Skilled Wages

HVAC technician salary in Minnesota

Median $36.71 an hour for 4,200 HVAC technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$36.71/hrMedian hourly wageMinnesota, May data
$76,350/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$23.18 – $48.0910th to 90th percentilehourly range
4,200Jobs countedemployer survey

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

HVAC technician pay in Minnesota: the full range

Wage percentiles, MinnesotaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMinnesota: 10th $23.18 · 25th $28.30 · median $36.71 · 75th $41.92 · 90th $48.09Minnesota$36.71$23.18$48.09United 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: Minnesota vs United States, May 2025.

Minnesota ranks 6th of 51 states for median HVAC technician pay, and 2nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $37.23). 4,200 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$23.18 – $28.30$48,220 – $58,860roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$28.30 – $41.92$58,860 – $87,190the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$41.92 – $48.09$87,190 – $100,030the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



HVAC technician pay by metro in Minnesota

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrRochester: $37.26Rochester$37.26Minneapolis: $37.25Minneapolis$37.25Mankato: $36.86Mankato$36.86Fargo: $36.50Fargo$36.50Duluth: $36.40Duluth$36.40Grand Forks: $36.28Grand Forks$36.28St. Cloud: $35.78St. Cloud$35.78Sioux Falls: $30.02Sioux Falls$30.02La Crosse: $30.00La Crosse$30.00
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians by metro area in Minnesota, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Rochester$23.28$37.26$41.04$45.481901% above
Minneapolis$23.39$37.25$35.54$48.392,4201% above
Mankato$23.03$36.86$40.51$48.21120about the same as
Fargo$22.33$36.50$40.15$46.133701% below
Duluth$23.43$36.40$40.99$47.581701% below
Grand Forks$22.41$36.28$41.85$46.011301% below
St. Cloud$22.39$35.78$40.84$47.192503% below
Sioux Falls$23.55$30.02$33.13$36.5760018% below
La Crosse$22.33$30.00$32.68$45.6327018% below

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

HVAC technician wages in Minnesota over time

Minnesota, 1999-2025MinnesotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$36.71Minnesota$29.33United States
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians, Minnesota vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMinnesota $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.87$30.67$14.501,590
2000$19.03$35.58$15.761,730
2001$19.21$34.92$16.351,600
2002$18.44$33.00$16.781,900
2003$17.98$31.46$16.901,970
2004$19.47$33.18$17.432,340
2005$21.15$34.86$17.812,620
2006$22.47$35.88$18.112,650
2007$23.33$36.22$18.442,640
2008$23.66$35.38$19.082,330
2009$24.46$36.71$19.762,140
2010$24.22$35.76$20.452,030
2011$23.63$33.82$20.862,270
2012$22.69$31.82$20.982,140
2013$23.56$32.56$21.101,980
2014$23.72$32.26$21.462,170
2015$24.98$33.93$21.692,790
2016$24.63$33.04$22.072,770
2017$25.89$34.00$22.643,440
2018$24.70$31.67$22.893,770
2019$25.86$32.56$23.433,920
2020$28.55$35.51$24.323,730
2021$29.51$35.06$23.384,140
2022$32.22$35.44$24.714,490
2023$31.64$33.43$27.554,600
2024$35.29$36.22$28.755,190
2025$36.71$36.71$29.334,200

In today's dollars, the median HVAC technician wage in Minnesota changed by +8.2% over the last ten years of data and by +12.7% since 2019.

Are there more HVAC technician jobs in Minnesota?

+7.1%Jobs since 20193,920 then, 4,200 in 2025
+50.5%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.5× the US share, 50th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of HVAC technicians counted in Minnesota has changed by +164.2%, against +118.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +7.1%.

HVAC and refrigeration technicians in Minnesota vs United States, 1999 = 100MinnesotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages0100200300400200020052010201520202025264Minnesota218United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Minnesota vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMinnesota jobsMinnesota indexUS index
19991,590100100
20001,730109105
20011,600101108
20021,900120110
20031,970124113
20042,340147120
20052,620165128
20062,650167134
20072,640166140
20082,330146139
20092,140135130
20102,030128119
20112,270143123
20122,140135128
20131,980124134
20142,170136139
20152,790176146
20162,770174157
20173,440216164
20183,770237173
20193,920246182
20203,730235183
20214,140260190
20224,490282200
20234,600289212
20245,190326211
20254,200264218

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 Minnesota

+11.1%Projected growth in Minnesota2024–2034, state agency
540Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
5,490Jobs in 20246,100 projected for 2034
+10.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Minnesota's labor market agency projects the number of HVAC technicians in the state to change by +11.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,490 to 6,100, with about 540 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 4,200 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Is construction work growing in Minnesota?

161.1kConstruction jobsMinnesota, 2026-09
+5.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k50k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025161kSep 2026
Construction employment in Minnesota (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 78 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 70,177 in 2015 to 87,254 in 2025, +24.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Washington County69797$132,763$2,553
Ramsey County963,001$108,630$2,089
Hennepin County2325,935$104,030$2,001
Scott County49619$95,075$1,828
Itasca County18192$92,110$1,771
Dakota County1021,360$90,068$1,732
Houston County558$87,827$1,689
Benton County221,214$87,803$1,689
Chisago County18130$87,553$1,684
Olmsted County40964$84,715$1,629
Stearns County55694$82,442$1,585
Anoka County1241,058$81,822$1,574

Keep comparing

HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Minnesota

More on Minnesota

Questions this page answers

How much do HVAC technicians make in Minnesota?

The median HVAC technician in Minnesota earned $36.71 an hour ($76,350 a year) in May 2025, 25% above the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $28.30–$41.92; the top 10% earn more than $48.09.

Where does Minnesota rank for HVAC technician pay?

Minnesota ranks 6th of 51 states for HVAC technician pay, with a median of $36.71 an hour, and 2nd after adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (BEA price parity 98.6, US = 100).

What is the union HVAC technician rate in Minnesota?

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

How many HVAC technicians work in Minnesota?

BLS counted 4,200 HVAC technicians in Minnesota in May 2025, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.54; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is HVAC technician work growing in Minnesota?

The BLS employer survey count of HVAC technicians in Minnesota went from 2,790 in 2015 to 4,200 in 2025, +50.5%, and +7.1% since 2019. Minnesota's labor market agency projects +11.1% growth for HVAC technicians between 2024 and 2034, from 5,490 to 6,100 jobs.

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

Minnesota projects about 540 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, Minnesota 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: Minnesota labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.