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Lift and Escalator Technician

Installing, maintaining and repairing lifts and escalators to keep people moving

How this role makes a difference

Lifts, escalators and moving walkways come in a wide variety of types and sizes. They are used for moving both goods and people and support journeys across buildings, as well as up and down them. You’ll find them in warehouses, high rise flats and offices, hotels, airports, railway stations, and within people’s homes.

While most of us use lifts and escalators, some people really rely on them because they’re unable to walk or take the stairs. In very tall buildings broken lifts or escalators could mean the building needs to shut down. You could be the technician who services and repairs lifts and escalators, enabling reliable, safe and fast journeys and ensuring everyone can get to where they need to go.

The kind of work you’ll do

  • Installing new systems in new or existing buildings
  • Servicing and repairing existing lifts and escalators
  • Testing and inspecting products in commercial and domestic environments
  • Following technical manufacturers’ instructions
  • Advising customers on the safe operation of installed systems
  • Using tools, measuring instruments and fault-finding processes to diagnose issues
  • Interpreting and implementing wiring diagrams
Useful skills
Attention to detail
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Logical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Problem solving
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Instructing others
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the role

A fascination with engineering and how moving things operate.

The ability to look at issues from all angles and apply a logical approach to solving a problem.

The ability to focus and make accurate decisions.

An enjoyment of learning about technical things and putting what you’ve learnt into practice.

A knack for understanding complex designs and diagrams and explaining them to other people.

The natural ability to work in different environments, engaging with a wide variety of people.

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- building, making and fixing things

- science

- exploring problems and finding answers

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities

Your level of engineering knowledge will grow and grow, enabling you to specialise in different kinds of lifts, escalators and moving walkways and potentially be involved in some very high profile buildings.

With experience, you could progress to leading a team and training others, or become involved in safety and quality inspections.

How to get into this role

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:  

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

The mechanical, electric and hydraulic engineering used in lifts and escalators is continuously evolving, so you will learn how to repair and maintain older equipment and discover new, high-tech solutions. You might get involved in replacing a whole system, taking out old mechanical, hydraulic, electric and electronic parts, and leaving an up to date, modern machine in its place.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Lift and Escalator Electromechanic

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Ben Pike

Lift and Escalator Technician

Ben Pike
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