HVAC technician salary in New York
Median $35.78 an hour for 24,430 hvac and refrigeration technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
HVAC technician pay in New York: the full range
New York ranks 10th of 51 states for median hvac technician pay, and 12th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $33.16). 24,430 hvac and refrigeration technicians work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $23.35 – $28.71 | $48,560 – $59,720 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $28.71 – $42.37 | $59,720 – $88,130 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $42.37 – $48.40 | $88,130 – $100,680 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
HVAC technician pay by metro in New York
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $24.37 | $37.50 | $52.30 | 21,820 | 5% above |
| Syracuse | $22.75 | $32.02 | $46.53 | 970 | 11% below |
| Albany | $22.84 | $31.75 | $47.03 | 1,450 | 11% below |
| Poughkeepsie | $20.85 | $31.50 | $44.66 | 1,150 | 12% below |
| Ithaca | $22.58 | $31.10 | $44.45 | 120 | 13% below |
| Rochester | $22.05 | $30.56 | $43.84 | 1,850 | 15% below |
| Watertown | $20.28 | $30.22 | $40.17 | 130 | 16% below |
| Elmira | $22.39 | $30.00 | $40.73 | 80 | 16% below |
| Buffalo | $18.86 | $29.89 | $44.15 | 1,370 | 16% below |
| Binghamton | $22.43 | $29.82 | $42.17 | 380 | 17% below |
| Utica | $20.78 | $29.75 | $43.27 | 260 | 17% below |
| Kingston | $17.74 | $29.55 | $44.29 | 260 | 17% below |
| Glens Falls | $21.13 | $29.22 | $39.45 | 160 | 18% below |
HVAC technician wages in New York over time
Table
| Year | New York $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $16.47 | $31.83 | $14.50 | 12,440 |
| 2000 | $16.27 | $30.42 | $15.76 | 11,680 |
| 2001 | $17.33 | $31.50 | $16.35 | 12,730 |
| 2002 | $18.60 | $33.29 | $16.78 | 13,420 |
| 2003 | $18.82 | $32.93 | $16.90 | 12,890 |
| 2004 | $19.65 | $33.49 | $17.43 | 14,760 |
| 2005 | $21.00 | $34.62 | $17.81 | 15,720 |
| 2006 | $21.46 | $34.27 | $18.11 | 16,440 |
| 2007 | $21.18 | $32.89 | $18.44 | 17,980 |
| 2008 | $21.75 | $32.52 | $19.08 | 18,350 |
| 2009 | $22.88 | $34.33 | $19.76 | 17,120 |
| 2010 | $24.42 | $36.05 | $20.45 | 14,580 |
| 2011 | $24.81 | $35.51 | $20.86 | 13,710 |
| 2012 | $24.29 | $34.06 | $20.98 | 13,280 |
| 2013 | $24.93 | $34.45 | $21.10 | 13,010 |
| 2014 | $24.71 | $33.60 | $21.46 | 12,950 |
| 2015 | $24.06 | $32.68 | $21.69 | 13,330 |
| 2016 | $25.38 | $34.04 | $22.07 | 15,930 |
| 2017 | $26.62 | $34.96 | $22.64 | 18,500 |
| 2018 | $27.80 | $35.64 | $22.89 | 19,160 |
| 2019 | $27.31 | $34.39 | $23.43 | 18,810 |
| 2020 | $28.48 | $35.43 | $24.32 | 16,730 |
| 2021 | $29.31 | $34.82 | $23.38 | 22,240 |
| 2022 | $31.10 | $34.21 | $24.71 | 20,150 |
| 2023 | $30.94 | $32.69 | $27.55 | 22,700 |
| 2024 | $32.05 | $32.89 | $28.75 | 22,710 |
| 2025 | $35.78 | $35.78 | $29.33 | 24,430 |
In today's dollars, the median hvac technician wage in New York changed by +9.5% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for hvac technicians in New York
On federally funded construction in New York, contractors must pay hvac technicians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 4 of the 5 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $79.37 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $55.14). The market median for the state is $35.78.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutchess | Union PLUM0373-002 2025-05-01 | $41.99 | $37.38 | $79.37 | NY20260007 |
| Orange | Union PLUM0373-002 2025-05-01 | $41.99 | $37.38 | $79.37 | NY20260007 |
| Sullivan | Union PLUM0373-002 2025-05-01 | $41.99 | $37.38 | $79.37 | NY20260007 |
| Ulster | Union PLUM0373-002 2025-05-01 | $41.99 | $37.38 | $79.37 | NY20260007 |
| Steuben | Survey SUNY2017-019 2020-07-01 | $31.30 | $23.84 | $55.14 | NY20260117 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New York prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in New York?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York County | 3,359 | $107,414 | $2,066 |
| Albany County | 1,938 | $103,719 | $1,995 |
| Saratoga County | 883 | $98,334 | $1,891 |
| Nassau County | 6,816 | $97,430 | $1,874 |
| Queens County | 8,832 | $95,571 | $1,838 |
| Erie County | 3,822 | $94,923 | $1,825 |
| Westchester County | 4,006 | $93,445 | $1,797 |
| Onondaga County | 2,080 | $93,044 | $1,789 |
| Putnam County | 641 | $91,645 | $1,762 |
| Bronx County | 2,664 | $91,381 | $1,757 |
| Suffolk County | 7,881 | $87,720 | $1,687 |
| Ulster County | 617 | $85,785 | $1,650 |
| Monroe County | 3,781 | $85,491 | $1,644 |
| Broome County | 838 | $85,399 | $1,642 |
| Dutchess County | 965 | $83,570 | $1,607 |
| Schenectady County | 527 | $81,729 | $1,572 |
| Richmond County | 2,056 | $79,721 | $1,533 |
| Chemung County | 270 | $78,723 | $1,514 |
| Madison County | 40 | $77,939 | $1,499 |
| Cattaraugus County | 164 | $77,874 | $1,498 |
| Orange County | 1,716 | $77,665 | $1,494 |
| Rockland County | 1,779 | $76,994 | $1,481 |
| Warren County | 286 | $76,348 | $1,468 |
| Jefferson County | 331 | $74,191 | $1,427 |
| Livingston County | 86 | $74,127 | $1,426 |
| Tompkins County | 139 | $73,692 | $1,417 |
| Delaware County | 77 | $73,454 | $1,413 |
| Steuben County | 126 | $71,853 | $1,382 |
| Clinton County | 207 | $69,668 | $1,340 |
| Niagara County | 450 | $68,840 | $1,324 |
| Kings County | 6,754 | $68,826 | $1,324 |
| Cayuga County | 150 | $68,446 | $1,316 |
| Oneida County | 300 | $67,196 | $1,292 |
| Essex County | 27 | $66,389 | $1,277 |
| Franklin County | 50 | $63,786 | $1,227 |
| Genesee County | 191 | $62,399 | $1,200 |
| Chautauqua County | 333 | $61,511 | $1,183 |
| Otsego County | 67 | $58,901 | $1,133 |
| Fulton County | 57 | $58,758 | $1,130 |
| Orleans County | 33 | $58,033 | $1,116 |
| Montgomery County | 60 | $56,668 | $1,090 |
| Tioga County | 23 | $48,837 | $939 |
Keep comparing
HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New York
Questions this page answers
How much do hvac technicians make in New York?
The median hvac technician in New York earned $35.78 an hour ($74,430 a year) in May 2025, 22% above the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $28.71–$42.37; the top 10% earn more than $48.40.
Where does New York rank for hvac technician pay?
New York ranks 10th of 51 states for hvac technician pay, with a median of $35.78 an hour, and 12th after adjusting for New York's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.9, US = 100).
What is the union hvac technician rate in New York?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for hvac technicians in 4 counties, with a typical package of $79.37 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many hvac technicians work in New York?
BLS counted 24,430 hvac and refrigeration technicians in New York in May 2025, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.96; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New York 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.