HVAC technician salary in Louisiana
Median $28.20 an hour for 5,380 HVAC technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
HVAC technician pay in Louisiana: the full range
Louisiana ranks 36th of 51 states for median HVAC technician pay, and 17th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.97). 5,380 HVAC technicians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $17.77 – $21.62 | $36,950 – $44,980 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.62 – $31.73 | $44,980 – $65,990 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $31.73 – $37.60 | $65,990 – $78,210 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
HVAC technician pay by metro in Louisiana
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $18.41 | $30.53 | $32.97 | $39.24 | 1,280 | 8% above |
| Baton Rouge | $18.50 | $30.26 | $33.33 | $38.50 | 1,180 | 7% above |
| Shreveport | $17.56 | $28.19 | $33.24 | $36.60 | 500 | about the same as |
| Houma | $17.07 | $28.11 | $33.03 | $34.84 | 250 | about the same as |
| Slidell | $17.30 | $27.56 | $29.73 | $37.81 | 270 | 2% below |
| Monroe | $17.01 | $27.54 | $32.94 | $35.24 | 260 | 2% below |
| Hammond | $18.42 | $27.47 | $32.51 | $36.25 | 130 | 3% below |
| Lafayette | $16.59 | $24.99 | $28.66 | $35.93 | 450 | 11% below |
| Lake Charles | $18.15 | $22.77 | $26.51 | $33.22 | 220 | 19% below |
| Alexandria | $16.08 | $22.75 | $26.55 | $35.39 | 190 | 19% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
HVAC technician wages in Louisiana over time
Table
| Year | Louisiana $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.38 | $23.92 | $14.50 | 2,800 |
| 2000 | $11.13 | $20.81 | $15.76 | 3,220 |
| 2001 | $12.27 | $22.31 | $16.35 | 2,680 |
| 2002 | $13.09 | $23.43 | $16.78 | 2,620 |
| 2003 | $12.86 | $22.50 | $16.90 | 2,540 |
| 2004 | $13.69 | $23.33 | $17.43 | 2,400 |
| 2005 | $13.67 | $22.53 | $17.81 | 3,350 |
| 2006 | $14.01 | $22.37 | $18.11 | 3,720 |
| 2007 | $14.57 | $22.62 | $18.44 | 4,360 |
| 2008 | $16.63 | $24.87 | $19.08 | 3,930 |
| 2009 | $17.36 | $26.05 | $19.76 | 3,370 |
| 2010 | $18.38 | $27.14 | $20.45 | 3,410 |
| 2011 | $19.00 | $27.19 | $20.86 | 3,730 |
| 2012 | $19.53 | $27.39 | $20.98 | 4,770 |
| 2013 | $19.45 | $26.88 | $21.10 | 4,800 |
| 2014 | $19.20 | $26.11 | $21.46 | 4,950 |
| 2015 | $19.18 | $26.05 | $21.69 | 3,730 |
| 2016 | $20.62 | $27.66 | $22.07 | 4,130 |
| 2017 | $20.57 | $27.02 | $22.64 | 4,130 |
| 2018 | $20.56 | $26.36 | $22.89 | 4,380 |
| 2019 | $20.94 | $26.37 | $23.43 | 4,400 |
| 2020 | $22.65 | $28.18 | $24.32 | 3,990 |
| 2021 | $22.90 | $27.21 | $23.38 | 3,530 |
| 2022 | $23.44 | $25.79 | $24.71 | 3,920 |
| 2023 | $25.80 | $27.26 | $27.55 | 4,830 |
| 2024 | $25.73 | $26.41 | $28.75 | 5,040 |
| 2025 | $28.20 | $28.20 | $29.33 | 5,380 |
In today's dollars, the median HVAC technician wage in Louisiana changed by +8.2% over the last ten years of data and by +6.9% since 2019.
Are there more HVAC technician jobs in Louisiana?
Since 1999, the number of HVAC technicians counted in Louisiana has changed by +92.1%, against +118.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +22.3%.
Table
| Year | Louisiana jobs | Louisiana index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2,800 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 3,220 | 115 | 105 |
| 2001 | 2,680 | 96 | 108 |
| 2002 | 2,620 | 94 | 110 |
| 2003 | 2,540 | 91 | 113 |
| 2004 | 2,400 | 86 | 120 |
| 2005 | 3,350 | 120 | 128 |
| 2006 | 3,720 | 133 | 134 |
| 2007 | 4,360 | 156 | 140 |
| 2008 | 3,930 | 140 | 139 |
| 2009 | 3,370 | 120 | 130 |
| 2010 | 3,410 | 122 | 119 |
| 2011 | 3,730 | 133 | 123 |
| 2012 | 4,770 | 170 | 128 |
| 2013 | 4,800 | 171 | 134 |
| 2014 | 4,950 | 177 | 139 |
| 2015 | 3,730 | 133 | 146 |
| 2016 | 4,130 | 148 | 157 |
| 2017 | 4,130 | 148 | 164 |
| 2018 | 4,380 | 156 | 173 |
| 2019 | 4,400 | 157 | 182 |
| 2020 | 3,990 | 142 | 183 |
| 2021 | 3,530 | 126 | 190 |
| 2022 | 3,920 | 140 | 200 |
| 2023 | 4,830 | 172 | 212 |
| 2024 | 5,040 | 180 | 211 |
| 2025 | 5,380 | 192 | 218 |
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 Louisiana
Louisiana's labor market agency projects the number of HVAC technicians in the state to change by +7.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,390 to 5,800, with about 500 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,380 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Louisiana labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Is construction work growing in Louisiana?
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 51 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 67,056 in 2015 to 63,797 in 2025, -4.9%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orleans Parish | 62 | 475 | $308,951 | $5,941 |
| Grant Parish | 10 | 113 | $90,769 | $1,746 |
| Iberville Parish | 9 | 100 | $84,552 | $1,626 |
| Jackson Parish | 4 | 16 | $72,470 | $1,394 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish | 196 | 2,017 | $71,452 | $1,374 |
| Webster Parish | 12 | 84 | $70,126 | $1,349 |
| Jefferson Parish | 270 | 2,598 | $68,997 | $1,327 |
| Caddo Parish | 108 | 1,288 | $65,766 | $1,265 |
| St. Tammany Parish | 184 | 1,038 | $64,644 | $1,243 |
| Lafayette Parish | 129 | 1,181 | $61,969 | $1,192 |
| Jefferson Davis Parish | 10 | 80 | $61,505 | $1,183 |
| Tangipahoa Parish | 56 | 441 | $60,971 | $1,173 |
| Rapides Parish | 56 | 529 | $60,866 | $1,171 |
| Vermilion Parish | 26 | 129 | $60,199 | $1,158 |
| Ouachita Parish | 66 | 646 | $59,656 | $1,147 |
| Livingston Parish | 94 | 487 | $59,230 | $1,139 |
| St. Landry Parish | 32 | 182 | $58,807 | $1,131 |
| Vernon Parish | 10 | 119 | $58,351 | $1,122 |
| Bossier Parish | 57 | 347 | $57,754 | $1,111 |
| Terrebonne Parish | 48 | 391 | $57,690 | $1,109 |
| Natchitoches Parish | 12 | 54 | $54,157 | $1,041 |
| St. Martin Parish | 20 | 152 | $52,714 | $1,014 |
| Lafourche Parish | 34 | 188 | $51,306 | $987 |
| Union Parish | 12 | 21 | $49,854 | $959 |
| St. John the Baptist Parish | 16 | 40 | $49,471 | $951 |
| Pointe Coupee Parish | 7 | 20 | $49,412 | $950 |
| Acadia Parish | 26 | 140 | $49,337 | $949 |
| Sabine Parish | 10 | 16 | $43,200 | $831 |
| Morehouse Parish | 6 | 30 | $36,499 | $702 |
| Avoyelles Parish | 15 | 54 | $34,986 | $673 |
Keep comparing
HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Louisiana
More on Louisiana
Questions this page answers
How much do HVAC technicians make in Louisiana?
The median HVAC technician in Louisiana earned $28.20 an hour ($58,650 a year) in May 2025, 4% below the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $21.62–$31.73; the top 10% earn more than $37.60.
Where does Louisiana rank for HVAC technician pay?
Louisiana ranks 36th of 51 states for HVAC technician pay, with a median of $28.20 an hour, and 17th after adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.2, US = 100).
What is the union HVAC technician rate in Louisiana?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a HVAC technician classification for most Louisiana counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many HVAC technicians work in Louisiana?
BLS counted 5,380 HVAC technicians in Louisiana in May 2025, 2.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.05; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is HVAC technician work growing in Louisiana?
The BLS employer survey count of HVAC technicians in Louisiana went from 3,730 in 2015 to 5,380 in 2025, +44.2%, and +22.3% since 2019. Louisiana's labor market agency projects +7.6% growth for HVAC technicians between 2024 and 2034, from 5,390 to 5,800 jobs.
How many HVAC technician openings a year are there in Louisiana?
Louisiana projects about 500 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, Louisiana 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Louisiana labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.