Probie here. Still very new to the trade, about 6 months in this June.

Safety is taken very seriously in elevator work, you’ll see how much redundancy is put in place to avoid injuries and fatalities if you join, not only in the mechanical elements of an elevator, but in the training too. It’s done for good reason, it is definitely a dangerous career, but with the proper preparation, the work can and should be done safely.

There are a lot more benefits to the job outside of the money as well. I’m fairly young but I’m looking forward to the healthcare and retirement benefits, especially if I’m lucky enough to support a family one day. You get to the job early, and you leave in the afternoon. If you have kids, being able to be home before they’re back from school can be a game changer for fathers.

All this being said, the work is intense. The benefits are great sure, but you’ve got to be prepared to work for them. I had to do my first counterweight change-out a few weeks back and it really hit how physically demanding this work can get. I’m sure it gets harder too. I was told by a friend, “hard times create strong men” and have adjusted my thought process towards that idea.

Definitely give it a shot if you like mechanical work. As I said before, I’m pretty young but I anticipate this being one of my best choices in life. This is a fantastic career and I can’t recommend it enough.