How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in Illinois?
HVAC mechanics and installers in Illinois earned a median of $77,410 a year in May 2025, or $37.21 an hour, according to BLS. That is well above the national median of $61,010. The top 10% earned more than $117,550, and Peoria ($78,710) and Chicago ($77,960) have the highest metro medians.
Illinois pays HVAC technicians well. The state’s median pay sits far above the national figure, and the top of the range reaches well past six figures. Here is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported for May 2025, where the money is inside the state, and which schools train people for those jobs.
The Illinois Pay Range, From Entry Level to Top Earners
BLS reports pay for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers. In Illinois, May 2025:
| Pay level | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,690 | $40,050 |
| Median | $77,410 | $61,010 |
| 90th percentile | $117,550 | $95,210 |
| Median hourly wage | $37.21 | $29.33 |
| Jobs | 9,740 | 409,670 |
Illinois also reported a 25th percentile of $60,200, a 75th percentile of $96,030 and a mean (average) of $77,570.
Read that table from the middle. Half of Illinois HVAC techs earned more than $77,410. The middle half earned between $60,200 and $96,030. And the top 10% cleared $117,550, which is higher than what the top 10% earn nationally.
Why the Illinois Numbers Stand Out
Three things jump out when you compare Illinois with the national figures:
- The median is much higher. Illinois’s $77,410 is well above the national $61,010.
- The spread is wide. The gap between Illinois’s 10th percentile ($46,690) and 90th percentile ($117,550) is large, so experience and specialization count for a lot here.
- The job count is smaller than you might guess. Illinois had 9,740 HVAC mechanics and installers in May 2025, and 7,210 of them worked in the Chicago metro.
That last point matters for career changers. Most of the jobs, and most of the schools, are in and around Chicago.
For how Illinois compares with other states, see the HVAC technician salary guide. If you are weighing a move, compare these figures with how much HVAC technicians make in Pennsylvania and how much HVAC technicians make in North Carolina. Both states have medians well below Illinois.
Pay by Metro Area
| Metro area | Median pay | 10th percentile | 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria | $78,710 | $47,100 | $105,450 | 370 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL-IN) | $77,960 | $47,460 | $117,940 | 7,210 |
| Decatur | $77,770 | $47,770 | $107,540 | 90 |
| Rockford | $75,070 | $46,960 | $117,550 | 190 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $74,880 | $47,590 | $111,660 | 240 |
| Springfield | $70,730 | $47,690 | $101,000 | 110 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IA-IL) | $65,190 | $45,790 | $100,270 | 410 |
| Bloomington | $64,030 | $39,200 | $91,500 | 140 |
| St. Louis (MO-IL) | $63,000 | $45,870 | $100,180 | 2,980 |
| Kankakee | $62,570 | $46,130 | $97,870 | 50 |
| Paducah (KY-IL) | $56,610 | $44,970 | $78,110 | 90 |
| Cape Girardeau (MO-IL) | $47,150 | $37,950 | $72,690 | 110 |
The top five metros are close together, with Peoria, Chicago and Decatur all between $77,770 and $78,710 at the median. Pay drops off in the metros that cross into neighboring states, like St. Louis and Cape Girardeau.
Chicago: Where Most of the Jobs Are
The Chicago metro has a median of $77,960 and the highest 90th percentile in the state at $117,940. It also has the most training options.
High-volume private programs. ETI School of Skilled Trades in Willowbrook conferred 268 HVAC awards in 2024-25, the most in Illinois, with day and evening classes and on-site EPA 608 and A2L refrigerant testing. HVAC Technical Institute in Chicago teaches its full program in English and Spanish, caps classes at 20, and requires passing the EPA 608 Universal and R-410A exams to graduate. Chicago Professional Center in Prospect Heights combines HVAC and electrical training aimed at an Illinois Class A electrical license, with a whole-program price of $7,100 for 184 clock hours over 4 months.
Community colleges. College of Lake County in Grayslake conferred 250 HVAC awards, and its fast-track option lets you finish two stackable certificates in about four months. Elgin Community College has the lowest in-district tuition in the state at $3,252 a year (2024-25) and conferred 111 awards. Moraine Valley in Palos Hills (109 awards), College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn and Harper College in Palatine round out the busiest suburban programs.
See the Chicago HVAC schools page for every program within 60 miles.
Downstate Metros That Match Chicago Pay
You don’t have to live in Chicago to earn Chicago-level pay. Several downstate metros come close or beat it at the median.
Peoria
Peoria has the highest median in Illinois at $78,710. Illinois Central College in East Peoria offers a 60-credit AAS over four semesters, with credits that transfer toward Ferris State University’s HVAC/R bachelor’s degrees. A local mechanical contractor runs an apprenticeship that takes one to three ICC students a year.
Decatur and Champaign
Decatur’s median is $77,770. Richland Community College in Decatur offers a two-year AAS and three shorter certificates, and reports a 60% graduation rate. Champaign-Urbana ($74,880) is served by Parkland College’s two-semester HVAC Installation Technician Certificate, which includes EPA refrigerant certification.
Rockford
Rockford’s median is $75,070, and its 90th percentile of $117,550 matches the statewide figure. Rockford Career College offers a 10-month diploma delivered fully in person, with a 66% graduation rate.
Springfield, Metro East and Southern Illinois
Springfield has a median of $70,730. Lincoln Land Community College runs a nine-month certificate cohort from August 24, 2026 to May 13, 2027, at $3,744 a year in-district. Midwest Technical Institute’s Springfield campus conferred 259 HVAC awards in 2024-25, with morning or evening classes and a 35-week diploma.
The Illinois side of the St. Louis metro has a median of $63,000 and 2,980 jobs. Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville offers an AAS and a 45.5-credit certificate, including a commercial cooking equipment course. Find more on the Belleville HVAC schools page.
Farther south, pay drops. Paducah’s median is $56,610 and Cape Girardeau’s is $47,150. John A. Logan College in Carterville and Shawnee Community College in Ullin both offer an AAS with an internship option.
What Training Costs Against This Pay
Illinois community colleges keep the cost of getting into the trade low, especially set against a $77,410 median. In-district tuition and fees for a full-time year (2024-25) start at $3,252 at Elgin Community College, followed by Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove at $3,504, Lincoln Land at $3,744, Moraine Valley at $3,822 and Harper College at $3,894. The highest in-district rate among the state’s community colleges is $5,700 at John Wood Community College in Quincy.
Out-of-district students pay more, so check which community college district you live in before you enroll. Kankakee Community College, for example, lists $5,220 in-district and $25,830 out-of-district.
Private schools price differently. ETI School of Skilled Trades lists a whole-program price of $14,685 plus $2,080 in books and supplies for a 12-month, 906-hour program. Rockford Career College lists $16,699 a year for its 10-month diploma. Chicago Professional Center’s shorter HVAC and electrical course lists $7,100 for the whole program.
Whichever route you pick, the math is favorable. A certificate from a community college can take two semesters, and the guide to how long HVAC school takes explains how certificates, diplomas and degrees compare. For a national look at program costs, see the HVAC training cost guide.
Moving Into the Upper Half of the Range
With the 75th percentile at $96,030, the upper half of the Illinois range pays very well. Credentials that show up in Illinois programs and point in that direction include:
- EPA Section 608. Required to handle refrigerant. Oakton College in Des Plaines even offers a five-credit EPA Section 608 certificate on its own. The EPA 608 certification guide explains the exam.
- Licensing prep. Prairie State College in Chicago Heights states its certificate qualifies students to sit for the Illinois licensure exam. Oakton and Moraine Valley offer stationary engineering tracks.
- Commercial and building automation skills. College of DuPage offers a Building Automation Systems certificate, and Kennedy-King College trains on Johnson Controls equipment in a newly built facility.
- Apprenticeship. Olney Central College runs its certificate as an HVAC apprenticeship with local employers. The HVAC apprenticeship guide explains how paid training works.
To compare all 32 programs in the state by cost, schedule and credential, visit the Illinois HVAC schools page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Hourly Wage for HVAC Technicians in Illinois?
The median hourly wage for Illinois HVAC mechanics and installers was $37.21 in May 2025, according to BLS. The national median was $29.33 an hour.
What Do New HVAC Technicians Earn in Illinois?
The 10th percentile for Illinois HVAC mechanics and installers was $46,690 in May 2025, and the 25th percentile was $60,200. Early-career techs usually start closer to those figures than to the $77,410 median.
Which Illinois Metro Pays HVAC Technicians the Least?
The Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro had the lowest median in the Illinois data at $47,150, followed by Paducah, KY-IL at $56,610. Both are far below the Chicago-area median of $77,960.
How Many HVAC Technicians Work in the Chicago Area?
BLS counted 7,210 HVAC mechanics and installers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro in May 2025, out of 9,740 in Illinois as a whole.
More HVAC Guides
All posts
Florida · Salary
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in Florida?
Florida HVAC technicians earn a median $56,670 a year ($27.24 an hour), per BLS May 2025. Pay ranges for all 22 Florida metros, Naples to Sebring.
Georgia · Salary
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in Georgia?
Georgia HVAC technicians earned a median $56,390 in May 2025 ($27.11 an hour). See the pay range, metro medians from Dalton to Columbus, and where to train.
New York · Salary
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in New York?
New York HVAC technicians earn a median $74,430 a year ($35.78 an hour), per May 2025 BLS data. Compare New York City with Syracuse, Albany, Buffalo and more.