HVAC technician salary in Washington
Median $36.38 an hour for 7,370 HVAC technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
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 technicians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.5× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $23.47 – $28.93 | $48,810 – $60,170 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $28.93 – $45.18 | $60,170 – $93,970 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $45.18 – $57.86 | $93,970 – $120,360 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
HVAC technician pay by metro in Washington
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $24.70 | $38.51 | $34.66 | $62.21 | 3,940 | 6% above |
| Mount Vernon | $23.51 | $37.02 | $36.15 | $53.12 | 150 | 2% above |
| Olympia | $22.59 | $36.66 | $35.35 | $65.19 | 270 | 1% above |
| Kennewick | $22.85 | $36.38 | $36.34 | $52.51 | 520 | about the same as |
| Bremerton | $22.93 | $35.89 | $33.99 | $46.70 | 180 | 1% below |
| Bellingham | $23.11 | $34.71 | $33.60 | $47.72 | 240 | 5% below |
| Yakima | $20.22 | $31.68 | $33.17 | $45.23 | 160 | 13% below |
| Portland | $23.39 | $31.38 | $29.77 | $47.50 | 2,580 | 14% below |
| Longview | $22.56 | $30.96 | $31.75 | $47.73 | 80 | 15% below |
| Spokane | $21.96 | $30.21 | $30.12 | $45.37 | 610 | 17% below |
| Walla Walla | $22.20 | $30.06 | $30.52 | $38.39 | 80 | 17% below |
| Wenatchee | $18.19 | $29.63 | $28.52 | $38.50 | 120 | 19% below |
| Lewiston | $18.01 | $23.98 | $26.29 | $34.73 | 100 | 34% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
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 and by +6.4% since 2019.
Are there more HVAC technician jobs in Washington?
Since 1999, the number of HVAC technicians counted in Washington has changed by +127.5%, against +118.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +9.2%.
Table
| Year | Washington jobs | Washington index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 3,240 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 2,490 | 77 | 105 |
| 2001 | 2,710 | 84 | 108 |
| 2002 | 2,900 | 90 | 110 |
| 2003 | 2,850 | 88 | 113 |
| 2004 | 3,200 | 99 | 120 |
| 2005 | 3,430 | 106 | 128 |
| 2006 | 3,950 | 122 | 134 |
| 2007 | 5,050 | 156 | 140 |
| 2008 | 4,930 | 152 | 139 |
| 2009 | 4,650 | 144 | 130 |
| 2010 | 3,790 | 117 | 119 |
| 2011 | 3,760 | 116 | 123 |
| 2012 | 3,650 | 113 | 128 |
| 2013 | 3,830 | 118 | 134 |
| 2014 | 4,020 | 124 | 139 |
| 2015 | 4,330 | 134 | 146 |
| 2016 | 4,070 | 126 | 157 |
| 2017 | 4,810 | 148 | 164 |
| 2018 | 5,680 | 175 | 173 |
| 2019 | 6,750 | 208 | 182 |
| 2020 | 6,950 | 214 | 183 |
| 2021 | 6,320 | 195 | 190 |
| 2022 | 7,390 | 228 | 200 |
| 2023 | 8,140 | 251 | 212 |
| 2024 | 7,090 | 219 | 211 |
| 2025 | 7,370 | 228 | 218 |
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 Washington
Washington's labor market agency projects the number of HVAC technicians in the state to change by +10.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 8,570 to 9,480, with about 930 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 7,370 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
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. Across the 34 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 103,575 in 2015 to 131,891 in 2025, +27.3%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King County | 464 | 10,873 | $118,575 | $2,280 |
| Benton County | 71 | 1,664 | $103,533 | $1,991 |
| Whatcom County | 73 | 1,099 | $102,968 | $1,980 |
| Snohomish County | 303 | 2,791 | $93,120 | $1,791 |
| Pierce County | 286 | 3,366 | $89,763 | $1,726 |
| Thurston County | 80 | 939 | $88,497 | $1,702 |
| Kitsap County | 81 | 650 | $83,865 | $1,613 |
| Clark County | 222 | 2,802 | $83,386 | $1,604 |
| Skagit County | 39 | 382 | $75,084 | $1,444 |
| Walla Walla County | 20 | 227 | $74,979 | $1,442 |
| Kittitas County | 12 | 85 | $74,104 | $1,425 |
| Spokane County | 191 | 1,952 | $74,072 | $1,424 |
| Yakima County | 75 | 505 | $68,089 | $1,309 |
| Douglas County | 15 | 78 | $67,697 | $1,302 |
| Lewis County | 23 | 130 | $65,796 | $1,265 |
| Mason County | 8 | 42 | $60,944 | $1,172 |
| Island County | 30 | 116 | $59,193 | $1,138 |
| Asotin County | 6 | 49 | $58,006 | $1,115 |
| Lincoln County | 4 | 23 | $54,571 | $1,049 |
| Okanogan County | 20 | 53 | $53,982 | $1,038 |
| Pacific County | 4 | 11 | $53,136 | $1,022 |
| Stevens County | 8 | 67 | $50,313 | $968 |
| Klickitat County | 5 | 9 | $41,618 | $800 |
Keep comparing
HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Washington
More on 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 technicians in Washington in May 2025, 2.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.79; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is HVAC technician work growing in Washington?
The BLS employer survey count of HVAC technicians in Washington went from 4,330 in 2015 to 7,370 in 2025, +70.2%, and +9.2% since 2019. Washington's labor market agency projects +10.6% growth for HVAC technicians between 2024 and 2034, from 8,570 to 9,480 jobs.
How many HVAC technician openings a year are there in Washington?
Washington projects about 930 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, Washington 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: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.