-license credential ladder paired with NYC-area wages, New Jersey qualifies per N.J.A.C. 12:235 elevator regulations and IUEC Local 1 (NYC) wage schedules that extend into much of the state. If you want low cost of living, North Jersey is not it; the I-95 commuter corridor is some of the most expensive housing in the country. Apprenticeship slots are competitive.
New Jersey elevator constructor snapshot
| MSA | Employed | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,250 | $127,040 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 400 | $114,870 |
STATE LICENSE STATUS
Per the National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) 2025 resolutions, eleven states have not adopted statewide elevator-mechanic licensing: Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming (NEII, 2025-resolutions). By implication roughly 39 states require some form of elevator-mechanic license; NEII and state labor departments should be reviewed for current status. The typical model is a state-issued Elevator Mechanic license gated by a registered apprenticeship plus a mechanic examination. New York, for example, requires an Elevator Mechanic License under legislation effective January 1, 2022, administered by the NY Department of Labor, with qualifying pathways that include completion of a registered apprenticeship in 'Elevator Servicer Repairer' or passing a nationally recognized training program's mechanic examination (dol.ny.gov/elevator-licensing-information). Pennsylvania and Texas currently lack statewide mechanic licensing per NEII; some Texas work is governed at the city level. Always verify the current state page before relying on this list.
NEIEP APPRENTICESHIP
The National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) is the joint IUEC / industry apprenticeship. Per neiep.org, the program spans four to five years and requires 2,000 hours of supervised on-the-job work annually plus 100-200 hours of classroom instruction per year. After completing coursework and accumulating 8,000 working hours, apprentices become eligible to sit for the mechanic examination. First-year apprentices earn 50% of journey-level wages with scheduled annual raises. NEIEP operates under the International Union of Elevator Constructors, which reports over 27,000-30,000 members across the U.S. and Canada (iuec.org). Mechanic-in-Charge (MIC) and QEI inspector progressions are handled through separate post-journey credentialing; verify specifics with the local JATC.
QEI INSPECTOR (ASME QEI-1)
Elevator inspectors are certified separately from mechanics under ASME QEI-1, 'Standard for the Qualification of Elevator Inspectors' (asme.org). QEI-certified inspectors work for state or local jurisdictions, insurance carriers, or private firms conducting acceptance and periodic inspections. QEI certification is a credential on top of (not a substitute for) any state mechanic license, and most states that license inspectors require QEI certification from an ASME-accredited organization. Prerequisites, exam details, and accredited certifying organizations should be verified directly with ASME.
ASME A17.1 CODE
ASME A17.1 / CSA B44, 'Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators,' is the baseline consensus code covering design, construction, installation, operation, inspection, testing, maintenance, alteration, and repair of elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, and moving walks (asme.org). It is adopted, in whole or with amendments, by most U.S. states and many municipalities as the enforceable standard. Jurisdictions often adopt a specific edition year and overlay state-level amendments, so the effective code is the one cited in the local elevator safety law, not always the latest ASME edition. Confirm edition and amendments with the state elevator bureau.
TYPICAL PATHWAY
The dominant U.S. pathway is: apply to a local IUEC / NEIEP apprenticeship, pass the aptitude screening, complete the four- to five-year apprenticeship (2,000 OJT hours/year plus classroom), pass the mechanic exam, and then apply for the state elevator-mechanic license where one is required (iuec.org, neiep.org). Union density in commercial elevator construction is high; the IUEC reports over 30,000 members and more than 600 affiliated companies (iuec.org). Non-union installation exists, particularly on residential and smaller jobs, and some non-NEIEP registered apprenticeships appear in the DOL apprenticeship system (apprenticeship.gov). Continuing education is generally required to maintain state licenses; hours and cycle vary by state.