HVAC technician salary in New Jersey
Median $35.79 an hour for 10,330 hvac and refrigeration technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
HVAC technician pay in New Jersey: the full range
New Jersey ranks 9th of 51 states for median hvac technician pay, and 13th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.90). 10,330 hvac and refrigeration technicians work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $23.09 – $27.26 | $48,020 – $56,700 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $27.26 – $46.59 | $56,700 – $96,910 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $46.59 – $56.03 | $96,910 – $116,550 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
HVAC technician pay by metro in New Jersey
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $24.37 | $37.50 | $52.30 | 21,820 | 5% above |
| Trenton | $22.95 | $36.17 | $53.71 | 430 | 1% above |
| Vineland | $21.88 | $32.81 | $57.31 | 290 | 8% below |
| Philadelphia | $21.88 | $31.05 | $48.46 | 8,610 | 13% below |
| Allentown | $23.27 | $30.35 | $45.47 | 1,000 | 15% below |
| Atlantic City | $21.42 | $29.15 | $42.75 | 480 | 19% below |
HVAC technician wages in New Jersey over time
Table
| Year | New Jersey $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $18.32 | $35.40 | $14.50 | 6,740 |
| 2000 | $18.72 | $35.00 | $15.76 | 7,600 |
| 2001 | $19.04 | $34.61 | $16.35 | 9,280 |
| 2002 | $19.67 | $35.20 | $16.78 | 7,750 |
| 2003 | $19.78 | $34.61 | $16.90 | 7,200 |
| 2004 | $20.57 | $35.06 | $17.43 | 6,140 |
| 2005 | $21.76 | $35.87 | $17.81 | 7,260 |
| 2006 | $22.58 | $36.06 | $18.11 | 7,850 |
| 2007 | $22.81 | $35.42 | $18.44 | 9,640 |
| 2008 | $23.07 | $34.50 | $19.08 | 8,760 |
| 2009 | $24.87 | $37.32 | $19.76 | 8,320 |
| 2010 | $25.29 | $37.34 | $20.45 | 8,460 |
| 2011 | $26.36 | $37.73 | $20.86 | 9,160 |
| 2012 | $25.68 | $36.01 | $20.98 | 9,290 |
| 2013 | $26.34 | $36.40 | $21.10 | 9,170 |
| 2014 | $26.69 | $36.30 | $21.46 | 10,030 |
| 2015 | $26.91 | $36.55 | $21.69 | 10,410 |
| 2016 | $27.20 | $36.49 | $22.07 | 10,110 |
| 2017 | $27.00 | $35.46 | $22.64 | 9,680 |
| 2018 | $27.71 | $35.53 | $22.89 | 9,510 |
| 2019 | $27.34 | $34.43 | $23.43 | 10,430 |
| 2020 | $30.06 | $37.39 | $24.32 | 10,340 |
| 2021 | $30.00 | $35.64 | $23.38 | 9,160 |
| 2022 | $33.30 | $36.63 | $24.71 | 9,300 |
| 2023 | $29.78 | $31.47 | $27.55 | 10,360 |
| 2024 | $33.56 | $34.44 | $28.75 | 10,680 |
| 2025 | $35.79 | $35.79 | $29.33 | 10,330 |
In today's dollars, the median hvac technician wage in New Jersey changed by -2.1% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in New Jersey?
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.
| County | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson County | 924 | $110,130 | $2,118 |
| Gloucester County | 1,460 | $96,534 | $1,856 |
| Middlesex County | 2,806 | $95,567 | $1,838 |
| Somerset County | 1,143 | $95,362 | $1,834 |
| Union County | 1,760 | $95,332 | $1,833 |
| Cumberland County | 934 | $92,743 | $1,784 |
| Essex County | 1,545 | $92,442 | $1,778 |
| Morris County | 2,412 | $92,107 | $1,771 |
| Monmouth County | 3,960 | $91,453 | $1,759 |
| Passaic County | 1,327 | $88,845 | $1,709 |
| Bergen County | 2,944 | $87,600 | $1,685 |
| Camden County | 2,136 | $87,076 | $1,675 |
| Warren County | 185 | $82,215 | $1,581 |
| Sussex County | 456 | $81,799 | $1,573 |
| Mercer County | 619 | $81,457 | $1,566 |
| Hunterdon County | 544 | $80,747 | $1,553 |
| Burlington County | 1,220 | $78,478 | $1,509 |
| Atlantic County | 952 | $77,864 | $1,497 |
| Ocean County | 2,084 | $74,172 | $1,426 |
| Salem County | 329 | $73,935 | $1,422 |
| Cape May County | 542 | $62,879 | $1,209 |
Keep comparing
HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Jersey
Questions this page answers
How much do hvac technicians make in New Jersey?
The median hvac technician in New Jersey earned $35.79 an hour ($74,450 a year) in May 2025, 22% above the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $27.26–$46.59; the top 10% earn more than $56.03.
Where does New Jersey rank for hvac technician pay?
New Jersey ranks 9th of 51 states for hvac technician pay, with a median of $35.79 an hour, and 13th after adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (BEA price parity 108.8, US = 100).
What is the union hvac technician rate in New Jersey?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a hvac technician classification for most New Jersey counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many hvac technicians work in New Jersey?
BLS counted 10,330 hvac and refrigeration technicians in New Jersey in May 2025, 2.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.92; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Jersey and metro areas, SOC 49-9021.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.