HVAC technician salary in Delaware
Median $29.96 an hour for 1,730 hvac and refrigeration technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
HVAC technician pay in Delaware: the full range
Delaware ranks 21st of 51 states for median hvac technician pay, and 32nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.02). 1,730 hvac and refrigeration technicians work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $21.64 – $25.51 | $45,000 – $53,060 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $25.51 – $36.89 | $53,060 – $76,740 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $36.89 – $46.93 | $76,740 – $97,600 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
HVAC technician pay by metro in Delaware
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $21.88 | $31.05 | $48.46 | 8,610 | 4% above |
| Dover | $20.43 | $28.76 | $36.46 | 180 | 4% below |
HVAC technician wages in Delaware over time
Table
| Year | Delaware $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.58 | $28.17 | $14.50 | 960 |
| 2000 | $14.45 | $27.02 | $15.76 | 1,150 |
| 2001 | $15.34 | $27.89 | $16.35 | 1,010 |
| 2002 | $16.19 | $28.97 | $16.78 | 1,100 |
| 2003 | $16.05 | $28.08 | $16.90 | 990 |
| 2004 | $16.58 | $28.26 | $17.43 | 860 |
| 2005 | $17.67 | $29.13 | $17.81 | 1,140 |
| 2006 | $18.67 | $29.81 | $18.11 | 1,160 |
| 2007 | $18.84 | $29.25 | $18.44 | 1,360 |
| 2008 | $19.49 | $29.14 | $19.08 | 1,410 |
| 2009 | $20.23 | $30.36 | $19.76 | 1,250 |
| 2010 | $21.71 | $32.05 | $20.45 | 980 |
| 2011 | $22.20 | $31.77 | $20.86 | 1,040 |
| 2012 | $23.77 | $33.33 | $20.98 | 1,210 |
| 2013 | $23.36 | $32.28 | $21.10 | 1,520 |
| 2014 | $24.54 | $33.37 | $21.46 | 1,890 |
| 2015 | $24.00 | $32.60 | $21.69 | 1,820 |
| 2016 | $25.05 | $33.60 | $22.07 | 1,860 |
| 2017 | $24.44 | $32.10 | $22.64 | 1,530 |
| 2018 | $24.33 | $31.19 | $22.89 | 1,620 |
| 2019 | $24.08 | $30.32 | $23.43 | 1,780 |
| 2020 | $24.84 | $30.90 | $24.32 | 1,490 |
| 2021 | $25.96 | $30.84 | $23.38 | 1,280 |
| 2022 | $25.60 | $28.16 | $24.71 | 1,430 |
| 2023 | $29.11 | $30.76 | $27.55 | 1,990 |
| 2024 | $28.82 | $29.58 | $28.75 | 1,790 |
| 2025 | $29.96 | $29.96 | $29.33 | 1,730 |
In today's dollars, the median hvac technician wage in Delaware changed by -8.1% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Delaware?
Contractor pay by county
Average pay at plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just hvac technicians), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
| County | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle County | 3,407 | $87,203 | $1,677 |
| Sussex County | 1,397 | $67,452 | $1,297 |
Keep comparing
HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Delaware
Questions this page answers
How much do hvac technicians make in Delaware?
The median hvac technician in Delaware earned $29.96 an hour ($62,320 a year) in May 2025, 2% above the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $25.51–$36.89; the top 10% earn more than $46.93.
Where does Delaware rank for hvac technician pay?
Delaware ranks 21st of 51 states for hvac technician pay, with a median of $29.96 an hour, and 32nd after adjusting for Delaware's cost of living (BEA price parity 99.8, US = 100).
What is the union hvac technician rate in Delaware?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a hvac technician classification for most Delaware counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many hvac technicians work in Delaware?
BLS counted 1,730 hvac and refrigeration technicians in Delaware in May 2025, 3.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.35; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Delaware and metro areas, SOC 49-9021.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.