Lift Technician Kaihangarau Waka Kawe

Lift technicians install, maintain and repair lift and escalator systems.

Lift technicians may do some or all of the following:

  • discuss requirements with clients
  • install lifts and escalators
  • modify circuitry in lifts and escalators
  • monitor performance of lifts and escalators with a computer
  • maintain lifts and escalators and fix faults
  • free people who become trapped in lifts.

Physical Requirements

Lift technicians need:

  • to be reasonably fit and healthy, as they may do heavy lifting and stair climbing
  • good hearing and eyesight (with or without corrective lenses)
  • normal colour vision, as they work with colour-coded wires and semiconductor components
  • to be comfortable working at heights and in confined spaces.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for lift technicians includes:

  • maintenance and diagnostics work
  • electrical or electronics work
  • mechanical work.

Personal Qualities

Lift technicians need to be:

  • careful, responsible and safety-conscious
  • accurate and precise in their repair and maintenance work
  • patient, adaptable and practical
  • organised, with good planning skills
  • good at problem solving
  • good with computers.

Skills

Lift technicians need to have knowledge of:

  • electronics and electrical theory
  • mechanics and engineering
  • lift mechanics
  • building warrant of fitness requirements.

Conditions

Lift technicians:

  • usually work regular business hours, but sometimes do shift work, work weekends or are on call
  • work in buildings, factories, private homes and on construction sites
  • may work in confined spaces in lift shafts, and in potentially hazardous conditions at heights and around electrical controls and operational equipment.

Lift Technicians can earn around $55K-$75K per year.

Pay for lift technicians varies depending on experience and responsibilities.

  • Lift technicians with basic electrical or mechanical qualifications usually earn between $55,000 and $75,000 a year.
  • Lift technicians in senior roles, or with advanced qualifications, can earn up to $100,000.

Source: careers.govt.nz research, 2019.

Lift technicians may move into lift consultancy, subcontracting work or other electrical-based occupations.

Years Of Training

3-4 years of training required.

There are no specific requirements to become a lift technician.

However, employers may prefer you to be qualified as an electrician, engineer or mechanic. 

ETCO oversees electrical apprenticeships and Competenz oversees engineering apprenticeships.

Lift Technician