Skilled Wages

HVAC technician salary in Nebraska

Median $28.77 an hour for 3,020 HVAC technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$28.77/hrMedian hourly wageNebraska, May data
$59,850/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$20.93 – $39.0010th to 90th percentilehourly range
3,020Jobs countedemployer survey

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

HVAC technician pay in Nebraska: the full range

Wage percentiles, NebraskaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrNebraska: 10th $20.93 · 25th $22.96 · median $28.77 · 75th $35.66 · 90th $39.00Nebraska$28.77$20.93$39.00United 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: Nebraska vs United States, May 2025.

Nebraska ranks 32nd of 51 states for median HVAC technician pay, and 18th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.93). 3,020 HVAC technicians work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$20.93 – $22.96$43,540 – $47,760roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.96 – $35.66$47,760 – $74,160the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$35.66 – $39.00$74,160 – $81,110the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



HVAC technician pay by metro in Nebraska

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrOmaha: $30.08Omaha$30.08Sioux City: $28.77Sioux City$28.77Lincoln: $28.53Lincoln$28.53Grand Island: $27.92Grand Island$27.92
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians by metro area in Nebraska, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Omaha$21.93$30.08$32.73$40.211,6005% above
Sioux City$18.91$28.77$33.26$39.37200about the same as
Lincoln$20.07$28.53$31.15$38.884901% below
Grand Island$18.61$27.92$32.20$36.54803% below

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

HVAC technician wages in Nebraska over time

Nebraska, 1999-2025NebraskaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.33United States$28.77Nebraska
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians, Nebraska vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNebraska $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.46$27.94$14.501,470
2000$16.16$30.21$15.761,320
2001$15.97$29.03$16.351,240
2002$15.34$27.45$16.781,300
2003$14.57$25.49$16.901,090
2004$14.16$24.13$17.431,210
2005$14.66$24.17$17.811,880
2006$16.21$25.89$18.111,860
2007$17.90$27.79$18.442,270
2008$19.04$28.47$19.081,930
2009$19.56$29.35$19.761,900
2010$19.32$28.52$20.451,460
2011$20.39$29.18$20.861,620
2012$20.97$29.40$20.981,550
2013$21.93$30.31$21.101,840
2014$21.61$29.39$21.461,780
2015$21.18$28.77$21.692,120
2016$21.16$28.38$22.071,990
2017$21.02$27.61$22.642,420
2018$22.11$28.35$22.892,590
2019$23.92$30.12$23.432,920
2020$24.99$31.09$24.323,350
2021$23.11$27.46$23.383,040
2022$23.80$26.18$24.713,330
2023$26.57$28.07$27.553,440
2024$28.70$29.46$28.753,080
2025$28.77$28.77$29.333,020

In today's dollars, the median HVAC technician wage in Nebraska changed by 0.0% over the last ten years of data and by -4.5% since 2019.

Are there more HVAC technician jobs in Nebraska?

+3.4%Jobs since 20192,920 then, 3,020 in 2025
+42.5%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.0Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 19th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of HVAC technicians counted in Nebraska has changed by +105.4%, against +118.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +3.4%.

HVAC and refrigeration technicians in Nebraska vs United States, 1999 = 100NebraskaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250200020052010201520202025218United States205Nebraska
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Nebraska vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNebraska jobsNebraska indexUS index
19991,470100100
20001,32090105
20011,24084108
20021,30088110
20031,09074113
20041,21082120
20051,880128128
20061,860126134
20072,270154140
20081,930131139
20091,900129130
20101,46099119
20111,620110123
20121,550105128
20131,840125134
20141,780121139
20152,120144146
20161,990135157
20172,420165164
20182,590176173
20192,920199182
20203,350228183
20213,040207190
20223,330226200
20233,440234212
20243,080210211
20253,020205218

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 Nebraska

+14.2%Projected growth in Nebraska2024–2034, state agency
330Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
3,260Jobs in 20243,720 projected for 2034
+10.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Nebraska's labor market agency projects the number of HVAC technicians in the state to change by +14.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 3,260 to 3,720, with about 330 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,020 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Is construction work growing in Nebraska?

70.4kConstruction jobsNebraska, 2026-09
+7.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k20k40k60k80k1990199520002005201020152020202570kSep 2026
Construction employment in Nebraska (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 58 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 30,915 in 2015 to 40,806 in 2025, +32.0%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Douglas County2063,857$81,935$1,576
Sarpy County1022,548$81,435$1,566
Hall County36313$73,187$1,407
Washington County941$70,753$1,361
Lancaster County1201,580$66,194$1,273
Dodge County17231$65,485$1,259
Buffalo County35296$63,508$1,221
Cedar County539$62,668$1,205
Pierce County522$62,147$1,195
Madison County20149$61,808$1,189
Adams County16224$60,890$1,171
Lincoln County19268$60,014$1,154

Keep comparing

HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Nebraska

More on Nebraska

Questions this page answers

How much do HVAC technicians make in Nebraska?

The median HVAC technician in Nebraska earned $28.77 an hour ($59,850 a year) in May 2025, 2% below the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $22.96–$35.66; the top 10% earn more than $39.00.

Where does Nebraska rank for HVAC technician pay?

Nebraska ranks 32nd of 51 states for HVAC technician pay, with a median of $28.77 an hour, and 18th after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).

What is the union HVAC technician rate in Nebraska?

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

How many HVAC technicians work in Nebraska?

BLS counted 3,020 HVAC technicians in Nebraska in May 2025, 3.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.12; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is HVAC technician work growing in Nebraska?

The BLS employer survey count of HVAC technicians in Nebraska went from 2,120 in 2015 to 3,020 in 2025, +42.5%, and +3.4% since 2019. Nebraska's labor market agency projects +14.2% growth for HVAC technicians between 2024 and 2034, from 3,260 to 3,720 jobs.

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

Nebraska projects about 330 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, Nebraska 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: Nebraska labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.