HVAC technician vs electrician: who earns more
Pay, range, growth and a state-by-state winner map, from BLS May 2025 data.
HVAC technician vs electrician: the numbers
| HVAC technician | Electrician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $29.33 | $30.38 |
| Median annual pay | $61,010 | $63,190 |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $19.25 | $20.50 |
| 90th percentile (top) | $45.78 | $52.17 |
| Jobs nationwide | 409,670 | 757,220 |
| Projected growth 2025-35 | +10.9% | +9.2% |
| Openings per year | 40,600 | 72,700 |
| 10-year real wage change | -0.4% | -10.3% |
| States where this trade pays more | 5 | 45 |
Which pays more where you live
| State | HVAC technician $/hr | Electrician $/hr | Pays more |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $35.51 | $30.21 | HVAC technician |
| North Dakota | $35.81 | $31.59 | HVAC technician |
| District of Columbia | $40.57 | $37.97 | HVAC technician |
| Colorado | $31.35 | $29.92 | HVAC technician |
| North Carolina | $27.53 | $27.31 | HVAC technician |
| South Dakota | $29.51 | $29.51 | Tie |
| Iowa | $29.17 | $29.26 | Electrician |
| Florida | $27.24 | $27.52 | Electrician |
| Texas | $27.77 | $28.16 | Electrician |
| Connecticut | $36.83 | $37.28 | Electrician |
| Arkansas | $23.13 | $23.59 | Electrician |
| Nebraska | $28.77 | $29.24 | Electrician |
| Kentucky | $28.18 | $28.71 | Electrician |
| Vermont | $29.88 | $30.49 | Electrician |
| Delaware | $29.96 | $30.63 | Electrician |
| Arizona | $28.56 | $29.36 | Electrician |
| Minnesota | $36.71 | $37.58 | Electrician |
| Georgia | $27.11 | $28.04 | Electrician |
| South Carolina | $27.22 | $28.24 | Electrician |
| Massachusetts | $37.16 | $38.18 | Electrician |
| Ohio | $30.06 | $31.11 | Electrician |
| New Jersey | $35.79 | $37.14 | Electrician |
| Louisiana | $28.20 | $29.59 | Electrician |
| Virginia | $28.72 | $30.24 | Electrician |
| Utah | $28.24 | $29.81 | Electrician |
| Maryland | $33.67 | $35.33 | Electrician |
| Oklahoma | $27.67 | $29.33 | Electrician |
| California | $34.88 | $36.62 | Electrician |
| New York | $35.78 | $37.86 | Electrician |
| Pennsylvania | $30.00 | $32.50 | Electrician |
| Kansas | $29.07 | $31.66 | Electrician |
| Missouri | $28.82 | $31.45 | Electrician |
| Tennessee | $26.68 | $29.37 | Electrician |
| Rhode Island | $32.39 | $35.62 | Electrician |
| Idaho | $27.04 | $30.29 | Electrician |
| Alabama | $23.26 | $26.78 | Electrician |
| Indiana | $29.05 | $32.93 | Electrician |
| New Mexico | $24.17 | $28.07 | Electrician |
| Alaska | $37.23 | $43.00 | Electrician |
| Mississippi | $23.41 | $29.26 | Electrician |
| Maine | $30.37 | $36.24 | Electrician |
| Nevada | $29.09 | $35.37 | Electrician |
| Wisconsin | $29.67 | $36.80 | Electrician |
| Michigan | $29.26 | $36.67 | Electrician |
| Montana | $29.26 | $36.90 | Electrician |
| West Virginia | $23.49 | $31.16 | Electrician |
| Washington | $36.38 | $45.78 | Electrician |
| Wyoming | $26.30 | $36.59 | Electrician |
| Illinois | $37.21 | $47.87 | Electrician |
| Hawaii | $31.47 | $46.38 | Electrician |
| Oregon | $30.26 | $48.71 | Electrician |
Questions this page answers
Who makes more, hvac technicians or electricians?
Nationally, electricians: a median of $30.38 an hour against $29.33 for hvac and refrigeration technicians, a gap of $1.05 an hour in May 2025. HVAC and refrigeration technicians earn more in 5 states, electricians in 45.
Which has the better outlook, hvac technician or electrician?
BLS projects +10.9% growth for hvac and refrigeration technicians and +9.2% for electricians over 2025-35, with 40,600 and 72,700 openings a year respectively.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections; CPI-U.