How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make?
- The median HVAC technician salary is $61,010 a year, or $29.33 an hour (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
- The lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,050; the top 10% earn more than $95,210.
- Highest-paying states with at least 500 jobs: Alaska ($77,430), Illinois ($77,410) and Massachusetts ($77,300).
- The most HVAC jobs are in Florida (39,160), California (35,130) and Texas (34,730).
HVAC Technician Salary in Every State
Annual pay for SOC 49-9021, heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers. States are sorted by median; the 10th and 90th percentiles show where new technicians and the most experienced ones land.
| State | Median | 10th percentile | 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $84,390 | $49,940 | $108,240 | 400 |
| Alaska | $77,430 | $48,580 | $105,140 | 610 |
| Illinois | $77,410 | $46,690 | $117,550 | 9,740 |
| Massachusetts | $77,300 | $50,820 | $102,410 | 8,200 |
| Connecticut | $76,610 | $45,280 | $100,160 | 3,800 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 | $48,220 | $100,030 | 4,200 |
| Washington | $75,660 | $48,810 | $120,360 | 7,370 |
| North Dakota | $74,490 | $46,610 | $94,060 | 970 |
| New Jersey | $74,450 | $48,020 | $116,550 | 10,330 |
| New York | $74,430 | $48,560 | $100,680 | 24,430 |
| New Hampshire | $73,850 | $47,520 | $97,140 | 2,560 |
| California | $72,560 | $46,950 | $109,060 | 35,130 |
| Maryland | $70,020 | $46,180 | $106,740 | 8,560 |
| Rhode Island | $67,370 | $38,100 | $104,080 | 1,450 |
| Hawaii | $65,450 | $43,120 | $99,430 | 1,300 |
| Colorado | $65,200 | $48,220 | $103,640 | 8,940 |
| Maine | $63,170 | $47,090 | $82,090 | 2,250 |
| Oregon | $62,940 | $46,990 | $94,520 | 3,980 |
| Ohio | $62,510 | $38,630 | $98,310 | 14,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,400 | $45,970 | $89,440 | 15,880 |
| Delaware | $62,320 | $45,000 | $97,600 | 1,730 |
| Vermont | $62,150 | $50,280 | $93,110 | 970 |
| Wisconsin | $61,710 | $45,930 | $98,070 | 6,630 |
| South Dakota | $61,390 | $48,420 | $75,190 | 1,610 |
| Michigan | $60,850 | $40,210 | $95,290 | 12,590 |
| Montana | $60,850 | $41,900 | $81,230 | 1,230 |
| Iowa | $60,680 | $43,040 | $86,280 | 3,840 |
| Nevada | $60,510 | $41,040 | $89,750 | 4,170 |
| Kansas | $60,460 | $43,660 | $83,500 | 3,770 |
| Indiana | $60,430 | $40,460 | $97,800 | 8,530 |
| Missouri | $59,950 | $39,180 | $88,760 | 7,220 |
| Nebraska | $59,850 | $43,540 | $81,110 | 3,020 |
| Virginia | $59,730 | $39,760 | $83,420 | 14,690 |
| Arizona | $59,400 | $37,950 | $80,160 | 10,860 |
| Utah | $58,730 | $37,570 | $80,500 | 5,580 |
| Louisiana | $58,650 | $36,950 | $78,210 | 5,380 |
| Kentucky | $58,620 | $38,790 | $80,020 | 5,100 |
| Texas | $57,760 | $38,100 | $81,860 | 34,730 |
| Oklahoma | $57,560 | $36,050 | $79,660 | 5,650 |
| North Carolina | $57,260 | $37,780 | $77,160 | 15,230 |
| Florida | $56,670 | $38,370 | $78,210 | 39,160 |
| South Carolina | $56,610 | $39,170 | $75,530 | 6,920 |
| Georgia | $56,390 | $36,990 | $79,130 | 12,290 |
| Idaho | $56,240 | $38,660 | $80,780 | 4,550 |
| Tennessee | $55,490 | $38,540 | $81,590 | 9,740 |
| Wyoming | $54,700 | $37,840 | $79,050 | 690 |
| New Mexico | $50,270 | $37,380 | $75,770 | 1,950 |
| West Virginia | $48,850 | $36,160 | $72,640 | 1,690 |
| Mississippi | $48,680 | $36,160 | $76,240 | 2,700 |
| Alabama | $48,370 | $36,510 | $65,690 | 8,260 |
| Arkansas | $48,110 | $37,040 | $69,290 | 4,960 |
| Virgin Islands | $45,030 | $36,220 | $68,490 | 70 |
| Guam | $40,110 | $29,780 | $69,830 | 240 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,480 | $24,010 | $49,510 | 1,140 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas: Anchorage Leads
Metro areas with at least 200 HVAC jobs, by median annual pay.
| Metro area | Median | 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $85,620 | $105,140 | 330 |
| San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA | $82,050 | $136,650 | 1,740 |
| Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA | $80,100 | $129,390 | 3,940 |
| Santa Rosa–Petaluma, CA | $79,510 | $122,600 | 560 |
| Peoria, IL | $78,710 | $105,450 | 370 |
| Santa Maria–Santa Barbara, CA | $78,640 | $120,430 | 260 |
| Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH | $78,530 | $103,050 | 6,050 |
| San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA | $78,490 | $129,380 | 3,980 |
| Santa Cruz–Watsonville, CA | $78,330 | $115,790 | 210 |
| New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ | $77,990 | $108,780 | 21,820 |
What Moves HVAC Pay Up
The wage spread inside one occupation is wide: the 90th percentile earns 2.4 times the 10th. BLS data doesn't break pay down by specialty, but the ladder is familiar: helpers and new installers start near the bottom, and technicians who can diagnose and repair systems alone, work on commercial refrigeration or controls, or hold a state license earn more. Training that covers commercial systems and controls, which 569 of our verified programs list, points toward those roles.
HVAC Technician Salary: FAQ
What Is the Average HVAC Technician Salary?
BLS reports a median of $61,010 a year for HVAC mechanics and installers (May 2025). The median is the middle wage, so half earn more and half earn less.
Which State Pays HVAC Technicians the Most?
Among states with at least 500 HVAC jobs, Alaska has the highest median at $77,430, followed by Illinois ($77,410) and Massachusetts ($77,300).
How Much Do Entry-Level HVAC Technicians Make?
BLS doesn't publish pay by experience. The 10th percentile, $40,050 nationally, is a reasonable guide to starting pay for helpers and new graduates.
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