HVAC technician salary in Rhode Island
Median $32.39 an hour for 1,450 hvac and refrigeration technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
HVAC technician pay in Rhode Island: the full range
Rhode Island ranks 14th of 51 states for median hvac technician pay, and 20th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.66). 1,450 hvac and refrigeration technicians work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.32 – $23.44 | $38,100 – $48,760 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.44 – $39.23 | $48,760 – $81,610 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $39.23 – $50.04 | $81,610 – $104,080 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
HVAC technician pay by metro in Rhode Island
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $21.62 | $32.39 | $50.04 | 1,930 | about the same as |
HVAC technician wages in Rhode Island over time
Table
| Year | Rhode Island $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $15.90 | $30.73 | $14.50 | 300 |
| 2000 | $17.67 | $33.04 | $15.76 | 590 |
| 2001 | $17.47 | $31.76 | $16.35 | 630 |
| 2002 | $17.95 | $32.12 | $16.78 | 730 |
| 2003 | $18.20 | $31.84 | $16.90 | — |
| 2004 | $18.47 | $31.48 | $17.43 | — |
| 2005 | $18.88 | $31.12 | $17.81 | 1,140 |
| 2006 | $20.90 | $33.38 | $18.11 | 1,170 |
| 2007 | $21.62 | $33.57 | $18.44 | 1,340 |
| 2008 | $22.56 | $33.73 | $19.08 | 1,070 |
| 2009 | $23.09 | $34.65 | $19.76 | 920 |
| 2010 | $23.28 | $34.37 | $20.45 | 790 |
| 2011 | $24.01 | $34.36 | $20.86 | 740 |
| 2012 | $25.48 | $35.73 | $20.98 | 490 |
| 2013 | $26.20 | $36.21 | $21.10 | 460 |
| 2014 | $25.87 | $35.18 | $21.46 | 580 |
| 2015 | $26.87 | $36.50 | $21.69 | 610 |
| 2016 | $26.14 | $35.06 | $22.07 | 650 |
| 2017 | $25.39 | $33.35 | $22.64 | — |
| 2018 | $25.47 | $32.65 | $22.89 | 1,350 |
| 2019 | $27.42 | $34.53 | $23.43 | 1,610 |
| 2020 | $29.44 | $36.62 | $24.32 | 1,250 |
| 2021 | $29.13 | $34.61 | $23.38 | 1,050 |
| 2022 | $29.81 | $32.79 | $24.71 | 1,240 |
| 2023 | $29.93 | $31.62 | $27.55 | 1,180 |
| 2024 | $30.57 | $31.37 | $28.75 | 1,320 |
| 2025 | $32.39 | $32.39 | $29.33 | 1,450 |
In today's dollars, the median hvac technician wage in Rhode Island changed by -11.3% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Rhode Island?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 2,676 | $89,686 | $1,725 |
| Kent County | 1,170 | $84,820 | $1,631 |
| Bristol County | 148 | $81,074 | $1,559 |
| Newport County | 282 | $75,360 | $1,449 |
| Washington County | 301 | $65,233 | $1,254 |
Keep comparing
HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Rhode Island
Questions this page answers
How much do hvac technicians make in Rhode Island?
The median hvac technician in Rhode Island earned $32.39 an hour ($67,370 a year) in May 2025, 10% above the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $23.44–$39.23; the top 10% earn more than $50.04.
Where does Rhode Island rank for hvac technician pay?
Rhode Island ranks 14th of 51 states for hvac technician pay, with a median of $32.39 an hour, and 20th after adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (BEA price parity 102.3, US = 100).
What is the union hvac technician rate in Rhode Island?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a hvac technician classification for most Rhode Island counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many hvac technicians work in Rhode Island?
BLS counted 1,450 hvac and refrigeration technicians in Rhode Island in May 2025, 2.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.10; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Rhode Island 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.