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.

Subject Recommendations

No specific secondary education is required for this job, but NCEA Level 2 English, maths, physics and technology are useful.

For Year 11 to 13 learners, trades academies and the STAR and Gateway programmes are good ways to gain relevant experience and skills.

These programmes may help you gain an apprenticeship, but do not reduce the amount of time it takes to complete it.

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