Skilled Wages

HVAC technician salary in Ohio

Median $30.06 an hour for 14,150 HVAC technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$30.06/hrMedian hourly wageOhio, May data
$62,510/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.57 – $47.2610th to 90th percentilehourly range
14,150Jobs countedemployer survey

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

HVAC technician pay in Ohio: the full range

Wage percentiles, OhioMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrOhio: 10th $18.57 · 25th $23.27 · median $30.06 · 75th $37.59 · 90th $47.26Ohio$30.06$18.57$47.26United 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: Ohio vs United States, May 2025.

Ohio ranks 19th of 51 states for median HVAC technician pay, and 14th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.39). 14,150 HVAC technicians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.5× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.57 – $23.27$38,630 – $48,410roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.27 – $37.59$48,410 – $78,190the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$37.59 – $47.26$78,190 – $98,310the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



HVAC technician pay by metro in Ohio

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrColumbus: $30.98Columbus$30.98Cleveland: $30.19Cleveland$30.19Springfield: $30.13Springfield$30.13Dayton: $30.05Dayton$30.05Toledo: $30.03Toledo$30.03Cincinnati: $29.92Cincinnati$29.92Youngstown: $29.45Youngstown$29.45Akron: $29.37Akron$29.37Sandusky: $29.35Sandusky$29.35Lima: $29.30Lima$29.30Mansfield: $28.37Mansfield$28.37Canton: $28.32Canton$28.32
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians by metro area in Ohio, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Columbus$19.56$30.98$32.44$48.363,0003% above
Cleveland$18.86$30.19$32.15$47.262,610about the same as
Springfield$16.80$30.13$33.29$44.8580about the same as
Dayton$18.57$30.05$32.42$46.451,090about the same as
Toledo$18.56$30.03$32.82$47.95650about the same as
Cincinnati$19.11$29.92$31.36$46.352,950about the same as
Youngstown$17.59$29.45$33.70$45.953702% below
Akron$18.38$29.37$31.45$46.498502% below
Sandusky$18.61$29.35$32.87$45.391202% below
Lima$18.85$29.30$32.66$37.271603% below
Mansfield$17.44$28.37$31.91$44.641306% below
Canton$17.84$28.32$31.68$44.194206% below
Weirton$15.48$27.41$30.80$37.12809% below
Wheeling$17.55$27.04$30.62$37.4310010% below
Huntington$17.20$23.49$26.57$35.2936022% below

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

HVAC technician wages in Ohio over time

Ohio, 1999-2025OhioUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.06Ohio$29.33United States
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians, Ohio vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearOhio $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.59$28.19$14.507,390
2000$14.69$27.46$15.767,860
2001$15.66$28.47$16.357,510
2002$16.30$29.17$16.787,570
2003$16.27$28.47$16.907,720
2004$17.35$29.57$17.437,780
2005$17.65$29.10$17.817,720
2006$17.95$28.67$18.118,750
2007$17.94$27.86$18.449,230
2008$19.18$28.68$19.0810,880
2009$20.22$30.34$19.769,290
2010$21.33$31.49$20.458,820
2011$20.57$29.44$20.868,190
2012$20.47$28.70$20.988,310
2013$20.31$28.07$21.108,780
2014$20.83$28.33$21.469,800
2015$21.23$28.84$21.6910,740
2016$21.88$29.35$22.0710,770
2017$22.19$29.14$22.6411,480
2018$22.54$28.90$22.8911,130
2019$22.73$28.62$23.4312,100
2020$23.53$29.27$24.3212,850
2021$23.47$27.89$23.3811,580
2022$24.31$26.74$24.7113,710
2023$27.39$28.94$27.5514,450
2024$29.08$29.85$28.7513,570
2025$30.06$30.06$29.3314,150

In today's dollars, the median HVAC technician wage in Ohio changed by +4.2% over the last ten years of data and by +5.0% since 2019.

Are there more HVAC technician jobs in Ohio?

+16.9%Jobs since 201912,100 then, 14,150 in 2025
+31.8%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 28th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of HVAC technicians counted in Ohio has changed by +91.5%, against +118.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +16.9%.

HVAC and refrigeration technicians in Ohio vs United States, 1999 = 100OhioUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250200020052010201520202025218United States192Ohio
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Ohio vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearOhio jobsOhio indexUS index
19997,390100100
20007,860106105
20017,510102108
20027,570102110
20037,720104113
20047,780105120
20057,720104128
20068,750118134
20079,230125140
200810,880147139
20099,290126130
20108,820119119
20118,190111123
20128,310112128
20138,780119134
20149,800133139
201510,740145146
201610,770146157
201711,480155164
201811,130151173
201912,100164182
202012,850174183
202111,580157190
202213,710186200
202314,450196212
202413,570184211
202514,150192218

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 Ohio

+7.4%Projected growth in Ohio2024–2034, state agency
1,360Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
14,620Jobs in 202415,690 projected for 2034
+10.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Ohio's labor market agency projects the number of HVAC technicians in the state to change by +7.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 14,620 to 15,690, with about 1,360 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 14,150 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for HVAC technicians in Ohio

On federally funded construction in Ohio, contractors must pay HVAC technicians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 20 of the 47 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $83.56 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $42.03). 16 of the 47 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Allen County at $19.57). The market median for the state is $30.06.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, OHAdams: n/aAllen: $19.57 (survey)Ashland: $63.54 (survey)Ashtabula: $77.72 (union)Athens: n/aAuglaize: $83.56 (union)Belmont: $72.33 (union)Brown: n/aButler: n/aCarroll: n/aChampaign: $83.56 (union)Clark: $70.23 (union)Clermont: n/aClinton: n/aColumbiana: $63.54 (survey)Coshocton: n/aCrawford: $63.54 (survey)Cuyahoga: n/aDarke: $83.56 (union)Defiance: $83.56 (union)Delaware: $42.03 (survey)Erie: n/aFairfield: $42.03 (survey)Fayette: n/aFranklin: $44.05 (survey)Fulton: n/aGallia: n/aGeauga: n/aGreene: $43.75 (survey)Guernsey: n/aHamilton: n/aHancock: $18.88 (survey)Hardin: $83.56 (union)Harrison: n/aHenry: $83.56 (union)Highland: n/aHocking: n/aHolmes: $63.54 (survey)Huron: $63.54 (survey)Jackson: n/aJefferson: $72.33 (union)Knox: $63.54 (survey)Lake: n/aLawrence: n/aLicking: $42.03 (survey)Logan: $83.56 (union)Lorain: n/aLucas: n/aMadison: $42.03 (survey)Mahoning: n/aMarion: $63.54 (survey)Medina: n/aMeigs: n/aMercer: $83.56 (union)Miami: $37.09 (survey)Monroe: n/aMontgomery: $70.23 (union)Morgan: n/aMorrow: $42.03 (survey)Muskingum: n/aNoble: n/aOttawa: n/aPaulding: $83.56 (union)Perry: n/aPickaway: $42.03 (survey)Pike: n/aPortage: $35.12 (survey)Preble: $35.48 (survey)Putnam: $83.56 (union)Richland: $42.03 (survey)Ross: $59.89 (union)Sandusky: $63.54 (survey)Scioto: n/aSeneca: $63.54 (survey)Shelby: $83.56 (union)Stark: n/aSummit: $35.12 (survey)Trumbull: n/aTuscarawas: n/aUnion: $42.03 (survey)Van Wert: $83.56 (union)Vinton: n/aWarren: n/aWashington: n/aWayne: $63.54 (survey)Williams: $83.56 (union)Wood: $83.56 (union)Wyandot: $63.54 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$42.03$63.54$67.55n/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 (union)Prevailing (survey)$0$20$40$60$80$100/hrWood (Toledo): market median $30.03, prevailing (union) $83.56, gap +$53.53Wood (Toledo)+$53.53Ashtabula (Cleveland): market median $30.19, prevailing (union) $77.72, gap +$47.53Ashtabula (Cleveland)+$47.53Belmont (Wheeling): market median $27.04, prevailing (union) $72.33, gap +$45.29Belmont (Wheeling)+$45.29Jefferson (Weirton): market median $27.41, prevailing (union) $72.33, gap +$44.92Jefferson (Weirton)+$44.92Montgomery (Dayton): market median $30.05, prevailing (union) $70.23, gap +$40.18Montgomery (Dayton)+$40.18Clark (Springfield): market median $30.13, prevailing (union) $70.23, gap +$40.10Clark (Springfield)+$40.10Richland (Mansfield): market median $28.37, prevailing (survey) $42.03, gap +$13.66Richland (Mansfield)+$13.66Franklin (Columbus): market median $30.98, prevailing (survey) $44.05, gap +$13.07Franklin (Columbus)+$13.07Portage (Akron): market median $29.37, prevailing (survey) $35.12, gap +$5.75Portage (Akron)+$5.75Allen (Lima): market median $29.30, prevailing (survey) $19.57, gap −$9.73Allen (Lima)−$9.73
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for HVAC technicians, metro counties in Ohio.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AuglaizeUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260034
ChampaignUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260035
DarkeUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260038
DefianceUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260039
HardinUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260066
HenryUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260043
LoganUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260046
MercerUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260048
PauldingUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260066
PutnamUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260052
ShelbyUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260057
Van WertUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260059
WilliamsUnion PLUM0050-010 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260062
WoodUnion PLUM0050-008 2025-06-30$51.00$32.56$83.56OH20260105
AshtabulaUnion PLUM0120-008 2025-05-01$49.17$28.55$77.72OH20260032

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

Is construction work growing in Ohio?

285.5kConstruction jobsOhio, 2026-09
+6.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025286kSep 2026
Construction employment in Ohio (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 85 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 125,848 in 2015 to 165,365 in 2025, +31.4%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Franklin County3036,846$94,441$1,816
Darke County17168$88,038$1,693
Hamilton County2425,951$86,254$1,659
Summit County1322,930$85,655$1,647
Cuyahoga County3504,501$85,199$1,638
Wood County41579$84,211$1,619
Butler County961,574$83,959$1,615
Sandusky County18157$83,564$1,607
Portage County37350$82,887$1,594
Shelby County15336$81,392$1,565
Fairfield County63782$80,866$1,555
Miami County47285$79,672$1,532

Keep comparing

HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Ohio

More on Ohio

Questions this page answers

How much do HVAC technicians make in Ohio?

The median HVAC technician in Ohio earned $30.06 an hour ($62,510 a year) in May 2025, 2% above the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $23.27–$37.59; the top 10% earn more than $47.26.

Where does Ohio rank for HVAC technician pay?

Ohio ranks 19th of 51 states for HVAC technician pay, with a median of $30.06 an hour, and 14th after adjusting for Ohio's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.8, US = 100).

What is the union HVAC technician rate in Ohio?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for HVAC technicians in 20 counties, with a typical package of $83.56 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many HVAC technicians work in Ohio?

BLS counted 14,150 HVAC technicians in Ohio in May 2025, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.97; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is HVAC technician work growing in Ohio?

The BLS employer survey count of HVAC technicians in Ohio went from 10,740 in 2015 to 14,150 in 2025, +31.8%, and +16.9% since 2019. Ohio's labor market agency projects +7.4% growth for HVAC technicians between 2024 and 2034, from 14,620 to 15,690 jobs.

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

Ohio projects about 1,360 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, Ohio 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: Ohio labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.