Skilled Wages

HVAC technician salary in Pennsylvania

Median $30.00 an hour for 15,880 HVAC technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$30.00/hrMedian hourly wagePennsylvania, May data
$62,400/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.10 – $43.0010th to 90th percentilehourly range
15,880Jobs countedemployer survey

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

HVAC technician pay in Pennsylvania: the full range

Wage percentiles, PennsylvaniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrPennsylvania: 10th $22.10 · 25th $24.44 · median $30.00 · 75th $35.88 · 90th $43.00Pennsylvania$30.00$22.10$43.00United 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: Pennsylvania vs United States, May 2025.

Pennsylvania ranks 20th of 51 states for median HVAC technician pay, and 28th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.74). 15,880 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$22.10 – $24.44$45,970 – $50,840roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$24.44 – $35.88$50,840 – $74,620the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$35.88 – $43.00$74,620 – $89,440the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



HVAC technician pay by metro in Pennsylvania

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrPhiladelphia: $31.05Philadelphia$31.05Allentown: $30.35Allentown$30.35Harrisburg: $30.08Harrisburg$30.08Lebanon: $29.99Lebanon$29.99Pittsburgh: $29.87Pittsburgh$29.87Chambersburg: $29.85Chambersburg$29.85York: $29.79York$29.79Scranton: $29.69Scranton$29.69Reading: $29.68Reading$29.68Gettysburg: $29.10Gettysburg$29.10Lancaster: $29.10Lancaster$29.10Williamsport: $28.49Williamsport$28.49
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians by metro area in Pennsylvania, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Philadelphia$21.88$31.05$30.26$48.468,6103% above
Allentown$23.27$30.35$30.35$45.471,0001% above
Harrisburg$23.09$30.08$30.48$41.78910about the same as
Lebanon$22.52$29.99$32.18$39.57200about the same as
Pittsburgh$22.35$29.87$31.54$44.572,680about the same as
Chambersburg$22.28$29.85$31.55$38.452301% below
York$21.99$29.79$31.03$43.885601% below
Scranton$22.15$29.69$31.72$43.036501% below
Reading$22.58$29.68$30.57$39.185101% below
Gettysburg$23.09$29.10$30.50$36.57903% below
Lancaster$22.77$29.10$29.60$38.219403% below
Williamsport$21.30$28.49$30.87$38.281205% below
Erie$18.96$28.36$31.16$39.682305% below
Altoona$18.65$28.15$31.45$39.881006% below
State College$21.76$27.87$28.79$35.241907% below
Johnstown$18.93$25.99$30.26$35.8014013% below

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

HVAC technician wages in Pennsylvania over time

Pennsylvania, 1999-2025PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.00Pennsylvania$29.33United States
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians, Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearPennsylvania $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.28$29.53$14.5010,030
2000$16.43$30.72$15.7610,260
2001$17.33$31.50$16.3510,190
2002$17.53$31.37$16.7811,310
2003$17.34$30.34$16.9012,200
2004$18.35$31.27$17.4312,500
2005$18.74$30.89$17.8113,540
2006$18.94$30.25$18.1112,000
2007$19.42$30.15$18.4412,710
2008$19.52$29.19$19.0813,190
2009$19.79$29.70$19.7614,300
2010$20.31$29.99$20.4513,190
2011$21.09$30.18$20.8612,710
2012$21.34$29.92$20.9811,480
2013$21.33$29.48$21.1012,420
2014$21.68$29.48$21.4612,360
2015$22.12$30.05$21.6912,700
2016$22.79$30.57$22.0713,160
2017$23.71$31.14$22.6414,120
2018$24.00$30.77$22.8915,330
2019$24.07$30.31$23.4315,630
2020$25.24$31.40$24.3214,900
2021$23.42$27.83$23.3818,110
2022$24.45$26.90$24.7117,730
2023$28.00$29.58$27.5518,980
2024$29.38$30.15$28.7516,930
2025$30.00$30.00$29.3315,880

In today's dollars, the median HVAC technician wage in Pennsylvania changed by -0.2% over the last ten years of data and by -1.0% since 2019.

Are there more HVAC technician jobs in Pennsylvania?

+1.6%Jobs since 201915,630 then, 15,880 in 2025
+25.0%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 26th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of HVAC technicians counted in Pennsylvania has changed by +58.3%, against +118.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +1.6%.

HVAC and refrigeration technicians in Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999 = 100PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250200020052010201520202025218United States158Pennsylvania
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Pennsylvania vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearPennsylvania jobsPennsylvania indexUS index
199910,030100100
200010,260102105
200110,190102108
200211,310113110
200312,200122113
200412,500125120
200513,540135128
200612,000120134
200712,710127140
200813,190132139
200914,300143130
201013,190132119
201112,710127123
201211,480114128
201312,420124134
201412,360123139
201512,700127146
201613,160131157
201714,120141164
201815,330153173
201915,630156182
202014,900149183
202118,110181190
202217,730177200
202318,980189212
202416,930169211
202515,880158218

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 Pennsylvania

+6.4%Projected growth in Pennsylvania2024–2034, state agency
1,640Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
17,890Jobs in 202419,030 projected for 2034
+10.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects the number of HVAC technicians in the state to change by +6.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 17,890 to 19,030, with about 1,640 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 15,880 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for HVAC technicians in Pennsylvania

On federally funded construction in Pennsylvania, contractors must pay HVAC technicians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 22 of the 31 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $77.32 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $42.66). 8 of the 31 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Cambria County at $49.17). The market median for the state is $30.00.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, PAAdams: n/aAllegheny: n/aArmstrong: n/aBeaver: n/aBedford: n/aBerks: n/aBlair: n/aBradford: n/aBucks: $117.10 (union)Butler: n/aCambria: $49.17 (survey)Cameron: n/aCarbon: $102.43 (union)Centre: n/aChester: $117.10 (union)Clarion: $77.32 (union)Clearfield: n/aClinton: $70.81 (union)Columbia: n/aCrawford: $77.32 (union)Cumberland: $42.66 (survey)Dauphin: $37.11 (survey)Delaware: $117.10 (union)Elk: n/aErie: n/aFayette: n/aForest: $77.32 (union)Franklin: n/aFulton: $70.81 (union)Greene: $77.32 (union)Huntingdon: n/aIndiana: $77.32 (union)Jefferson: $77.32 (union)Juniata: $70.81 (union)Lackawanna: n/aLancaster: $28.18 (survey)Lawrence: $77.32 (union)Lebanon: $54.27 (survey)Lehigh: $87.89 (survey)Luzerne: n/aLycoming: n/aMcKean: $77.32 (union)Mercer: n/aMifflin: $70.81 (union)Monroe: n/aMontgomery: $117.10 (union)Montour: n/aNorthampton: $102.43 (union)Northumberland: $19.35 (survey)Perry: $40.04 (survey)Philadelphia: n/aPike: n/aPotter: n/aSchuylkill: n/aSnyder: $70.81 (union)Somerset: n/aSullivan: n/aSusquehanna: n/aTioga: n/aUnion: $70.81 (union)Venango: $77.32 (union)Warren: $77.32 (union)Washington: n/aWayne: n/aWestmoreland: n/aWyoming: n/aYork: $53.38 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$53.38$70.81$77.32$87.89n/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$50$100$150/hrBucks (Philadelphia): market median $31.05, prevailing (union) $117.10, gap +$86.05Bucks (Philadelphia)+$86.05Carbon (Allentown): market median $30.35, prevailing (union) $102.43, gap +$72.08Carbon (Allentown)+$72.08Lawrence (Pittsburgh): market median $29.87, prevailing (union) $77.32, gap +$47.45Lawrence (Pittsburgh)+$47.45Lebanon (Lebanon): market median $29.99, prevailing (survey) $54.27, gap +$24.28Lebanon (Lebanon)+$24.28York (York): market median $29.79, prevailing (survey) $53.38, gap +$23.59York (York)+$23.59Cambria (Johnstown): market median $25.99, prevailing (survey) $49.17, gap +$23.18Cambria (Johnstown)+$23.18Cumberland (Harrisburg): market median $30.08, prevailing (survey) $42.66, gap +$12.58Cumberland (Harrisburg)+$12.58Lancaster (Lancaster): market median $29.10, prevailing (survey) $28.18, gap −$0.92Lancaster (Lancaster)−$0.92
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for HVAC technicians, metro counties in Pennsylvania.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BucksUnion PLUM0420-013 2025-05-01$72.52$44.58$117.10PA20260078
ChesterUnion PLUM0420-013 2025-05-01$72.52$44.58$117.10PA20260083
DelawareUnion PLUM0420-013 2025-05-01$72.52$44.58$117.10PA20260087
MontgomeryUnion PLUM0420-013 2025-05-01$72.52$44.58$117.10PA20260099
CarbonUnion PLUM0420-014 2024-05-01$59.65$42.78$102.43PA20260081
NorthamptonUnion PLUM0420-014 2024-05-01$59.65$42.78$102.43PA20260101
Lehighuavg UAVGPA0026 2025-01-01$53.09$34.80$87.89PA20260094
ClarionUnion PLUM0449-003 2024-06-01$48.15$29.17$77.32PA20260046
CrawfordUnion PLUM0449-003 2024-06-01$48.15$29.17$77.32PA20260049
ForestUnion PLUM0449-003 2024-06-01$48.15$29.17$77.32PA20260051
GreeneUnion PLUM0449-003 2024-06-01$48.15$29.17$77.32PA20260053
IndianaUnion PLUM0449-003 2024-06-01$48.15$29.17$77.32PA20260055
JeffersonUnion PLUM0449-003 2024-06-01$48.15$29.17$77.32PA20260056
LawrenceUnion PLUM0449-003 2024-06-01$48.15$29.17$77.32PA20260058
McKeanUnion PLUM0449-003 2024-06-01$48.15$29.17$77.32PA20260059

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Pennsylvania prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Pennsylvania?

272.0kConstruction jobsPennsylvania, 2026-09
-0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025272kSep 2026
Construction employment in Pennsylvania (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 64 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 139,301 in 2015 to 159,871 in 2025, +14.8%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Philadelphia County2142,622$116,311$2,237
Fulton County551$108,936$2,095
Montgomery County3304,922$105,041$2,020
Bucks County3863,753$101,416$1,950
Dauphin County651,660$94,957$1,826
Lehigh County841,544$92,500$1,779
Delaware County2422,341$92,322$1,775
Berks County1481,464$88,373$1,699
Chester County2071,960$85,595$1,646
Allegheny County4445,795$84,545$1,626
Union County12173$83,326$1,602
Columbia County17191$83,010$1,596

Keep comparing

HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Pennsylvania

More on Pennsylvania

Questions this page answers

How much do HVAC technicians make in Pennsylvania?

The median HVAC technician in Pennsylvania earned $30.00 an hour ($62,400 a year) in May 2025, 2% above the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $24.44–$35.88; the top 10% earn more than $43.00.

Where does Pennsylvania rank for HVAC technician pay?

Pennsylvania ranks 20th of 51 states for HVAC technician pay, with a median of $30.00 an hour, and 28th after adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.6, US = 100).

What is the union HVAC technician rate in Pennsylvania?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for HVAC technicians in 22 counties, with a typical package of $77.32 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many HVAC technicians work in Pennsylvania?

BLS counted 15,880 HVAC technicians in Pennsylvania in May 2025, 2.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.99; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is HVAC technician work growing in Pennsylvania?

The BLS employer survey count of HVAC technicians in Pennsylvania went from 12,700 in 2015 to 15,880 in 2025, +25.0%, and +1.6% since 2019. Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects +6.4% growth for HVAC technicians between 2024 and 2034, from 17,890 to 19,030 jobs.

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

Pennsylvania projects about 1,640 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, Pennsylvania 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: Pennsylvania labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.