Elevators and escalators now come with computer controls, remote monitoring and software that can flag a fault before a breakdown. Installers and repairers still read blueprints, wire control panels and motors, test new equipment and fix brakes, switches and controls on site.
The short answer: current evidence does not point to AI replacing elevator installers. The ILO's 2025 index rates electrical mechanics and fitters, the closest group, as not exposed, with a score of 0.17. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6 percent growth for elevator and escalator installers and repairers from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 1,900 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed elevator installers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Mechanics and Fitters | Not exposed | 0.17 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for elevator installers, not a score for the job title itself. The index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Elevator and escalator installers and repairers | Grow 6% | About 1,900 |
The BLS points to the need to maintain, update and repair old equipment, provide access for people with disabilities, and install increasingly sophisticated equipment and controls. It adds that demand is tied to building construction, which it expects to slow over the decade. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Remote monitoring that flags faults and wear.
- Scheduling maintenance visits around equipment data.
- Searching manuals and wiring diagrams for a fault.
- Drafting service reports after a call.
What stays with elevator installers
- Installation: assembling cars, rails, motors and controls in the shaft.
- Troubleshooting: finding faults in brakes, motors, switches and controls on site.
- Testing: making sure new and repaired equipment meets specifications.
- Checking AI help: AI answers about codes, wiring or procedures can be wrong, so the manufacturer's documents win, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Controls are more sophisticated, so more of the job is diagnosing electronics and software alongside mechanical repair. Safety rules and inspections still decide when equipment goes back into service.
See also will AI replace electricians?, will AI replace HVAC technicians? and will AI replace mechanics?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for elevator installers and repairers at $109,910 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace elevator installers?
Not on current evidence. The closest ILO group is not exposed, and the BLS projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035.
Why is elevator installer employment growing?
The BLS points to maintaining and updating old equipment, accessibility for people with disabilities, and more sophisticated equipment and controls.
How many elevator installer openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 1,900 openings a year.
What elevator work stays human?
Installing equipment in the shaft, on-site troubleshooting, testing and checking AI answers against manufacturer documents.