Skilled Wages

HVAC technician salary in Texas

Median $27.77 an hour for 34,730 HVAC technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$27.77/hrMedian hourly wageTexas, May data
$57,760/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.32 – $39.3610th to 90th percentilehourly range
34,730Jobs countedemployer survey

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

HVAC technician pay in Texas: the full range

Wage percentiles, TexasMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrTexas: 10th $18.32 · 25th $22.50 · median $27.77 · 75th $33.59 · 90th $39.36Texas$27.77$18.32$39.36United 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: Texas vs United States, May 2025.

Texas ranks 38th of 51 states for median HVAC technician pay, and 39th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.60). 34,730 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$18.32 – $22.50$38,100 – $46,800roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.50 – $33.59$46,800 – $69,860the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$33.59 – $39.36$69,860 – $81,860the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



HVAC technician pay by metro in Texas

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrAustin: $29.24Austin$29.24Dallas-Fort Worth: $28.63Dallas-Fort Worth$28.63Houston: $28.34Houston$28.34Odessa: $28.17Odessa$28.17San Antonio: $28.17San Antonio$28.17Midland: $27.79Midland$27.79Beaumont: $27.27Beaumont$27.27Sherman: $27.08Sherman$27.08Waco: $26.85Waco$26.85Longview: $26.46Longview$26.46Abilene: $26.12Abilene$26.12Corpus Christi: $24.89Corpus Christi$24.89
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians by metro area in Texas, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Austin$21.17$29.24$29.81$44.323,1405% above
Dallas-Fort Worth$19.37$28.63$27.77$40.8110,9103% above
Houston$18.65$28.34$28.74$39.967,6802% above
Odessa$16.00$28.17$30.00$38.041601% above
San Antonio$18.25$28.17$29.75$39.623,1601% above
Midland$18.10$27.79$29.01$39.25260about the same as
Beaumont$17.79$27.27$30.30$38.223902% below
Sherman$16.80$27.08$28.87$40.031702% below
Waco$18.48$26.85$29.03$35.584403% below
Longview$17.78$26.46$29.56$36.243505% below
Abilene$16.81$26.12$28.89$36.502606% below
Corpus Christi$17.96$24.89$26.85$38.1864010% below
Lubbock$18.00$23.97$26.25$35.6342014% below
Amarillo$17.99$23.96$26.10$37.0335014% below
Killeen$16.07$23.86$26.19$36.1541014% below
San Angelo$17.34$23.71$25.63$34.2713015% below
Tyler$17.36$23.70$25.70$39.7029015% below
Wichita Falls$16.44$23.67$26.45$34.1816015% below
Victoria$18.13$23.34$25.99$36.4410016% below
College Station$18.17$23.33$25.64$33.2827016% below
Laredo$17.44$23.29$26.77$33.5318016% below
Brownsville$17.22$23.03$26.78$34.3226017% below
Texarkana$17.86$22.96$27.33$34.4113017% below
El Paso$13.52$22.73$25.28$34.9179018% below
McAllen$17.34$22.68$26.40$35.1053018% below

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

HVAC technician wages in Texas over time

Texas, 1999-2025TexasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.33United States$27.77Texas
Median hourly wage for HVAC technicians, Texas vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearTexas $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.36$25.82$14.5013,840
2000$14.97$27.99$15.7616,200
2001$15.22$27.67$16.3517,130
2002$15.65$28.01$16.7816,880
2003$15.66$27.40$16.9017,900
2004$16.50$28.12$17.4320,010
2005$16.20$26.70$17.8120,580
2006$16.96$27.08$18.1121,980
2007$16.86$26.18$18.4421,980
2008$17.63$26.36$19.0823,060
2009$18.04$27.07$19.7621,000
2010$18.54$27.37$20.4518,920
2011$18.73$26.81$20.8620,260
2012$18.90$26.50$20.9821,020
2013$19.36$26.76$21.1022,060
2014$19.20$26.11$21.4620,870
2015$19.52$26.51$21.6921,810
2016$20.10$26.96$22.0724,300
2017$20.80$27.32$22.6423,520
2018$21.42$27.46$22.8925,290
2019$21.88$27.55$23.4326,690
2020$23.09$28.72$24.3228,010
2021$23.07$27.41$23.3831,060
2022$23.42$25.76$24.7130,670
2023$24.13$25.50$27.5531,910
2024$25.99$26.67$28.7532,070
2025$27.77$27.77$29.3334,730

In today's dollars, the median HVAC technician wage in Texas changed by +4.7% over the last ten years of data and by +0.8% since 2019.

Are there more HVAC technician jobs in Texas?

+30.1%Jobs since 201926,690 then, 34,730 in 2025
+59.2%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 31st of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of HVAC technicians counted in Texas has changed by +150.9%, against +118.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +30.1%.

HVAC and refrigeration technicians in Texas vs United States, 1999 = 100TexasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250300200020052010201520202025251Texas218United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Texas vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearTexas jobsTexas indexUS index
199913,840100100
200016,200117105
200117,130124108
200216,880122110
200317,900129113
200420,010145120
200520,580149128
200621,980159134
200721,980159140
200823,060167139
200921,000152130
201018,920137119
201120,260146123
201221,020152128
201322,060159134
201420,870151139
201521,810158146
201624,300176157
201723,520170164
201825,290183173
201926,690193182
202028,010202183
202131,060224190
202230,670222200
202331,910231212
202432,070232211
202534,730251218

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 Texas

+13.0%Projected growth in Texas2024–2034, state agency
3,350Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
33,120Jobs in 202437,440 projected for 2034
+10.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Texas's labor market agency projects the number of HVAC technicians in the state to change by +13.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 33,120 to 37,440, with about 3,350 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 34,730 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for HVAC technicians in Texas

On federally funded construction in Texas, contractors must pay HVAC technicians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 23 of the 71 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $53.80 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $14.98). 48 of the 71 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Austin County at $21.91). The market median for the state is $27.77.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, TXUnion / prevailing package, $/hr$14.98$15.50$28.66$53.80n/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/hrCameron (Brownsville): market median $23.03, prevailing (union) $55.05, gap +$32.02Cameron (Brownsville)+$32.02Brazos (College Station): market median $23.33, prevailing (union) $55.05, gap +$31.72Brazos (College Station)+$31.72Grayson (Sherman): market median $27.08, prevailing (union) $53.80, gap +$26.72Grayson (Sherman)+$26.72Montgomery (Houston): market median $28.34, prevailing (union) $55.05, gap +$26.71Montgomery (Houston)+$26.71Collin (Dallas-Fort Worth): market median $28.63, prevailing (union) $53.80, gap +$25.17Collin (Dallas-Fort Worth)+$25.17Hays (Austin): market median $29.24, prevailing (union) $54.07, gap +$24.83Hays (Austin)+$24.83Atascosa (San Antonio): market median $28.17, prevailing (union) $50.45, gap +$22.28Atascosa (San Antonio)+$22.28Bell (Killeen): market median $23.86, prevailing (survey) $15.50, gap −$8.36Bell (Killeen)−$8.36McLennan (Waco): market median $26.85, prevailing (survey) $16.56, gap −$10.29McLennan (Waco)−$10.29
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for HVAC technicians, metro counties in Texas.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BrazosUnion PLUM0211-002 2025-10-01$42.09$12.96$55.05TX20260234
BurlesonUnion PLUM0211-002 2025-10-01$42.09$12.96$55.05TX20260235
CameronUnion PLUM0211-001 2025-10-01$42.09$12.96$55.05TX20260236
MontgomeryUnion PLUM0211-002 2025-10-01$42.09$12.96$55.05TX20260262
RobertsonUnion PLUM0211-002 2025-10-01$42.09$12.96$55.05TX20260267
HaysUnion PLUM0286-009 2025-09-01$37.15$16.92$54.07TX20260254
CollinUnion PLUM0100-005 2024-11-01$39.76$14.04$53.80TX20260239
DallasUnion PLUM0100-005 2024-11-01$39.76$14.04$53.80TX20260241
DeltaUnion PLUM0100-005 2024-11-01$39.76$14.04$53.80TX20260242
DentonUnion PLUM0100-008 2024-11-01$39.76$14.04$53.80TX20260243
EllisUnion PLUM0100-005 2024-11-01$39.76$14.04$53.80TX20260246
GraysonUnion PLUM0100-009 2024-11-01$39.76$14.04$53.80TX20260249
HuntUnion PLUM0100-005 2024-11-01$39.76$14.04$53.80TX20260281
KaufmanUnion PLUM0100-005 2024-11-01$39.76$14.04$53.80TX20260281
RockwallUnion PLUM0100-005 2024-11-01$39.76$14.04$53.80TX20260281

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

Is construction work growing in Texas?

924.5kConstruction jobsTexas, 2026-09
+1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k19901995200020052010201520202025924kSep 2026
Construction employment in Texas (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 173 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 374,938 in 2015 to 475,675 in 2025, +26.9%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Chambers County583$122,401$2,354
Titus County10129$108,908$2,094
Lavaca County12117$92,860$1,786
Travis County3988,443$91,900$1,767
Dallas County74716,575$91,160$1,753
Harris County1,20821,140$88,659$1,705
Tarrant County63610,762$87,155$1,676
Bastrop County52950$86,222$1,658
Guadalupe County65670$86,044$1,655
Denton County2262,823$84,591$1,627
Fort Bend County1952,309$83,369$1,603
Midland County75771$80,694$1,552

Keep comparing

HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Texas

More on Texas

Questions this page answers

How much do HVAC technicians make in Texas?

The median HVAC technician in Texas earned $27.77 an hour ($57,760 a year) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $22.50–$33.59; the top 10% earn more than $39.36.

Where does Texas rank for HVAC technician pay?

Texas ranks 38th of 51 states for HVAC technician pay, with a median of $27.77 an hour, and 39th after adjusting for Texas's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.1, US = 100).

What is the union HVAC technician rate in Texas?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for HVAC technicians in 23 counties, with a typical package of $53.80 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many HVAC technicians work in Texas?

BLS counted 34,730 HVAC technicians in Texas in May 2025, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.94; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is HVAC technician work growing in Texas?

The BLS employer survey count of HVAC technicians in Texas went from 21,810 in 2015 to 34,730 in 2025, +59.2%, and +30.1% since 2019. Texas's labor market agency projects +13.0% growth for HVAC technicians between 2024 and 2034, from 33,120 to 37,440 jobs.

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

Texas projects about 3,350 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, Texas 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: Texas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.