Skilled Wages

HVAC technician salary in North Carolina

Median $27.53 an hour for 15,230 HVAC technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$27.53/hrMedian hourly wageNorth Carolina, May data
$57,260/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.16 – $37.1010th to 90th percentilehourly range
15,230Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

HVAC technician pay in North Carolina: the full range

Wage percentiles, North CarolinaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrNorth Carolina: 10th $18.16 · 25th $22.52 · median $27.53 · 75th $30.92 · 90th $37.10North Carolina$27.53$18.16$37.10United 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: North Carolina vs United States, May 2025.

North Carolina ranks 40th of 51 states for median HVAC technician pay, and 34th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.19). 15,230 HVAC technicians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.16 – $22.52$37,780 – $46,830roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.52 – $30.92$46,830 – $64,310the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$30.92 – $37.10$64,310 – $77,160the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



HVAC technician pay by metro in North Carolina

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrCharlotte: $28.77Charlotte$28.77Virginia Beach: $28.59Virginia Beach$28.59Durham: $28.45Durham$28.45Raleigh: $28.32Raleigh$28.32Greensboro: $28.14Greensboro$28.14Asheville: $27.94Asheville$27.94Fayetteville: $27.03Fayetteville$27.03Rocky Mount: $26.78Rocky Mount$26.78Winston-Salem: $26.61Winston-Salem$26.61Greenville: $25.56Greenville$25.56Pinehurst: $25.28Pinehurst$25.28Burlington: $25.21Burlington$25.21
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians by metro area in North Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Charlotte$19.29$28.77$29.57$38.083,8605% above
Virginia Beach$18.85$28.59$29.20$37.002,8404% above
Durham$19.02$28.45$29.15$37.197503% above
Raleigh$18.83$28.32$28.84$37.422,5503% above
Greensboro$18.28$28.14$30.29$36.721,1702% above
Asheville$20.93$27.94$28.95$36.536601% above
Fayetteville$17.70$27.03$29.38$35.014902% below
Rocky Mount$18.24$26.78$30.43$34.131503% below
Winston-Salem$18.16$26.61$28.92$35.877003% below
Greenville$17.71$25.56$28.91$34.922207% below
Pinehurst$17.53$25.28$28.63$30.581608% below
Burlington$18.02$25.21$27.05$35.552808% below
Goldsboro$17.24$24.78$28.00$34.1216010% below
Hickory$17.73$24.18$27.32$35.2130012% below
Wilmington$17.83$23.97$24.87$35.2371013% below
Jacksonville$16.71$23.35$25.35$34.3621015% below

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

HVAC technician wages in North Carolina over time

North Carolina, 1999-2025North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$29.33United States$27.53North Carolina
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians, North Carolina vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNorth Carolina $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.44$24.04$14.509,190
2000$14.66$27.41$15.766,130
2001$14.85$27.00$16.356,870
2002$14.04$25.13$16.787,820
2003$14.51$25.39$16.908,170
2004$14.77$25.17$17.43—
2005$15.01$24.74$17.818,090
2006$16.45$26.27$18.117,910
2007$17.52$27.20$18.447,950
2008$18.32$27.39$19.088,200
2009$18.43$27.66$19.767,690
2010$18.56$27.40$20.458,080
2011$18.21$26.06$20.869,700
2012$18.29$25.65$20.9810,670
2013$18.20$25.15$21.1010,800
2014$18.64$25.35$21.4611,020
2015$18.79$25.52$21.6910,800
2016$19.38$26.00$22.0711,770
2017$19.50$25.61$22.6413,890
2018$20.11$25.78$22.8914,370
2019$20.75$26.13$23.4313,800
2020$21.94$27.29$24.3213,240
2021$22.76$27.04$23.3815,150
2022$23.08$25.39$24.7114,160
2023$24.33$25.71$27.5513,320
2024$24.97$25.63$28.7513,750
2025$27.53$27.53$29.3315,230

In today's dollars, the median HVAC technician wage in North Carolina changed by +7.9% over the last ten years of data and by +5.4% since 2019.

Are there more HVAC technician jobs in North Carolina?

+10.4%Jobs since 201913,800 then, 15,230 in 2025
+41.0%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 16th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of HVAC technicians counted in North Carolina has changed by +65.7%, against +118.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +10.4%.

HVAC and refrigeration technicians in North Carolina vs United States, 1999 = 100North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250200020052010201520202025218United States166North Carolina
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, North Carolina vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNorth Carolina jobsNorth Carolina indexUS index
19999,190100100
20006,13067105
20016,87075108
20027,82085110
20038,17089113
20058,09088128
20067,91086134
20077,95086140
20088,20089139
20097,69084130
20108,08088119
20119,700106123
201210,670116128
201310,800118134
201411,020120139
201510,800118146
201611,770128157
201713,890151164
201814,370156173
201913,800150182
202013,240144183
202115,150165190
202214,160154200
202313,320145212
202413,750150211
202515,230166218

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 North Carolina

+9.3%Projected growth in North Carolina2024–2034, state agency
1,400Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
14,550Jobs in 202415,900 projected for 2034
+10.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

North Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of HVAC technicians in the state to change by +9.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 14,550 to 15,900, with about 1,400 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 15,230 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for HVAC technicians in North Carolina

On federally funded construction in North Carolina, contractors must pay HVAC technicians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 54 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $18.01). 54 of the 54 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Alleghany County at $19.98). The market median for the state is $27.53.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NCAlamance: n/aAlexander: n/aAlleghany: $19.98 (survey)Anson: $19.59 (survey)Ashe: $19.98 (survey)Avery: $19.98 (survey)Beaufort: $17.11 (survey)Bertie: $17.11 (survey)Bladen: $18.01 (survey)Brunswick: n/aBuncombe: n/aBurke: n/aCabarrus: n/aCaldwell: n/aCamden: $17.11 (survey)Carteret: $17.11 (survey)Caswell: $19.98 (survey)Catawba: n/aChatham: n/aCherokee: $19.98 (survey)Chowan: $17.11 (survey)Clay: $19.98 (survey)Cleveland: $18.01 (survey)Columbus: $18.01 (survey)Craven: n/aCumberland: n/aCurrituck: n/aDare: $17.11 (survey)Davidson: n/aDavie: n/aDuplin: $18.01 (survey)Durham: n/aEdgecombe: n/aForsyth: n/aFranklin: n/aGaston: n/aGates: n/aGraham: $19.98 (survey)Granville: $19.98 (survey)Greene: $21.94 (survey)Guilford: n/aHalifax: $19.98 (survey)Harnett: $18.01 (survey)Haywood: n/aHenderson: n/aHertford: $17.11 (survey)Hoke: n/aHyde: $17.11 (survey)Iredell: n/aJackson: $19.98 (survey)Johnston: n/aJones: n/aLee: $18.01 (survey)Lenoir: $18.01 (survey)Lincoln: n/aMcDowell: $19.98 (survey)Macon: $19.98 (survey)Madison: n/aMartin: $17.11 (survey)Mecklenburg: n/aMitchell: $19.98 (survey)Montgomery: $18.01 (survey)Moore: $18.01 (survey)Nash: n/aNew Hanover: n/aNorthampton: $19.98 (survey)Onslow: n/aOrange: n/aPamlico: n/aPasquotank: $17.11 (survey)Pender: n/aPerquimans: $17.11 (survey)Person: n/aPitt: n/aPolk: $19.98 (survey)Randolph: n/aRichmond: $18.01 (survey)Robeson: $18.01 (survey)Rockingham: n/aRowan: n/aRutherford: $19.98 (survey)Sampson: $18.01 (survey)Scotland: $18.01 (survey)Stanly: $18.01 (survey)Stokes: n/aSurry: $19.98 (survey)Swain: $19.98 (survey)Transylvania: $19.98 (survey)Tyrrell: $17.11 (survey)Union: n/aVance: $19.98 (survey)Wake: n/aWarren: $19.98 (survey)Washington: $17.11 (survey)Watauga: $19.98 (survey)Wayne: n/aWilkes: $19.98 (survey)Wilson: $18.01 (survey)Yadkin: n/aYancey: $19.98 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$18.01$19.98n/asurvey 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)$15$20$25$30/hrMoore (Pinehurst): market median $25.28, prevailing (survey) $18.01, gap −$7.27Moore (Pinehurst)−$7.27Anson (Charlotte): market median $28.77, prevailing (survey) $19.59, gap −$9.18Anson (Charlotte)−$9.18Camden (Virginia Beach): market median $28.59, prevailing (survey) $17.11, gap −$11.48Camden (Virginia Beach)−$11.48
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for HVAC technicians, metro counties in North Carolina.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
GreeneSurvey SUNC2023-005 2011-08-24$19.69$2.25$21.94NC20260046
AlleghanySurvey SUNC2011-031 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260050
AsheSurvey SUNC2011-042 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260061
AverySurvey SUNC2011-032 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260051
CaswellSurvey SUNC2011-045 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260064
CherokeeSurvey SUNC2011-033 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260052
ClaySurvey SUNC2011-042 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260061
GrahamSurvey SUNC2011-042 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260061
GranvilleSurvey SUNC2011-045 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260064
HalifaxSurvey SUNC2011-045 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260064
JacksonSurvey SUNC2011-035 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260054
McDowellSurvey SUNC2011-042 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260061
MaconSurvey SUNC2011-042 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260061
MitchellSurvey SUNC2011-042 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260061
NorthamptonSurvey SUNC2011-036 2011-08-26$16.94$3.04$19.98NC20260055

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the North Carolina prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in North Carolina?

296.4kConstruction jobsNorth Carolina, 2026-09
+6.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025296kSep 2026
Construction employment in North Carolina (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 91 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 116,615 in 2015 to 167,614 in 2025, +43.7%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Mecklenburg County3587,418$85,232$1,639
Union County1551,862$83,836$1,612
Wake County4938,000$80,701$1,552
Guilford County1953,270$77,077$1,482
Orange County52468$77,025$1,481
Durham County861,094$73,197$1,408
Alamance County83960$72,092$1,386
Henderson County82550$71,852$1,382
Cumberland County1091,168$71,491$1,375
Rowan County63850$71,237$1,370
Nash County40398$70,992$1,365
Iredell County96674$70,800$1,362

Keep comparing

HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in North Carolina

More on North Carolina

Questions this page answers

How much do HVAC technicians make in North Carolina?

The median HVAC technician in North Carolina earned $27.53 an hour ($57,260 a year) in May 2025, 6% below the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $22.52–$30.92; the top 10% earn more than $37.10.

Where does North Carolina rank for HVAC technician pay?

North Carolina ranks 40th of 51 states for HVAC technician pay, with a median of $27.53 an hour, and 34th after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).

What is the union HVAC technician rate in North Carolina?

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

How many HVAC technicians work in North Carolina?

BLS counted 15,230 HVAC technicians in North Carolina in May 2025, 3.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.17; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is HVAC technician work growing in North Carolina?

The BLS employer survey count of HVAC technicians in North Carolina went from 10,800 in 2015 to 15,230 in 2025, +41.0%, and +10.4% since 2019. North Carolina's labor market agency projects +9.3% growth for HVAC technicians between 2024 and 2034, from 14,550 to 15,900 jobs.

How many HVAC technician openings a year are there in North Carolina?

North Carolina projects about 1,400 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, North Carolina 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 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: North Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.