HVAC technician salary in District of Columbia
Median $40.57 an hour for 400 hvac and refrigeration technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
HVAC technician pay in District of Columbia: the full range
District of Columbia ranks 1st of 51 states for median hvac technician pay, and 4th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $36.92). 400 hvac and refrigeration technicians work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $24.01 – $37.37 | $49,940 – $77,730 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $37.37 – $49.01 | $77,730 – $101,940 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $49.01 – $52.04 | $101,940 – $108,240 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
HVAC technician pay by metro in District of Columbia
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | $22.56 | $34.58 | $50.57 | 8,730 | 15% below |
HVAC technician wages in District of Columbia over time
Table
| Year | District of Columbia $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $18.65 | $36.04 | $14.50 | 660 |
| 2000 | $18.56 | $34.70 | $15.76 | 450 |
| 2001 | $19.79 | $35.98 | $16.35 | 430 |
| 2002 | $22.38 | $40.05 | $16.78 | 400 |
| 2003 | $22.57 | $39.49 | $16.90 | — |
| 2004 | $23.24 | $39.61 | $17.43 | 330 |
| 2005 | $24.01 | $39.58 | $17.81 | 370 |
| 2006 | $24.65 | $39.36 | $18.11 | 410 |
| 2007 | $25.27 | $39.24 | $18.44 | 410 |
| 2008 | $26.83 | $40.12 | $19.08 | 380 |
| 2009 | $27.70 | $41.57 | $19.76 | 340 |
| 2010 | $28.37 | $41.89 | $20.45 | 280 |
| 2011 | $29.51 | $42.24 | $20.86 | 230 |
| 2012 | $28.63 | $40.15 | $20.98 | 310 |
| 2013 | $28.84 | $39.86 | $21.10 | 360 |
| 2014 | $29.97 | $40.76 | $21.46 | 430 |
| 2015 | $31.79 | $43.18 | $21.69 | 300 |
| 2016 | $32.33 | $43.37 | $22.07 | 330 |
| 2017 | $32.43 | $42.59 | $22.64 | 350 |
| 2018 | $33.09 | $42.42 | $22.89 | 430 |
| 2019 | $34.02 | $42.84 | $23.43 | 450 |
| 2020 | $34.80 | $43.29 | $24.32 | 290 |
| 2021 | $36.08 | $42.87 | $23.38 | 460 |
| 2022 | $36.46 | $40.11 | $24.71 | 360 |
| 2023 | $37.86 | $40.00 | $27.55 | 340 |
| 2024 | $40.09 | $41.14 | $28.75 | 370 |
| 2025 | $40.57 | $40.57 | $29.33 | 400 |
In today's dollars, the median hvac technician wage in District of Columbia changed by -6.0% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in District of Columbia?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 1,794 | $104,776 | $2,015 |
Keep comparing
HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in District of Columbia
Questions this page answers
How much do hvac technicians make in District of Columbia?
The median hvac technician in District of Columbia earned $40.57 an hour ($84,390 a year) in May 2025, 38% above the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $37.37–$49.01; the top 10% earn more than $52.04.
Where does District of Columbia rank for hvac technician pay?
District of Columbia ranks 1st of 51 states for hvac technician pay, with a median of $40.57 an hour, and 4th after adjusting for District of Columbia's cost of living (BEA price parity 109.9, US = 100).
What is the union hvac technician rate in District of Columbia?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a hvac technician classification for most District of Columbia counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many hvac technicians work in District of Columbia?
BLS counted 400 hvac and refrigeration technicians in District of Columbia in May 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.21; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, District of Columbia 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.