Skilled Wages

HVAC technician salary in Maryland

Median $33.67 an hour for 8,560 HVAC technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$33.67/hrMedian hourly wageMaryland, May data
$70,020/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.20 – $51.3210th to 90th percentilehourly range
8,560Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

HVAC technician pay in Maryland: the full range

Wage percentiles, MarylandMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMaryland: 10th $22.20 · 25th $27.06 · median $33.67 · 75th $46.05 · 90th $51.32Maryland$33.67$22.20$51.32United 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: Maryland vs United States, May 2025.

Maryland ranks 13th of 51 states for median HVAC technician pay, and 16th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.07). 8,560 HVAC technicians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.3× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$22.20 – $27.06$46,180 – $56,280roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$27.06 – $46.05$56,280 – $95,790the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$46.05 – $51.32$95,790 – $106,740the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



HVAC technician pay by metro in Maryland

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrWashington DC: $34.58Washington DC$34.58Philadelphia: $31.05Philadelphia$31.05Baltimore: $30.38Baltimore$30.38Lexington Park: $29.73Lexington Park$29.73Salisbury: $29.43Salisbury$29.43Hagerstown: $28.08Hagerstown$28.08
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians by metro area in Maryland, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$22.56$34.58$31.75$50.578,7303% above
Philadelphia$21.88$31.05$30.26$48.468,6108% below
Baltimore$21.65$30.38$29.07$49.673,96010% below
Lexington Park$20.74$29.73$29.49$53.9935012% below
Salisbury$21.00$29.43$30.78$47.1816013% below
Hagerstown$18.29$28.08$29.81$42.2128017% below

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

HVAC technician wages in Maryland over time

Maryland, 1999-2025MarylandUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$33.67Maryland$29.33United States
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians, Maryland vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMaryland $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.89$30.71$14.504,080
2000$15.41$28.81$15.764,700
2001$16.82$30.58$16.355,660
2002$17.58$31.46$16.786,190
2003$17.80$31.14$16.906,120
2004$18.58$31.67$17.437,530
2005$20.80$34.29$17.818,200
2006$20.49$32.72$18.117,380
2007$21.47$33.34$18.446,580
2008$22.05$32.97$19.085,780
2009$22.94$34.42$19.765,060
2010$22.90$33.81$20.455,230
2011$23.24$33.26$20.865,970
2012$23.24$32.59$20.986,300
2013$24.14$33.36$21.106,300
2014$24.57$33.41$21.465,930
2015$26.02$35.34$21.695,750
2016$26.14$35.06$22.075,930
2017$27.38$35.96$22.646,510
2018$27.36$35.08$22.897,200
2019$28.22$35.54$23.437,320
2020$29.87$37.16$24.326,950
2021$29.20$34.69$23.387,480
2022$29.53$32.49$24.717,760
2023$30.09$31.79$27.556,700
2024$31.25$32.07$28.756,380
2025$33.67$33.67$29.338,560

In today's dollars, the median HVAC technician wage in Maryland changed by -4.7% over the last ten years of data and by -5.3% since 2019.

Are there more HVAC technician jobs in Maryland?

+16.9%Jobs since 20197,320 then, 8,560 in 2025
+48.9%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 15th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of HVAC technicians counted in Maryland has changed by +109.8%, against +118.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +16.9%.

HVAC and refrigeration technicians in Maryland vs United States, 1999 = 100MarylandUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250200020052010201520202025218United States210Maryland
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Maryland vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMaryland jobsMaryland indexUS index
19994,080100100
20004,700115105
20015,660139108
20026,190152110
20036,120150113
20047,530185120
20058,200201128
20067,380181134
20076,580161140
20085,780142139
20095,060124130
20105,230128119
20115,970146123
20126,300154128
20136,300154134
20145,930145139
20155,750141146
20165,930145157
20176,510160164
20187,200176173
20197,320179182
20206,950170183
20217,480183190
20227,760190200
20236,700164212
20246,380156211
20258,560210218

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 Maryland

+9.2%Projected growth in Maryland2024–2034, state agency
880Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
9,130Jobs in 20249,970 projected for 2034
+10.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Maryland's labor market agency projects the number of HVAC technicians in the state to change by +9.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 9,130 to 9,970, with about 880 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 8,560 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for HVAC technicians in Maryland

On federally funded construction in Maryland, contractors must pay HVAC technicians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 24 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $73.71). The market median for the state is $33.67.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MDAllegany: $59.06 (survey)Anne Arundel: $73.63 (survey)Baltimore: $73.71 (survey)Calvert: $80.30 (survey)Caroline: $73.71 (survey)Carroll: $80.30 (survey)Cecil: $73.71 (survey)Charles: $80.30 (survey)Dorchester: $73.63 (survey)Frederick: $80.30 (survey)Garrett: $60.06 (survey)Harford: $73.71 (survey)Howard: $80.30 (survey)Kent: $73.68 (survey)Montgomery: $80.30 (survey)Prince George's: $80.30 (survey)Queen Anne's: $73.71 (survey)St. Mary's: $80.30 (survey)Somerset: $73.71 (survey)Talbot: $73.71 (survey)Washington: $62.06 (survey)Wicomico: $80.30 (survey)Worcester: $73.71 (survey)Baltimore: $73.71 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$73.66$73.71survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for HVAC technicians by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (survey)$20$40$60$80$100/hrWicomico (Salisbury): market median $29.43, prevailing (survey) $80.30, gap +$50.87Wicomico (Salisbury)+$50.87Calvert (Lexington Park): market median $29.73, prevailing (survey) $80.30, gap +$50.57Calvert (Lexington Park)+$50.57Carroll (Baltimore): market median $30.38, prevailing (survey) $80.30, gap +$49.92Carroll (Baltimore)+$49.92Charles (Washington DC): market median $34.58, prevailing (survey) $80.30, gap +$45.72Charles (Washington DC)+$45.72Cecil (Philadelphia): market median $31.05, prevailing (survey) $73.71, gap +$42.66Cecil (Philadelphia)+$42.66Washington (Hagerstown): market median $28.08, prevailing (survey) $62.06, gap +$33.98Washington (Hagerstown)+$33.98
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for HVAC technicians, metro counties in Maryland.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
Calvertstate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$55.00$25.30$80.30MD20260109
Carrollstate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$55.00$25.30$80.30MD20260111
Charlesstate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$55.00$25.30$80.30MD20260113
Frederickstate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$55.00$25.30$80.30MD20260115
Howardstate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$55.00$25.30$80.30MD20260118
Montgomerystate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$55.00$25.30$80.30MD20260120
Prince George'sstate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$55.00$25.30$80.30MD20260121
St. Mary'sstate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$55.00$25.30$80.30MD20260124
Wicomicostate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$55.00$25.30$80.30MD20260127
Baltimorestate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$47.78$25.93$73.71MD20260108
Carolinestate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$47.78$25.93$73.71MD20260110
Cecilstate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$47.78$25.93$73.71MD20260112
Harfordstate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$47.78$25.93$73.71MD20260117
Queen Anne'sstate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$47.78$25.93$73.71MD20260122
Somersetstate SAMD2025-001 2025-12-11$47.78$25.93$73.71MD20260123

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Maryland prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Maryland?

166.0kConstruction jobsMaryland, 2026-09
-0.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025166kSep 2026
Construction employment in Maryland (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 24 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 100,634 in 2015 to 107,991 in 2025, +7.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Prince George's County2266,937$102,863$1,978
Baltimore County2765,153$96,125$1,849
Montgomery County2254,088$93,564$1,799
Howard County1001,829$90,885$1,748
Baltimore city832,060$89,505$1,721
Charles County63745$86,962$1,672
Calvert County50375$86,607$1,666
Anne Arundel County2133,025$85,358$1,641
Frederick County961,216$77,109$1,483
Carroll County1101,165$74,656$1,436
Cecil County30227$74,288$1,429
Caroline County25306$71,814$1,381

Keep comparing

HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Maryland

More on Maryland

Questions this page answers

How much do HVAC technicians make in Maryland?

The median HVAC technician in Maryland earned $33.67 an hour ($70,020 a year) in May 2025, 15% above the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $27.06–$46.05; the top 10% earn more than $51.32.

Where does Maryland rank for HVAC technician pay?

Maryland ranks 13th of 51 states for HVAC technician pay, with a median of $33.67 an hour, and 16th after adjusting for Maryland's cost of living (BEA price parity 105.0, US = 100).

What is the union HVAC technician rate in Maryland?

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

How many HVAC technicians work in Maryland?

BLS counted 8,560 HVAC technicians in Maryland in May 2025, 3.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.18; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is HVAC technician work growing in Maryland?

The BLS employer survey count of HVAC technicians in Maryland went from 5,750 in 2015 to 8,560 in 2025, +48.9%, and +16.9% since 2019. Maryland's labor market agency projects +9.2% growth for HVAC technicians between 2024 and 2034, from 9,130 to 9,970 jobs.

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

Maryland projects about 880 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, Maryland 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: Maryland labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.