HVAC technician salary: what hvac technicians actually make
BLS employer-survey wages for 409,670 hvac and refrigeration technicians nationwide, plus the union scale contractors must pay on federal jobs.
What hvac and refrigeration technicians earn: the full range
The middle half of hvac and refrigeration technicians earn between $23.25 and $37.05 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $45.78 ($95,210 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $19.25.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $19.25 – $23.25 | $40,050 – $48,360 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.25 – $37.05 | $48,360 – $77,060 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $37.05 – $45.78 | $77,060 – $95,210 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification. Union journeyman scale by county is in the prevailing-wage section below.
HVAC technician pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $40.57 | 38% above |
| Alaska | $37.23 | 27% above |
| Illinois | $37.21 | 27% above |
| Massachusetts | $37.16 | 27% above |
| Connecticut | $36.83 | 26% above |
| Minnesota | $36.71 | 25% above |
| Washington | $36.38 | 24% above |
| North Dakota | $35.81 | 22% above |
| New Jersey | $35.79 | 22% above |
| New York | $35.78 | 22% above |
| New Hampshire | $35.51 | 21% above |
| California | $34.88 | 19% above |
| Maryland | $33.67 | 15% above |
| Rhode Island | $32.39 | 10% above |
| Hawaii | $31.47 | 7% above |
| Colorado | $31.35 | 7% above |
| Maine | $30.37 | 4% above |
| Oregon | $30.26 | 3% above |
| Ohio | $30.06 | 2% above |
| Pennsylvania | $30.00 | 2% above |
| Delaware | $29.96 | 2% above |
| Vermont | $29.88 | 2% above |
| Wisconsin | $29.67 | 1% above |
| South Dakota | $29.51 | 1% above |
| Michigan | $29.26 | about the same as |
| Montana | $29.26 | about the same as |
| Iowa | $29.17 | 1% below |
| Nevada | $29.09 | 1% below |
| Kansas | $29.07 | 1% below |
| Indiana | $29.05 | 1% below |
| Missouri | $28.82 | 2% below |
| Nebraska | $28.77 | 2% below |
| Virginia | $28.72 | 2% below |
| Arizona | $28.56 | 3% below |
| Utah | $28.24 | 4% below |
| Louisiana | $28.20 | 4% below |
| Kentucky | $28.18 | 4% below |
| Texas | $27.77 | 5% below |
| Oklahoma | $27.67 | 6% below |
| North Carolina | $27.53 | 6% below |
| Florida | $27.24 | 7% below |
| South Carolina | $27.22 | 7% below |
| Georgia | $27.11 | 8% below |
| Idaho | $27.04 | 8% below |
| Tennessee | $26.68 | 9% below |
| Wyoming | $26.30 | 10% below |
| New Mexico | $24.17 | 18% below |
| West Virginia | $23.49 | 20% below |
| Mississippi | $23.41 | 20% below |
| Alabama | $23.26 | 21% below |
| Arkansas | $23.13 | 21% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $40.57 | $36.92 | #4 | 400 |
| Alaska | $37.23 | $36.36 | #5 | 610 |
| Illinois | $37.21 | $37.21 | #3 | 9,740 |
| Massachusetts | $37.16 | $35.12 | #7 | 8,200 |
| Connecticut | $36.83 | $35.55 | #6 | 3,800 |
| Minnesota | $36.71 | $37.23 | #2 | 4,200 |
| Washington | $36.38 | $34.00 | #9 | 7,370 |
| North Dakota | $35.81 | $40.24 | #1 | 970 |
| New Jersey | $35.79 | $32.90 | #13 | 10,330 |
| New York | $35.78 | $33.16 | #12 | 24,430 |
| New Hampshire | $35.51 | $34.08 | #8 | 2,560 |
| California | $34.88 | $31.51 | #23 | 35,130 |
| Maryland | $33.67 | $32.07 | #16 | 8,560 |
| Rhode Island | $32.39 | $31.66 | #20 | 1,450 |
| Hawaii | $31.47 | $28.61 | #38 | 1,300 |
| Colorado | $31.35 | $30.41 | #31 | 8,940 |
| Maine | $30.37 | $31.31 | #24 | 2,250 |
| Oregon | $30.26 | $29.26 | #33 | 3,980 |
| Ohio | $30.06 | $32.39 | #14 | 14,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $30.00 | $30.74 | #28 | 15,880 |
| Delaware | $29.96 | $30.02 | #32 | 1,730 |
| Vermont | $29.88 | $30.49 | #29 | 970 |
| Wisconsin | $29.67 | $31.53 | #21 | 6,630 |
| South Dakota | $29.51 | $33.31 | #10 | 1,610 |
| Michigan | $29.26 | $30.42 | #30 | 12,590 |
| Montana | $29.26 | $30.93 | #27 | 1,230 |
| Iowa | $29.17 | $33.22 | #11 | 3,840 |
| Nevada | $29.09 | $29.09 | #35 | 4,170 |
| Kansas | $29.07 | $32.26 | #15 | 3,770 |
| Indiana | $29.05 | $31.14 | #26 | 8,530 |
| Missouri | $28.82 | $31.74 | #19 | 7,220 |
| Nebraska | $28.77 | $31.93 | #18 | 3,020 |
| Virginia | $28.72 | $28.41 | #41 | 14,690 |
| Arizona | $28.56 | $28.36 | #43 | 10,860 |
| Utah | $28.24 | $28.55 | #40 | 5,580 |
| Louisiana | $28.20 | $31.97 | #17 | 5,380 |
| Kentucky | $28.18 | $31.24 | #25 | 5,100 |
| Texas | $27.77 | $28.60 | #39 | 34,730 |
| Oklahoma | $27.67 | $31.51 | #22 | 5,650 |
| North Carolina | $27.53 | $29.19 | #34 | 15,230 |
| Florida | $27.24 | $26.34 | #48 | 39,160 |
| South Carolina | $27.22 | $29.05 | #36 | 6,920 |
| Georgia | $27.11 | $28.15 | #45 | 12,290 |
| Idaho | $27.04 | $28.31 | #44 | 4,550 |
| Tennessee | $26.68 | $29.03 | #37 | 9,740 |
| Wyoming | $26.30 | $28.37 | #42 | 690 |
| New Mexico | $24.17 | $26.21 | #50 | 1,950 |
| West Virginia | $23.49 | $26.25 | #49 | 1,690 |
| Mississippi | $23.41 | $26.91 | #46 | 2,700 |
| Alabama | $23.26 | $26.19 | #51 | 8,260 |
| Arkansas | $23.13 | $26.62 | #47 | 4,960 |
HVAC technician wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.50 | $28.02 | 187,850 |
| 2000 | $15.76 | $29.46 | 197,930 |
| 2001 | $16.35 | $29.72 | 201,850 |
| 2002 | $16.78 | $30.03 | 206,870 |
| 2003 | $16.90 | $29.57 | 212,200 |
| 2004 | $17.43 | $29.71 | 225,630 |
| 2005 | $17.81 | $29.36 | 241,380 |
| 2006 | $18.11 | $28.92 | 250,970 |
| 2007 | $18.44 | $28.63 | 262,570 |
| 2008 | $19.08 | $28.53 | 261,610 |
| 2009 | $19.76 | $29.65 | 244,410 |
| 2010 | $20.45 | $30.19 | 224,320 |
| 2011 | $20.86 | $29.86 | 231,160 |
| 2012 | $20.98 | $29.42 | 240,480 |
| 2013 | $21.10 | $29.16 | 251,700 |
| 2014 | $21.46 | $29.18 | 261,390 |
| 2015 | $21.69 | $29.46 | 274,680 |
| 2016 | $22.07 | $29.60 | 294,730 |
| 2017 | $22.64 | $29.74 | 307,060 |
| 2018 | $22.89 | $29.35 | 324,310 |
| 2019 | $23.43 | $29.50 | 342,040 |
| 2020 | $24.32 | $30.25 | 344,020 |
| 2021 | $23.38 | $27.78 | 356,960 |
| 2022 | $24.71 | $27.18 | 374,770 |
| 2023 | $27.55 | $29.11 | 397,450 |
| 2024 | $28.75 | $29.51 | 396,870 |
| 2025 | $29.33 | $29.33 | 409,670 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median hvac technician wage changed by -0.4% over the last ten years.
Highest-paying metros for hvac technicians
| Metro | Median $/hr | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $39.45 | $65.70 | 1,740 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $38.51 | $62.21 | 3,940 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38.23 | $58.94 | 560 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $37.75 | $49.54 | 6,050 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $37.73 | $62.20 | 3,980 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $37.50 | $52.30 | 21,820 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $37.48 | $56.70 | 7,210 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $37.25 | $48.25 | 1,050 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $37.25 | $48.39 | 2,420 |
| New Haven, CT | $36.96 | $49.01 | 550 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $36.63 | $48.29 | 1,320 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $36.38 | $52.51 | 520 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $36.00 | $54.80 | 3,210 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $35.49 | $52.41 | 10,720 |
| Worcester, MA | $35.48 | $46.54 | 800 |
Union scale and prevailing wage for hvac technicians
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for hvac technicians in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 100% | $86.43 | — | 1/17 |
| Ohio | 43% | $83.56 | $42.03 | 47/88 |
| New York | 80% | $79.37 | $55.14 | 5/62 |
| Oregon | 100% | $78.16 | — | 1/36 |
| Pennsylvania | 71% | $77.32 | $42.66 | 31/67 |
| Iowa | 100% | $68.45 | — | 38/99 |
| Kansas | 96% | $65.84 | $62.17 | 92/105 |
| Idaho | 11% | $62.79 | $30.26 | 9/44 |
| Michigan | 90% | $60.50 | $19.50 | 60/83 |
| Georgia | 47% | $58.19 | $20.94 | 62/159 |
| Tennessee | 29% | $55.10 | $18.79 | 31/95 |
| Texas | 32% | $53.80 | $14.98 | 71/254 |
| Oklahoma | 65% | $52.68 | $28.10 | 17/77 |
| Florida | 33% | $49.05 | $19.49 | 6/67 |
| Alabama | 0% | — | $22.62 | 17/67 |
| Arkansas | 0% | — | $22.30 | 19/75 |
| Colorado | 0% | — | $33.47 | 6/64 |
| Kentucky | 0% | — | $46.57 | 21/120 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $73.71 | 24/24 |
| North Carolina | 0% | — | $18.01 | 54/100 |
| North Dakota | 0% | — | $37.08 | 35/53 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $69.64 | 17/17 |
| South Carolina | 0% | — | $21.64 | 20/46 |
| Virginia | 0% | — | $23.53 | 13/133 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects hvac and refrigeration technicians employment to change by +10.9% over 2025-35, with about 40,600 openings a year from growth and people leaving the occupation. Typical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Compare hvac technician pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
How much do hvac technicians make?
The median hvac technician earned $29.33 an hour, or $61,010 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 409,670 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $23.25 and $37.05 an hour.
How much do hvac technicians make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $19.25 at the 10th percentile to $45.78 at the 90th, with a median of $29.33. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice hvac technician make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $19.25 to $23.25 an hour ($40,050 to $48,360 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays hvac technicians the most?
District of Columbia had the highest median at $40.57 an hour in May 2025, followed by Alaska ($37.23) and Illinois ($37.21). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are hvac technician wages going up?
In today's dollars the median hvac technician wage changed by -0.4% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $21.69 to $29.33.
Is hvac technician a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $61,010 a year, a 90th percentile of $95,210, projected growth of +10.9% and about 40,600 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-9021 (HVAC and refrigeration technicians). Wages exclude overtime and benefits.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, latest year.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national. Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.