HVAC technician salary in Wisconsin
Median $29.67 an hour for 6,630 hvac and refrigeration technicians, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
HVAC technician pay in Wisconsin: the full range
Wisconsin ranks 23rd of 51 states for median hvac technician pay, and 21st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.53). 6,630 hvac and refrigeration technicians work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $22.08 – $24.44 | $45,930 – $50,840 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $24.44 – $38.03 | $50,840 – $79,100 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $38.03 – $47.15 | $79,100 – $98,070 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
HVAC technician pay by metro in Wisconsin
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $23.39 | $37.25 | $48.39 | 2,420 | 26% above |
| Duluth | $23.43 | $36.40 | $47.58 | 170 | 23% above |
| Madison | $21.85 | $30.36 | $48.51 | 1,020 | 2% above |
| Milwaukee | $22.28 | $30.25 | $47.95 | 1,620 | 2% above |
| La Crosse | $22.33 | $30.00 | $45.63 | 270 | 1% above |
| Racine | $21.84 | $29.68 | $48.83 | 170 | about the same as |
| Appleton | $21.65 | $29.62 | $49.09 | 320 | about the same as |
| Sheboygan | $22.42 | $29.61 | $45.77 | 120 | about the same as |
| Green Bay | $21.56 | $29.49 | $48.70 | 420 | 1% below |
| Eau Claire | $21.89 | $29.46 | $46.00 | 150 | 1% below |
| Kenosha | $21.30 | $29.45 | $46.29 | 120 | 1% below |
| Oshkosh | $23.18 | $29.10 | $39.36 | 130 | 2% below |
| Janesville | $19.56 | $28.73 | $43.89 | 150 | 3% below |
| Fond du Lac | $19.17 | $28.61 | $39.63 | 100 | 4% below |
| Wausau | $21.81 | $28.42 | $44.02 | 140 | 4% below |
HVAC technician wages in Wisconsin over time
Table
| Year | Wisconsin $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $15.18 | $29.33 | $14.50 | 4,170 |
| 2000 | $15.89 | $29.71 | $15.76 | 3,630 |
| 2001 | $16.44 | $29.89 | $16.35 | 3,450 |
| 2002 | $16.80 | $30.06 | $16.78 | 3,590 |
| 2003 | $17.35 | $30.36 | $16.90 | 3,520 |
| 2004 | $17.06 | $29.08 | $17.43 | 4,340 |
| 2005 | $18.33 | $30.22 | $17.81 | 5,450 |
| 2006 | $19.34 | $30.88 | $18.11 | 4,830 |
| 2007 | $19.86 | $30.84 | $18.44 | 5,200 |
| 2008 | $18.95 | $28.34 | $19.08 | 5,700 |
| 2009 | $19.66 | $29.50 | $19.76 | 5,230 |
| 2010 | $20.01 | $29.54 | $20.45 | 4,740 |
| 2011 | $22.76 | $32.58 | $20.86 | 3,960 |
| 2012 | $21.54 | $30.20 | $20.98 | 3,960 |
| 2013 | $21.32 | $29.46 | $21.10 | 4,110 |
| 2014 | $21.77 | $29.61 | $21.46 | 4,450 |
| 2015 | $22.48 | $30.53 | $21.69 | 4,540 |
| 2016 | $22.85 | $30.65 | $22.07 | 5,490 |
| 2017 | $23.59 | $30.98 | $22.64 | 4,830 |
| 2018 | $24.53 | $31.45 | $22.89 | 4,900 |
| 2019 | $25.37 | $31.95 | $23.43 | 4,660 |
| 2020 | $25.57 | $31.81 | $24.32 | 5,000 |
| 2021 | $28.21 | $33.52 | $23.38 | 5,350 |
| 2022 | $29.18 | $32.10 | $24.71 | 5,930 |
| 2023 | $28.62 | $30.24 | $27.55 | 6,190 |
| 2024 | $29.82 | $30.60 | $28.75 | 5,930 |
| 2025 | $29.67 | $29.67 | $29.33 | 6,630 |
In today's dollars, the median hvac technician wage in Wisconsin changed by -2.8% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Wisconsin?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Racine County | 976 | $119,609 | $2,300 |
| Milwaukee County | 3,403 | $105,764 | $2,034 |
| Fond du Lac County | 860 | $102,582 | $1,973 |
| Outagamie County | 2,339 | $96,114 | $1,848 |
| Wood County | 482 | $92,321 | $1,775 |
| Waukesha County | 3,235 | $91,995 | $1,769 |
| Dane County | 3,440 | $89,652 | $1,724 |
| Dunn County | 284 | $89,438 | $1,720 |
| Ozaukee County | 282 | $87,660 | $1,686 |
| Chippewa County | 258 | $85,901 | $1,652 |
| Pierce County | 106 | $85,759 | $1,649 |
| Brown County | 1,713 | $84,854 | $1,632 |
| Marathon County | 521 | $77,852 | $1,497 |
| La Crosse County | 586 | $76,191 | $1,465 |
| Sheboygan County | 441 | $74,493 | $1,433 |
| Winnebago County | 448 | $74,362 | $1,430 |
| Door County | 160 | $73,664 | $1,417 |
| Kenosha County | 360 | $73,570 | $1,415 |
| Douglas County | 152 | $71,681 | $1,378 |
| Clark County | 60 | $70,798 | $1,362 |
| Jefferson County | 221 | $70,651 | $1,359 |
| Walworth County | 336 | $70,295 | $1,352 |
| Dodge County | 224 | $70,292 | $1,352 |
| Washington County | 278 | $69,933 | $1,345 |
| Barron County | 140 | $69,024 | $1,327 |
| Portage County | 213 | $68,403 | $1,315 |
| Manitowoc County | 209 | $68,324 | $1,314 |
| Sauk County | 276 | $67,699 | $1,302 |
| Burnett County | 47 | $67,035 | $1,289 |
| Shawano County | 65 | $66,962 | $1,288 |
| Ashland County | 101 | $65,395 | $1,258 |
| Oneida County | 184 | $65,256 | $1,255 |
| Rock County | 374 | $64,779 | $1,246 |
| Monroe County | 134 | $63,639 | $1,224 |
| Lafayette County | 50 | $62,995 | $1,211 |
| Taylor County | 30 | $62,845 | $1,209 |
| Trempealeau County | 22 | $61,895 | $1,190 |
| Waushara County | 32 | $61,196 | $1,177 |
| Bayfield County | 51 | $60,716 | $1,168 |
| Iowa County | 46 | $58,969 | $1,134 |
| Vilas County | 57 | $58,579 | $1,127 |
| Marinette County | 150 | $58,039 | $1,116 |
| Crawford County | 20 | $57,849 | $1,112 |
| Buffalo County | 34 | $56,504 | $1,087 |
| Juneau County | 68 | $56,502 | $1,087 |
| Richland County | 58 | $56,485 | $1,086 |
| Green County | 77 | $56,053 | $1,078 |
| Waupaca County | 80 | $55,772 | $1,073 |
| Langlade County | 82 | $54,381 | $1,046 |
| Washburn County | 20 | $53,195 | $1,023 |
| Vernon County | 33 | $52,863 | $1,017 |
| Sawyer County | 42 | $49,249 | $947 |
| Oconto County | 27 | $45,876 | $882 |
Keep comparing
HVAC technician pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Wisconsin
Questions this page answers
How much do hvac technicians make in Wisconsin?
The median hvac technician in Wisconsin earned $29.67 an hour ($61,710 a year) in May 2025, 1% above the national median of $29.33. The middle half earn $24.44–$38.03; the top 10% earn more than $47.15.
Where does Wisconsin rank for hvac technician pay?
Wisconsin ranks 23rd of 51 states for hvac technician pay, with a median of $29.67 an hour, and 21st after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).
What is the union hvac technician rate in Wisconsin?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a hvac technician classification for most Wisconsin counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many hvac technicians work in Wisconsin?
BLS counted 6,630 hvac and refrigeration technicians in Wisconsin in May 2025, 2.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.86; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Wisconsin 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.