Elevator Technicians Ranked As the Single-most Financially Viable Blue-collar job in the United States. Here's a Career Pathway You Can Explore
Resume Genius just ranked elevator and escalator technicians as the single most financially viable blue-collar job in the United States. Median annual salary: $106,580, translating to KES 13.8 million a year, or KES 1.15 million every month. The top 10% earn $149,250, which is KES 19.3 million annually. The job requires a high school diploma. Not a degree or professional certification that costs a decade of your life. Just a high school diploma and a willingness to work with your hands in a technically demanding trade.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% job growth for elevator technicians between 2024 and 2034, faster than average for all occupations, with approximately 2,000 new openings every year. Keep in mind that global urbanisation means more high-rises, more elevators, and more demand for the people who keep them running. Nairobi’s own skyline is growing.
The Training Pathways
In the United States, the path to becoming a licensed elevator technician does not run through university. It runs through a 4–5 year paid apprenticeship administered by the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP), under the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC). You earn a salary from your first day. No student loans. No tuition bills.
Entry requirements are minimal: be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, pass the Elevator Industry Aptitude Test (EIAT) — covering basic arithmetic, reading comprehension, and mechanical reasoning — and complete an interview. The application fee is $25. That is roughly KES 3,250.
The Kenyan Pathway: A Realistic Step-by-Step Guide
Kenya is not currently on the H-2B temporary worker visa eligible country list, which means the straight line from Nairobi to a US apprenticeship does not yet exist. But a realistic, well-documented path does exist. It takes patience. Here it is, in full.
Phase 1 — Build Your Foundation in Kenya (2–3 years)
Your first move is to get a technical qualification and attach yourself to a Kenyan elevator company. The most respected foundational qualification for this trade is a Diploma in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from a KUCCPS-accredited TVET institution. Government-sponsored students pay approximately KES 67,189 per year. Entry requirement: C-minus in KCSE. Duration: 3 years.
From there, complement it with a short course in lift and elevator maintenance. The Africa School of Project Management (ASPM) in Nairobi runs a practical course specifically covering lift operation, inspection, functional testing, and maintenance compliance.
Phase 2 — Get Hired by a Company With International Connections
Did you know that the multinational elevator companies operating in Kenya, including KONE, Otis, Schindler, ThyssenKrupp, are the same companies with US operations? KONE Kenya’s office is at Trance Towers, Melili and Tsavo Road Junction, Nairobi. Get an entry-level job at one of these places, and spend 2–3 years building documented experience. Along the way, get ERC certified, Kenya’s industry standard, and keep records of every installation, maintenance job, and inspection you work on.
Phase 3 — The EB-3 Green Card Process
The EB-3 is a US employment-based green card. Under the skilled worker subcategory, elevator technician work qualifies cleanly: the job requires at least 2 years of training or experience. Here is the step-by-step once a US employer agrees to sponsor you:
1. PERM Labor Certification — ~16 months
Your US employer applies to the Department of Labor to prove no qualified American worker is available for your role. They advertise the job, interview candidates, and document the process. This is entirely the employer’s burden, not yours.
2. Form I-140 Petition — 8–14 months
The employer files Form I-140 with USCIS, formally sponsoring you for permanent residency. Filing fee: $715, paid by the employer. With premium processing ($2,805 extra), USCIS responds within 15 calendar days.
3. Wait for Your Visa Number — 6–12 months (for Kenyans)
Because Kenya is not a high-demand country like India or China, your wait for a visa number is comparatively short. The State Department’s monthly Visa Bulletin tracks this.
4. Consular Processing at US Embassy Nairobi — 6–12 months
You attend an interview at the US Embassy, submit Form DS-260, complete medical examinations, and await visa issuance. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can apply alongside you.
5. Green Card Issued — Lawful Permanent Resident
You land in the US with the right to live and work permanently. Five more years of residence makes you eligible for citizenship. The whole family comes with you.
This is a long game. But at the end of it, you are a permanent US resident in a unionised, in-demand trade, earning more per month than most Kenyan university graduates earn in a year, with your family eligible to join you and a path to citizenship in five more years.
Where to Train in Kenya Right Now
There is no single dedicated elevator technician school in Kenya, the way the US has NEIEP. The trade here is still largely learned on the job. But there are credible, accessible pathways, divided between direct lift-specific training and the foundational qualifications that make you hireable.
For foundational qualifications, consider enrolling for a Diploma in Electrical & Electronics Engineering at a KUCCPS-funded TVET institution (~KES 67,189/year, 3 years).
After this, take a practical short course in Lift & Elevator Maintenance, Repair, Inspection & Testing at the Africa School of Project Management (ASPM). The course covers lift components, safety circuits, governor tests, periodic maintenance, and basic electrical installation. Fortunately, it is open to people with little or no prior elevator experience. Recognised across East Africa.
The third step is to target an attachment or junior technician role at ECL Africa, EAECL, Starcraft, KONE Kenya, or Otis Kenya, hopefully for at least two years. In the meantime, document your experience and become EPRA-certified, keeping records of every job and assignment. Remember to also grab the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) certification, which goes for about Ksh 33,000 at the Technical University of Kenya.
Now that you have everything you need, approach your employer, hopefully a multinational company like KONE, Otis, or Schindler, for international placement or EB-3 sponsorship.
While the work is physically demanding, the compensation is extraordinary. At the end of the day, it’s about patience, focus, and an unyielding determination to succeed in life.