Skilled Wages

Plumber vs hvac technician: who earns more

Pay, range, growth and a state-by-state winner map, from BLS May 2025 data.

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025

Plumber vs hvac technician: the numbers

Wage percentiles, PlumberMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrPlumber: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13Plumber$30.67$21.22$52.13HVAC technician: 10th $19.25 · 25th $23.25 · median $29.33 · 75th $37.05 · 90th $45.78HVAC technician$29.33
Hourly wage percentiles, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters vs hvac and refrigeration technicians, United States, May 2025.
PlumberHVAC technician
Median hourly wage$30.67$29.33
Median annual pay$63,800$61,010
10th percentile (entry)$21.22$19.25
90th percentile (top)$52.13$45.78
Jobs nationwide465,840409,670
Projected growth 2025-35+6.8%+10.9%
Openings per year42,00040,600
10-year real wage change-7.2%-0.4%
States where this trade pays more429

Which pays more where you live

Plumber minus hvac technician, median $/hrAK: +$7.92AKAL: +$4.95ALAR: +$0.26ARAZ: +$1.28AZCA: +$0.13CACO: −$0.95COCT: +$0.33DC: +$8.00DE: +$1.15FL: −$1.80FLGA: +$0.39GAHI: +$6.06HIIA: +$1.55IAID: −$1.86IDIL: +$10.84ILIN: +$7.64INKS: +$2.29KSKY: +$2.66KYLA: +$2.42LAMA: +$7.98MD: −$2.23ME: +$0.40MEMI: +$9.30MIMN: +$8.68MNMO: +$3.29MOMS: +$3.26MSMT: +$9.18MTNC: −$0.09NCND: −$5.25NDNE: +$0.54NENH: −$3.39NJ: +$1.82NM: +$5.37NMNV: +$0.53NVNY: +$1.48NYOH: +$0.39OHOK: +$0.20OKOR: +$16.40ORPA: +$2.73PARI: +$4.38SC: −$1.29SCSD: −$4.69SDTN: +$1.49TNTX: +$1.00TXUT: +$1.52UTVA: +$0.35VAVT: +$0.01WA: +$2.58WAWI: +$9.37WIWV: +$3.90WVWY: +$3.71WYSmall statesCT +$0.33DC +$8.00DE +$1.15MA +$7.98MD −$2.23NH −$3.39NJ +$1.82RI +$4.38VT +$0.01Plumber minus hvac technician, median $/hr−$8.20−$1.31+$1.31+$8.20
Difference in median hourly wage by state: blue where plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn more, orange where hvac and refrigeration technicians earn more.
StatePlumber $/hrHVAC technician $/hrPays more
Oregon$46.66$30.26Plumber
Illinois$48.05$37.21Plumber
Wisconsin$39.04$29.67Plumber
Michigan$38.56$29.26Plumber
Montana$38.44$29.26Plumber
Minnesota$45.39$36.71Plumber
District of Columbia$48.57$40.57Plumber
Massachusetts$45.14$37.16Plumber
Alaska$45.15$37.23Plumber
Indiana$36.69$29.05Plumber
Hawaii$37.53$31.47Plumber
New Mexico$29.54$24.17Plumber
Alabama$28.21$23.26Plumber
Rhode Island$36.77$32.39Plumber
West Virginia$27.39$23.49Plumber

Questions this page answers

Who makes more, plumbers or hvac technicians?

Nationally, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters: a median of $30.67 an hour against $29.33 for hvac and refrigeration technicians, a gap of $1.34 an hour in May 2025. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn more in 42 states, hvac and refrigeration technicians in 9.

Which has the better outlook, plumber or hvac technician?

BLS projects +6.8% growth for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters and +10.9% for hvac and refrigeration technicians over 2025-35, with 42,000 and 40,600 openings a year respectively.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections; CPI-U.