Skilled Wages

HVAC technician salary in Tennessee

Median $26.68 an hour for 9,740 HVAC technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$26.68/hrMedian hourly wageTennessee, May data
$55,490/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.53 – $39.2310th to 90th percentilehourly range
9,740Jobs countedemployer survey

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

HVAC technician pay in Tennessee: the full range

Wage percentiles, TennesseeMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrTennessee: 10th $18.53 · 25th $22.59 · median $26.68 · 75th $31.53 · 90th $39.23Tennessee$26.68$18.53$39.23United 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: Tennessee vs United States, May 2025.

Tennessee ranks 45th of 51 states for median HVAC technician pay, and 37th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.03). 9,740 HVAC technicians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.53 – $22.59$38,540 – $46,990roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.59 – $31.53$46,990 – $65,590the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$31.53 – $39.23$65,590 – $81,590the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



HVAC technician pay by metro in Tennessee

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrNashville: $28.97Nashville$28.97Knoxville: $27.30Knoxville$27.30Memphis: $27.30Memphis$27.30Jackson: $26.03Jackson$26.03Chattanooga: $24.49Chattanooga$24.49Clarksville: $24.27Clarksville$24.27Kingsport: $23.54Kingsport$23.54Morristown: $23.39Morristown$23.39Johnson City: $23.08Johnson City$23.08
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians by metro area in Tennessee, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Nashville$22.41$28.97$30.08$43.833,5009% above
Knoxville$18.81$27.30$29.48$40.771,4702% above
Memphis$18.67$27.30$29.61$42.141,7402% above
Jackson$19.01$26.03$30.44$37.202602% below
Chattanooga$17.86$24.49$26.77$37.038508% below
Clarksville$18.52$24.27$26.70$34.513309% below
Kingsport$17.12$23.54$27.25$31.6329012% below
Morristown$17.99$23.39$27.07$37.395012% below
Johnson City$17.91$23.08$26.26$33.6823013% below

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

HVAC technician wages in Tennessee over time

Tennessee, 1999-2025TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.33United States$26.68Tennessee
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians, Tennessee vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearTennessee $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.99$27.03$14.503,360
2000$13.43$25.11$15.763,700
2001$14.46$26.29$16.353,470
2002$15.12$27.06$16.784,180
2003$15.03$26.30$16.904,830
2004$16.13$27.49$17.434,960
2005$14.23$23.46$17.815,390
2006$13.77$21.99$18.115,590
2007$14.53$22.56$18.446,290
2008$16.05$24.00$19.085,590
2009$17.35$26.04$19.764,920
2010$17.85$26.35$20.453,960
2011$18.16$25.99$20.864,140
2012$17.99$25.23$20.985,070
2013$18.07$24.97$21.106,330
2014$18.73$25.47$21.466,880
2015$19.09$25.93$21.697,030
2016$19.59$26.28$22.077,570
2017$20.27$26.62$22.647,760
2018$19.94$25.56$22.897,920
2019$19.29$24.29$23.438,330
2020$19.80$24.63$24.328,740
2021$22.42$26.64$23.388,740
2022$22.85$25.14$24.719,940
2023$23.10$24.41$27.559,880
2024$24.75$25.40$28.7510,510
2025$26.68$26.68$29.339,740

In today's dollars, the median HVAC technician wage in Tennessee changed by +2.9% over the last ten years of data and by +9.8% since 2019.

Are there more HVAC technician jobs in Tennessee?

+16.9%Jobs since 20198,330 then, 9,740 in 2025
+38.5%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.0Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 18th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of HVAC technicians counted in Tennessee has changed by +189.9%, against +118.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +16.9%.

HVAC and refrigeration technicians in Tennessee vs United States, 1999 = 100TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages0100200300400200020052010201520202025290Tennessee218United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Tennessee vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearTennessee jobsTennessee indexUS index
19993,360100100
20003,700110105
20013,470103108
20024,180124110
20034,830144113
20044,960148120
20055,390160128
20065,590166134
20076,290187140
20085,590166139
20094,920146130
20103,960118119
20114,140123123
20125,070151128
20136,330188134
20146,880205139
20157,030209146
20167,570225157
20177,760231164
20187,920236173
20198,330248182
20208,740260183
20218,740260190
20229,940296200
20239,880294212
202410,510313211
20259,740290218

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 Tennessee

+20.7%Projected growth in Tennessee2024–2034, state agency
1,210Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
10,780Jobs in 202413,020 projected for 2034
+10.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Tennessee's labor market agency projects the number of HVAC technicians in the state to change by +20.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 10,780 to 13,020, with about 1,210 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 9,740 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for HVAC technicians in Tennessee

On federally funded construction in Tennessee, contractors must pay HVAC technicians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 9 of the 31 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $55.10 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $18.79). The market median for the state is $26.68.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, TNAnderson: $55.10 (union)Bedford: n/aBenton: n/aBledsoe: n/aBlount: $47.96 (survey)Bradley: n/aCampbell: $47.96 (survey)Cannon: $18.79 (survey)Carroll: n/aCarter: $55.10 (union)Cheatham: $18.79 (survey)Chester: n/aClaiborne: n/aClay: n/aCocke: n/aCoffee: n/aCrockett: n/aCumberland: n/aDavidson: $18.79 (survey)Decatur: n/aDeKalb: n/aDickson: $18.79 (survey)Dyer: n/aFayette: $51.61 (union)Fentress: n/aFranklin: n/aGibson: n/aGiles: n/aGrainger: $47.96 (survey)Greene: n/aGrundy: n/aHamblen: n/aHamilton: n/aHancock: n/aHardeman: n/aHardin: n/aHawkins: $55.10 (union)Haywood: n/aHenderson: n/aHenry: n/aHickman: $18.79 (survey)Houston: n/aHumphreys: n/aJackson: n/aJefferson: n/aJohnson: n/aKnox: $47.96 (survey)Lake: n/aLauderdale: n/aLawrence: n/aLewis: n/aLincoln: n/aLoudon: $47.96 (survey)McMinn: n/aMcNairy: n/aMacon: $18.79 (survey)Madison: n/aMarion: n/aMarshall: n/aMaury: $18.79 (survey)Meigs: n/aMonroe: n/aMontgomery: n/aMoore: n/aMorgan: $47.96 (survey)Obion: n/aOverton: n/aPerry: n/aPickett: n/aPolk: n/aPutnam: n/aRhea: n/aRoane: $47.96 (survey)Robertson: $18.79 (survey)Rutherford: $18.79 (survey)Scott: n/aSequatchie: n/aSevier: n/aShelby: $51.61 (union)Smith: $18.79 (survey)Stewart: n/aSullivan: $55.10 (union)Sumner: $18.79 (survey)Tipton: $51.61 (union)Trousdale: $18.79 (survey)Unicoi: $55.10 (union)Union: $47.96 (survey)Van Buren: n/aWarren: n/aWashington: $55.10 (union)Wayne: n/aWeakley: n/aWhite: n/aWilliamson: $18.79 (survey)Wilson: $18.79 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$47.96$51.61n/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/hrCarter (Johnson City): market median $23.08, prevailing (union) $55.10, gap +$32.02Carter (Johnson City)+$32.02Hawkins (Kingsport): market median $23.54, prevailing (union) $55.10, gap +$31.56Hawkins (Kingsport)+$31.56Anderson (Knoxville): market median $27.30, prevailing (union) $55.10, gap +$27.80Anderson (Knoxville)+$27.80Fayette (Memphis): market median $27.30, prevailing (union) $51.61, gap +$24.31Fayette (Memphis)+$24.31Cannon (Nashville): market median $28.97, prevailing (survey) $18.79, gap −$10.18Cannon (Nashville)−$10.18
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for HVAC technicians, metro counties in Tennessee.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AndersonUnion SHEE0005-004 2025-05-01$37.70$17.40$55.10TN20260176
CarterUnion SHEE0005-017 2025-05-01$37.70$17.40$55.10TN20260197
HawkinsUnion SHEE0005-017 2025-05-01$37.70$17.40$55.10TN20260201
SullivanUnion SHEE0005-017 2025-05-01$37.70$17.40$55.10TN20260201
UnicoiUnion SHEE0005-017 2025-05-01$37.70$17.40$55.10TN20260197
WashingtonUnion SHEE0005-017 2025-05-01$37.70$17.40$55.10TN20260191
FayetteUnion SHEE0004-008 2024-01-01$34.95$16.66$51.61TN20260200
ShelbyUnion SHEE0004-008 2024-01-01$34.95$16.66$51.61TN20260200
TiptonUnion SHEE0004-008 2024-01-01$34.95$16.66$51.61TN20260189
Blountuavg UAVGTN0001 2025-01-01$32.81$15.15$47.96TN20260177
Campbelluavg UAVGTN0001 2025-01-01$32.81$15.15$47.96TN20260195
Graingeruavg UAVGTN0001 2025-01-01$32.81$15.15$47.96TN20260195
Knoxuavg UAVGTN0001 2025-01-01$32.81$15.15$47.96TN20260182
Loudonuavg UAVGTN0001 2025-01-01$32.81$15.15$47.96TN20260202
Morganuavg UAVGTN0001 2025-01-01$32.81$15.15$47.96TN20260202

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

Is construction work growing in Tennessee?

169.4kConstruction jobsTennessee, 2026-09
+0.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025169kSep 2026
Construction employment in Tennessee (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 80 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 69,010 in 2015 to 102,706 in 2025, +48.8%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Franklin County1048$103,237$1,985
White County1075$101,432$1,951
Roane County17380$100,694$1,936
Davidson County2306,042$91,416$1,758
Anderson County28634$89,688$1,725
Williamson County712,100$89,570$1,722
Shelby County2464,074$81,642$1,570
Rutherford County103992$78,290$1,506
Hamilton County1491,992$77,306$1,487
Cocke County842$76,788$1,477
Madison County31631$76,592$1,473
Knox County1953,146$76,431$1,470

Keep comparing

HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Tennessee

More on Tennessee

Questions this page answers

How much do HVAC technicians make in Tennessee?

The median HVAC technician in Tennessee earned $26.68 an hour ($55,490 a year) in May 2025, 9% below the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $22.59–$31.53; the top 10% earn more than $39.23.

Where does Tennessee rank for HVAC technician pay?

Tennessee ranks 45th of 51 states for HVAC technician pay, with a median of $26.68 an hour, and 37th after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (BEA price parity 91.9, US = 100).

What is the union HVAC technician rate in Tennessee?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for HVAC technicians in 9 counties, with a typical package of $55.10 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many HVAC technicians work in Tennessee?

BLS counted 9,740 HVAC technicians in Tennessee in May 2025, 3.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.13; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is HVAC technician work growing in Tennessee?

The BLS employer survey count of HVAC technicians in Tennessee went from 7,030 in 2015 to 9,740 in 2025, +38.5%, and +16.9% since 2019. Tennessee's labor market agency projects +20.7% growth for HVAC technicians between 2024 and 2034, from 10,780 to 13,020 jobs.

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

Tennessee projects about 1,210 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, Tennessee 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: Tennessee labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.