Trade licensing overview · elevator constructor
How elevator constructor licensing works — Texas
How this trade is regulated in Texas. partial The framework below describes the national pathway most elevator constructors in Texas 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 Texas · 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 Texas 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 Texas
Texas is one of the largest and most active elevator markets in the country, with major work in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio. Houston's medical center, energy-corporate high-rise, and port-area volume; DFW's airport, corporate, and data-center pipeline; Austin's tech-corporate and high-rise residential boom; and San Antonio's hospital and military scope all run continuously. The state has no income tax.
Where they work
Houston (downtown, the Texas Medical Center, the Galleria, Energy Corridor, the port, the airports) anchors southeast Texas. DFW (downtown Dallas, Uptown, Las Colinas, downtown Fort Worth, DFW airport, the data-center corridor in Garland and Plano) anchors north Texas. Austin (downtown, the Domain, the tech-corporate corridor, the medical district) anchors central Texas. San Antonio covers downtown, the South Texas Medical Center, and JBSA scope.
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. Texas OES medians for SOC 47-4021 typically print near or modestly above the national median, with significant premiums on Houston Medical Center and downtown high-rise work. Cost of living in Texas's major metros has risen but still sits below coastal averages; Austin is the closest to national average. No state income tax preserves more of the gross. IUEC Local 31 (Houston), Local 21 (Dallas), and Local 81 (San Antonio) publish NEIEP scales.
Training pathway
The NEIEP apprenticeship through IUEC Local 31 (Houston), Local 21 (Dallas-Fort Worth area), and Local 81 (San Antonio) covers the state. Texas requires an elevator contractor license through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR); individual mechanics work under contractor sponsorship and registered with TDLR. The state runs apprenticeship-mechanic-inspector classifications.
Considerations
If you want one of the largest construction pipelines in the country across four major metros, Texas is one of the largest markets in the country. Heat is a serious working consideration. State and contractor licensing structure is somewhat different from the Northeast credential ladders; check TDLR for current rules. Apprenticeship slots are competitive in all three majors.
Texas elevator constructor snapshot
| MSA | Employed | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 430 | $104,470 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 160 | $105,950 |
| Lubbock, TX | 40 | $81,380 |
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.