HVAC technician salary in Washington
Median $36.38 an hour for 7,370 hvac and refrigeration technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
HVAC technician pay in Washington: the full range
Washington ranks 7th of 51 states for median hvac technician pay, and 9th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.00). 7,370 hvac and refrigeration technicians work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $23.47 – $28.93 | $48,810 – $60,170 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $28.93 – $45.18 | $60,170 – $93,970 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $45.18 – $57.86 | $93,970 – $120,360 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
HVAC technician pay by metro in Washington
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $24.70 | $38.51 | $62.21 | 3,940 | 6% above |
| Mount Vernon | $23.51 | $37.02 | $53.12 | 150 | 2% above |
| Olympia | $22.59 | $36.66 | $65.19 | 270 | 1% above |
| Kennewick | $22.85 | $36.38 | $52.51 | 520 | about the same as |
| Bremerton | $22.93 | $35.89 | $46.70 | 180 | 1% below |
| Bellingham | $23.11 | $34.71 | $47.72 | 240 | 5% below |
| Yakima | $20.22 | $31.68 | $45.23 | 160 | 13% below |
| Portland | $23.39 | $31.38 | $47.50 | 2,580 | 14% below |
| Longview | $22.56 | $30.96 | $47.73 | 80 | 15% below |
| Spokane | $21.96 | $30.21 | $45.37 | 610 | 17% below |
| Walla Walla | $22.20 | $30.06 | $38.39 | 80 | 17% below |
| Wenatchee | $18.19 | $29.63 | $38.50 | 120 | 19% below |
| Lewiston | $18.01 | $23.98 | $34.73 | 100 | 34% below |
HVAC technician wages in Washington over time
Table
| Year | Washington $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.67 | $34.15 | $14.50 | 3,240 |
| 2000 | $19.20 | $35.90 | $15.76 | 2,490 |
| 2001 | $18.25 | $33.18 | $16.35 | 2,710 |
| 2002 | $18.47 | $33.05 | $16.78 | 2,900 |
| 2003 | $18.93 | $33.12 | $16.90 | 2,850 |
| 2004 | $20.35 | $34.68 | $17.43 | 3,200 |
| 2005 | $21.60 | $35.61 | $17.81 | 3,430 |
| 2006 | $22.22 | $35.48 | $18.11 | 3,950 |
| 2007 | $22.42 | $34.81 | $18.44 | 5,050 |
| 2008 | $23.48 | $35.11 | $19.08 | 4,930 |
| 2009 | $25.02 | $37.55 | $19.76 | 4,650 |
| 2010 | $24.85 | $36.69 | $20.45 | 3,790 |
| 2011 | $25.11 | $35.94 | $20.86 | 3,760 |
| 2012 | $23.72 | $33.26 | $20.98 | 3,650 |
| 2013 | $25.12 | $34.72 | $21.10 | 3,830 |
| 2014 | $25.70 | $34.95 | $21.46 | 4,020 |
| 2015 | $26.09 | $35.44 | $21.69 | 4,330 |
| 2016 | $26.66 | $35.76 | $22.07 | 4,070 |
| 2017 | $25.42 | $33.39 | $22.64 | 4,810 |
| 2018 | $26.24 | $33.64 | $22.89 | 5,680 |
| 2019 | $27.16 | $34.20 | $23.43 | 6,750 |
| 2020 | $29.07 | $36.16 | $24.32 | 6,950 |
| 2021 | $28.85 | $34.28 | $23.38 | 6,320 |
| 2022 | $29.58 | $32.54 | $24.71 | 7,390 |
| 2023 | $31.17 | $32.93 | $27.55 | 8,140 |
| 2024 | $32.51 | $33.37 | $28.75 | 7,090 |
| 2025 | $36.38 | $36.38 | $29.33 | 7,370 |
In today's dollars, the median hvac technician wage in Washington changed by +2.7% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Washington?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| King County | 10,873 | $118,575 | $2,280 |
| Benton County | 1,664 | $103,533 | $1,991 |
| Whatcom County | 1,099 | $102,968 | $1,980 |
| Snohomish County | 2,791 | $93,120 | $1,791 |
| Pierce County | 3,366 | $89,763 | $1,726 |
| Thurston County | 939 | $88,497 | $1,702 |
| Kitsap County | 650 | $83,865 | $1,613 |
| Clark County | 2,802 | $83,386 | $1,604 |
| Skagit County | 382 | $75,084 | $1,444 |
| Walla Walla County | 227 | $74,979 | $1,442 |
| Kittitas County | 85 | $74,104 | $1,425 |
| Spokane County | 1,952 | $74,072 | $1,424 |
| Yakima County | 505 | $68,089 | $1,309 |
| Douglas County | 78 | $67,697 | $1,302 |
| Lewis County | 130 | $65,796 | $1,265 |
| Mason County | 42 | $60,944 | $1,172 |
| Island County | 116 | $59,193 | $1,138 |
| Asotin County | 49 | $58,006 | $1,115 |
| Lincoln County | 23 | $54,571 | $1,049 |
| Okanogan County | 53 | $53,982 | $1,038 |
| Pacific County | 11 | $53,136 | $1,022 |
| Stevens County | 67 | $50,313 | $968 |
| Klickitat County | 9 | $41,618 | $800 |
Keep comparing
HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Washington
Questions this page answers
How much do hvac technicians make in Washington?
The median hvac technician in Washington earned $36.38 an hour ($75,660 a year) in May 2025, 24% above the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $28.93–$45.18; the top 10% earn more than $57.86.
Where does Washington rank for hvac technician pay?
Washington ranks 7th of 51 states for hvac technician pay, with a median of $36.38 an hour, and 9th after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).
What is the union hvac technician rate in Washington?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a hvac technician classification for most Washington counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many hvac technicians work in Washington?
BLS counted 7,370 hvac and refrigeration technicians in Washington in May 2025, 2.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.79; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Washington 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.