Skilled Wages

HVAC technician salary in Kentucky

Median $28.18 an hour for 5,100 HVAC technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$28.18/hrMedian hourly wageKentucky, May data
$58,620/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.65 – $38.4710th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,100Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

HVAC technician pay in Kentucky: the full range

Wage percentiles, KentuckyMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrKentucky: 10th $18.65 · 25th $22.97 · median $28.18 · 75th $32.47 · 90th $38.47Kentucky$28.18$18.65$38.47United States: 10th $19.25 · 25th $23.25 · median $29.33 · 75th $37.05 · 90th $45.78United States$29.33
Hourly wage percentiles for HVAC technicians: Kentucky vs United States, May 2025.

Kentucky ranks 37th of 51 states for median HVAC technician pay, and 25th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.24). 5,100 HVAC technicians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.65 – $22.97$38,790 – $47,780roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.97 – $32.47$47,780 – $67,540the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$32.47 – $38.47$67,540 – $80,020the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



HVAC technician pay by metro in Kentucky

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrCincinnati: $29.92Cincinnati$29.92Lexington: $28.98Lexington$28.98Owensboro: $28.88Owensboro$28.88Louisville: $28.33Louisville$28.33Paducah: $27.22Paducah$27.22Elizabethtown: $26.80Elizabethtown$26.80Bowling Green: $26.56Bowling Green$26.56Clarksville: $24.27Clarksville$24.27Huntington: $23.49Huntington$23.49
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians by metro area in Kentucky, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Cincinnati$19.11$29.92$31.36$46.352,9506% above
Lexington$18.01$28.98$31.19$39.037403% above
Owensboro$22.27$28.88$32.60$38.961602% above
Louisville$22.05$28.33$30.43$37.861,8901% above
Paducah$21.62$27.22$31.61$37.56903% below
Elizabethtown$16.44$26.80$29.58$37.721605% below
Bowling Green$18.87$26.56$29.45$35.702306% below
Clarksville$18.52$24.27$26.70$34.5133014% below
Huntington$17.20$23.49$26.57$35.2936017% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

HVAC technician wages in Kentucky over time

Kentucky, 1999-2025KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$29.33United States$28.18Kentucky
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians, Kentucky vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearKentucky $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.17$23.52$14.502,420
2000$12.40$23.18$15.762,310
2001$12.93$23.50$16.352,400
2002$14.21$25.43$16.782,250
2003$14.68$25.69$16.902,430
2004$15.35$26.16$17.433,070
2005$15.14$24.96$17.813,090
2006$15.43$24.64$18.113,160
2007$15.50$24.07$18.443,350
2008$15.69$23.46$19.083,440
2009$16.05$24.09$19.763,220
2010$16.42$24.24$20.453,100
2011$17.15$24.55$20.863,480
2012$17.88$25.07$20.983,470
2013$18.01$24.89$21.103,360
2014$18.34$24.94$21.463,390
2015$18.33$24.90$21.693,640
2016$19.11$25.63$22.073,800
2017$19.96$26.22$22.643,780
2018$19.39$24.86$22.893,990
2019$19.82$24.96$23.434,290
2020$20.77$25.84$24.324,870
2021$22.89$27.20$23.385,790
2022$23.12$25.43$24.715,240
2023$24.30$25.67$27.556,500
2024$28.31$29.05$28.756,230
2025$28.18$28.18$29.335,100

In today's dollars, the median HVAC technician wage in Kentucky changed by +13.2% over the last ten years of data and by +12.9% since 2019.

Are there more HVAC technician jobs in Kentucky?

+18.9%Jobs since 20194,290 then, 5,100 in 2025
+40.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 27th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of HVAC technicians counted in Kentucky has changed by +110.7%, against +118.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +18.9%.

HVAC and refrigeration technicians in Kentucky vs United States, 1999 = 100KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages0100200300200020052010201520202025218United States211Kentucky
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Kentucky vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearKentucky jobsKentucky indexUS index
19992,420100100
20002,31096105
20012,40099108
20022,25093110
20032,430100113
20043,070127120
20053,090128128
20063,160131134
20073,350138140
20083,440142139
20093,220133130
20103,100128119
20113,480144123
20123,470143128
20133,360139134
20143,390140139
20153,640150146
20163,800157157
20173,780156164
20183,990165173
20194,290177182
20204,870201183
20215,790239190
20225,240216200
20236,500269212
20246,230257211
20255,100211218

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for HVAC technicians in Kentucky

+4.1%Projected growth in Kentucky2024–2034, state agency
580Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
6,560Jobs in 20246,820 projected for 2034
+10.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Kentucky's labor market agency projects the number of HVAC technicians in the state to change by +4.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 6,560 to 6,820, with about 580 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,100 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for HVAC technicians in Kentucky

On federally funded construction in Kentucky, contractors must pay HVAC technicians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 21 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $46.57). 21 of the 21 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Bell County at $46.57). The market median for the state is $28.18.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, KYAdair: n/aAllen: n/aAnderson: n/aBallard: n/aBarren: n/aBath: n/aBell: $46.57 (survey)Boone: n/aBourbon: n/aBoyd: n/aBoyle: n/aBracken: n/aBreathitt: $46.57 (survey)Breckinridge: n/aBullitt: n/aButler: n/aCaldwell: n/aCalloway: n/aCampbell: n/aCarlisle: n/aCarroll: n/aCarter: $46.57 (survey)Casey: n/aChristian: n/aClark: n/aClay: $46.57 (survey)Clinton: n/aCrittenden: n/aCumberland: n/aDaviess: n/aEdmonson: n/aElliott: $46.57 (survey)Estill: n/aFayette: n/aFleming: n/aFloyd: $46.57 (survey)Franklin: n/aFulton: n/aGallatin: n/aGarrard: n/aGrant: n/aGraves: n/aGrayson: n/aGreen: n/aGreenup: n/aHancock: n/aHardin: n/aHarlan: $46.57 (survey)Harrison: n/aHart: n/aHenderson: n/aHenry: n/aHickman: n/aHopkins: n/aJackson: $46.57 (survey)Jefferson: n/aJessamine: n/aJohnson: $46.57 (survey)Kenton: n/aKnott: $46.57 (survey)Knox: n/aLarue: n/aLaurel: n/aLawrence: $46.57 (survey)Lee: $46.57 (survey)Leslie: $46.57 (survey)Letcher: $46.57 (survey)Lewis: n/aLincoln: n/aLivingston: n/aLogan: n/aLyon: n/aMcCracken: n/aMcCreary: n/aMcLean: n/aMadison: n/aMagoffin: $46.57 (survey)Marion: n/aMarshall: n/aMartin: $46.57 (survey)Mason: n/aMeade: n/aMenifee: n/aMercer: n/aMetcalfe: n/aMonroe: n/aMontgomery: n/aMorgan: $46.57 (survey)Muhlenberg: n/aNelson: n/aNicholas: n/aOhio: n/aOldham: n/aOwen: n/aOwsley: $46.57 (survey)Pendleton: n/aPerry: $46.57 (survey)Pike: $46.57 (survey)Powell: n/aPulaski: n/aRobertson: n/aRockcastle: n/aRowan: n/aRussell: n/aScott: n/aShelby: n/aSimpson: n/aSpencer: n/aTaylor: n/aTodd: n/aTrigg: n/aTrimble: n/aUnion: n/aWarren: n/aWashington: n/aWayne: n/aWebster: n/aWhitley: n/aWolfe: $46.57 (survey)Woodford: n/aUnion / prevailing package, $/hrn/asurvey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for HVAC technicians by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BellSurvey SUKY2015-001 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260019
BreathittSurvey SUKY2015-024 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260043
CarterSurvey SUKY2015-004 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260022
ClaySurvey SUKY2015-024 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260043
ElliottSurvey SUKY2015-024 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260043
FloydSurvey SUKY2015-024 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260043
HarlanSurvey SUKY2015-024 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260043
JacksonSurvey SUKY2015-024 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260043
JohnsonSurvey SUKY2015-024 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260043
KnottSurvey SUKY2015-024 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260043
LawrenceSurvey SUKY2015-008 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260026
LeeSurvey SUKY2015-024 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260043
LeslieSurvey SUKY2015-024 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260043
LetcherSurvey SUKY2015-024 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260043
MagoffinSurvey SUKY2015-024 2015-06-02$25.63$20.94$46.57KY20260043

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Kentucky prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Kentucky?

95.6kConstruction jobsKentucky, 2026-09
+0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202640k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202596kSep 2026
Construction employment in Kentucky (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

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. Across the 92 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 43,567 in 2015 to 56,410 in 2025, +29.5%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Jefferson County2875,535$85,747$1,649
Hardin County43560$83,483$1,605
Fayette County1332,213$79,961$1,538
Mason County9257$79,749$1,534
Henderson County18186$78,774$1,515
Meade County13213$78,197$1,504
Campbell County43360$77,416$1,489
McCracken County40684$75,366$1,449
Kenton County61587$73,926$1,422
Harrison County59$73,869$1,421
Scott County21176$73,598$1,415
Larue County982$73,473$1,413

Keep comparing

HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kentucky

More on Kentucky

Questions this page answers

How much do HVAC technicians make in Kentucky?

The median HVAC technician in Kentucky earned $28.18 an hour ($58,620 a year) in May 2025, 4% below the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $22.97–$32.47; the top 10% earn more than $38.47.

Where does Kentucky rank for HVAC technician pay?

Kentucky ranks 37th of 51 states for HVAC technician pay, with a median of $28.18 an hour, and 25th after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).

What is the union HVAC technician rate in Kentucky?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a HVAC technician classification for most Kentucky counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many HVAC technicians work in Kentucky?

BLS counted 5,100 HVAC technicians in Kentucky in May 2025, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.97; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is HVAC technician work growing in Kentucky?

The BLS employer survey count of HVAC technicians in Kentucky went from 3,640 in 2015 to 5,100 in 2025, +40.1%, and +18.9% since 2019. Kentucky's labor market agency projects +4.1% growth for HVAC technicians between 2024 and 2034, from 6,560 to 6,820 jobs.

How many HVAC technician openings a year are there in Kentucky?

Kentucky projects about 580 openings a year for HVAC technicians over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 40,600 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Kentucky and metro areas, SOC 49-9021. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.