How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in Florida?
HVAC mechanics and installers in Florida earned a median of $56,670 a year, or $27.24 an hour, in May 2025, according to BLS. The middle half earned between $46,830 and $63,620, and the top tenth earned more than $78,210. Naples-Marco Island had the highest metro median at $59,540, while Sebring had the lowest at $44,720.
If you’re thinking about HVAC work in Florida, the first number to know is $56,670. That’s the median yearly pay for HVAC mechanics and installers in the state, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 figures. Half of Florida’s HVAC techs earned more, and half earned less.
The median hides a wide range, though. Where you work in Florida, and how far along you are, changes the number a lot.
Florida HVAC Pay at Every Level
BLS reports pay at several points along the range, called percentiles. The 10th percentile means 10 out of 100 workers earned less than that figure. It’s a rough stand-in for where many newer techs start.
| Pay level | Yearly pay |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,370 |
| 25th percentile | $46,830 |
| Median (50th) | $56,670 |
| Mean (average) | $57,310 |
| 75th percentile | $63,620 |
| 90th percentile | $78,210 |
Median hourly pay was $27.24.
The gap between the 25th and 75th percentile is where most working techs land. In Florida that middle half earned between $46,830 and $63,620. The top tenth earned more than $78,210.
How Florida Compares With the National Median
Florida pays less than the country as a whole. The national median for HVAC mechanics and installers was $61,010 in May 2025, against Florida’s $56,670. The national hourly median was $29.33.
The difference is sharpest at the top. Nationally, the 90th percentile was $95,210. In Florida it was $78,210. At the bottom the two are closer: $40,050 nationally versus $38,370 in Florida.
That doesn’t mean Florida is a weak market. The state employed 39,160 HVAC mechanics and installers, out of 409,670 nationwide.
HVAC Salary by Florida Metro Area
Here are all 22 Florida metro areas BLS reports, sorted by median pay.
| Metro area | Median | 10th percentile | 90th percentile | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island | $59,540 | $39,990 | $83,200 | 910 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $59,070 | $37,760 | $78,250 | 1,870 |
| Jacksonville | $58,590 | $37,920 | $79,910 | 3,340 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $58,170 | $37,830 | $78,070 | 2,110 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $58,040 | $39,520 | $80,220 | 9,140 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $58,030 | $37,190 | $76,880 | 950 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $57,240 | $37,470 | $78,460 | 1,130 |
| Port St. Lucie | $57,210 | $37,440 | $78,320 | 830 |
| Punta Gorda | $57,090 | $38,730 | $77,440 | 290 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $56,680 | $37,380 | $76,270 | 1,120 |
| Gainesville | $55,670 | $36,070 | $75,240 | 480 |
| Tallahassee | $53,690 | $35,640 | $73,300 | 620 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $51,600 | $36,770 | $75,830 | 450 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $51,460 | $38,020 | $77,840 | 5,140 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $51,220 | $37,660 | $78,070 | 200 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $50,540 | $39,620 | $75,300 | 6,090 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $50,470 | $37,310 | $75,200 | 340 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $49,290 | $37,440 | $74,310 | 820 |
| Ocala | $49,020 | $35,330 | $74,810 | 600 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $48,810 | $37,600 | $75,070 | 570 |
| Homosassa Springs | $47,470 | $37,740 | $73,900 | 170 |
| Sebring | $44,720 | $33,280 | $62,400 | 170 |
The Big Surprise: Tampa and Orlando
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford are two of Florida’s three biggest HVAC job markets, with 6,090 and 5,140 techs. Yet their medians, $50,540 and $51,460, sit in the lower half of the list.
Look at the 10th percentile, though. Tampa’s is $39,620, one of the highest starting points in the state. Pay there starts relatively high but tops out lower than in the Southwest Florida metros.
The Southwest and Northeast Lead
Naples-Marco Island ($59,540), North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota ($59,070), Jacksonville ($58,590) and Cape Coral-Fort Myers ($58,170) all pay above the state median. Naples also has the highest 90th percentile in Florida at $83,200.
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach combines a strong median ($58,040) with by far the most jobs (9,140). If you want both pay and plenty of employers to choose from, South Florida is hard to beat.
Smaller Metros and the Panhandle
Pay drops in several smaller and inland markets. Ocala ($49,020), Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin ($48,810), Homosassa Springs ($47,470) and Sebring ($44,720) all sit well under the state median. Sebring also has the lowest 90th percentile in the state at $62,400, below the statewide 75th percentile.
Pensacola is the Panhandle exception. Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent’s median of $58,030 is close to Miami’s, even though the metro employs 950 techs rather than thousands. If you live in the western Panhandle, Pensacola HVAC schools include George Stone Technical College, Pensacola State College and Fortis Institute.
Smaller markets aren’t automatically a bad choice. Living costs, commute and how many employers are hiring near you all matter as much as the median. Just go in knowing that the same job can pay noticeably less in Sebring than in Naples.
How Many People Train for HVAC in Florida
Competition for entry-level jobs depends partly on how many new techs finish school each year. Florida institutions conferred 2,976 HVAC awards in 2022-23, across 51 institutions, according to NCES IPEDS.
A few schools produce a large share. South Florida Institute of Technology in Miami conferred 1,439 HVAC awards in 2024-25, the most in the state, and Southern Technical College in Orlando conferred 560. Many district technical colleges confer a few dozen each year, such as 81 at Atlantic Technical College in Coconut Creek and 69 at Manatee Technical College.
Where to Train Near Florida’s Higher-Paying Metros
If you plan to work in one of the stronger metros, it makes sense to train nearby. These schools sit in or near the metros above.
- Naples: Lorenzo Walker Technical College runs a 1,350-hour HVAC/R certificate where students can earn five HVAC Excellence Employment Ready credentials plus EPA 608 and A2L safety.
- Bradenton and Sarasota: Manatee Technical College offers a full-time day program and a part-time evening track.
- Jacksonville: Florida State College at Jacksonville has a 12-month day cohort and a 24-month evening option.
- Fort Myers: Fort Myers Technical College lets students add an optional 350-hour advanced course for 1,700 hours total.
- Miami: Lindsey Hopkins Technical College runs day and evening classes for its 1,350-hour program.
Browse all programs around a city on the Naples, Jacksonville or Fort Myers pages, or use the Florida HVAC schools page for the whole state.
Getting Paid While You Train
You don’t have to wait until graduation to earn. Florida has several registered HVAC apprenticeships where you work full-time and take classes on the side.
The College of the Florida Keys runs an apprenticeship where apprentices are paid full-time employees and classes are free; completers can sit for the Florida state licensing exam. Santa Fe College in Gainesville offers a four-year evening apprenticeship, with class two nights a week. Tallahassee Community College runs one for students employed by a participating contractor.
The HVAC apprenticeship guide explains how these programs work and how to get hired into one.
What Helps You Move Up the Pay Range
BLS doesn’t break pay down by credential, so treat this as practical context rather than a promise.
First, you need EPA Section 608 certification to buy and handle refrigerants. Lindsey Hopkins Technical College and South Dade Technical College both list it as an employment requirement, and most Florida programs build the exam into training. The EPA 608 testing guide for Florida shows which schools test on campus.
Second, extra credentials show employers what you can do. Fred K Marchman Technical College lists NATE, HVAC Excellence and low-GWP refrigerant safety. Pensacola State College lets students earn NCCER HVAC Levels 1 through 4 within its 12-month certificate.
Third, commercial and refrigeration skills open up a wider range of work. Withlacoochee Technical College trains on restaurant-style equipment, commercial ice machines and walk-in coolers and freezers.
Is HVAC Training in Florida Worth the Cost?
Compare the pay above with what training costs. In-state tuition and fees at Florida state colleges run from $2,026 a year at Tallahassee Community College to $3,165 at South Florida State College (2024-25). Even at the 10th percentile, a Florida HVAC tech earns $38,370 a year.
Private schools cost more; the Florida HVAC school cost guide breaks down every price tier. For the national picture, see the HVAC technician salary guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Hourly Pay for HVAC Techs in Florida?
The median hourly wage for HVAC mechanics and installers in Florida was $27.24 in May 2025. The national median was $29.33 an hour.
How Many HVAC Technicians Work in Florida?
BLS counted 39,160 HVAC mechanics and installers employed in Florida in May 2025. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro alone accounted for 9,140 of them.
Does Florida Pay HVAC Techs More Than the National Average?
No. Florida's median of $56,670 sits below the national median of $61,010, and the state's top tenth starts at $78,210 compared with $95,210 nationally (BLS, May 2025).
How Many People Finish HVAC Programs in Florida Each Year?
Florida institutions conferred 2,976 HVAC awards in 2022-23, across 51 institutions, according to NCES IPEDS.
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