How much do HVAC technicians make in 2026?
HVAC technicians earned a national median of $61,010 a year ($29.33/hr) in the latest federal wage data available (BLS OEWS, May 2025 estimates). BLS counts about 409,670 people employed in this occupation in the U.S.
Annual and hourly wages, all U.S. industries. Occupation used: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (SOC 49-9021). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What the percentiles mean
The median is the middle: half of HVAC technicians earned more and half earned less. The 25th–75th percentile range ($48,360–$77,060) is what the middle half of workers earned. Newer workers and apprentices tend to be near the low end, and experienced, licensed or specialized workers near the high end. BLS does not publish pay by years of experience, so treat any experience-based number as an estimate.
HVAC technicians pay by state
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. "Not published" means BLS did not release that estimate (too few survey responses, or not enough workers to publish).
| State | Median / yr | Median / hr | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,370 | $23.26 | $36,510 | $65,690 | 8,260 |
| Alaska | $77,430 | $37.23 | $48,580 | $105,140 | 610 |
| Arizona | $59,400 | $28.56 | $37,950 | $80,160 | 10,860 |
| Arkansas | $48,110 | $23.13 | $37,040 | $69,290 | 4,960 |
| California | $72,560 | $34.88 | $46,950 | $109,060 | 35,130 |
| Colorado | $65,200 | $31.35 | $48,220 | $103,640 | 8,940 |
| Connecticut | $76,610 | $36.83 | $45,280 | $100,160 | 3,800 |
| Delaware | $62,320 | $29.96 | $45,000 | $97,600 | 1,730 |
| District of Columbia | $84,390 | $40.57 | $49,940 | $108,240 | 400 |
| Florida | $56,670 | $27.24 | $38,370 | $78,210 | 39,160 |
| Georgia | $56,390 | $27.11 | $36,990 | $79,130 | 12,290 |
| Hawaii | $65,450 | $31.47 | $43,120 | $99,430 | 1,300 |
| Idaho | $56,240 | $27.04 | $38,660 | $80,780 | 4,550 |
| Illinois | $77,410 | $37.21 | $46,690 | $117,550 | 9,740 |
| Indiana | $60,430 | $29.05 | $40,460 | $97,800 | 8,530 |
| Iowa | $60,680 | $29.17 | $43,040 | $86,280 | 3,840 |
| Kansas | $60,460 | $29.07 | $43,660 | $83,500 | 3,770 |
| Kentucky | $58,620 | $28.18 | $38,790 | $80,020 | 5,100 |
| Louisiana | $58,650 | $28.20 | $36,950 | $78,210 | 5,380 |
| Maine | $63,170 | $30.37 | $47,090 | $82,090 | 2,250 |
| Maryland | $70,020 | $33.67 | $46,180 | $106,740 | 8,560 |
| Massachusetts | $77,300 | $37.16 | $50,820 | $102,410 | 8,200 |
| Michigan | $60,850 | $29.26 | $40,210 | $95,290 | 12,590 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 | $36.71 | $48,220 | $100,030 | 4,200 |
| Mississippi | $48,680 | $23.41 | $36,160 | $76,240 | 2,700 |
| Missouri | $59,950 | $28.82 | $39,180 | $88,760 | 7,220 |
| Montana | $60,850 | $29.26 | $41,900 | $81,230 | 1,230 |
| Nebraska | $59,850 | $28.77 | $43,540 | $81,110 | 3,020 |
| Nevada | $60,510 | $29.09 | $41,040 | $89,750 | 4,170 |
| New Hampshire | $73,850 | $35.51 | $47,520 | $97,140 | 2,560 |
| New Jersey | $74,450 | $35.79 | $48,020 | $116,550 | 10,330 |
| New Mexico | $50,270 | $24.17 | $37,380 | $75,770 | 1,950 |
| New York | $74,430 | $35.78 | $48,560 | $100,680 | 24,430 |
| North Carolina | $57,260 | $27.53 | $37,780 | $77,160 | 15,230 |
| North Dakota | $74,490 | $35.81 | $46,610 | $94,060 | 970 |
| Ohio | $62,510 | $30.06 | $38,630 | $98,310 | 14,150 |
| Oklahoma | $57,560 | $27.67 | $36,050 | $79,660 | 5,650 |
| Oregon | $62,940 | $30.26 | $46,990 | $94,520 | 3,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,400 | $30.00 | $45,970 | $89,440 | 15,880 |
| Rhode Island | $67,370 | $32.39 | $38,100 | $104,080 | 1,450 |
| South Carolina | $56,610 | $27.22 | $39,170 | $75,530 | 6,920 |
| South Dakota | $61,390 | $29.51 | $48,420 | $75,190 | 1,610 |
| Tennessee | $55,490 | $26.68 | $38,540 | $81,590 | 9,740 |
| Texas | $57,760 | $27.77 | $38,100 | $81,860 | 34,730 |
| Utah | $58,730 | $28.24 | $37,570 | $80,500 | 5,580 |
| Vermont | $62,150 | $29.88 | $50,280 | $93,110 | 970 |
| Virginia | $59,730 | $28.72 | $39,760 | $83,420 | 14,690 |
| Washington | $75,660 | $36.38 | $48,810 | $120,360 | 7,370 |
| West Virginia | $48,850 | $23.49 | $36,160 | $72,640 | 1,690 |
| Wisconsin | $61,710 | $29.67 | $45,930 | $98,070 | 6,630 |
| Wyoming | $54,700 | $26.30 | $37,840 | $79,050 | 690 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,480 | $15.14 | $24,010 | $49,510 | 1,140 |
How to earn more as a HVAC technician
- Get EPA Section 608 certification first. Federal law requires it to handle refrigerants, and employers expect it.
- Add NATE or manufacturer certifications and learn controls, building automation and commercial refrigeration.
- Move from install to service and diagnostics, where techs often earn commission or spiffs on top of hourly pay.
- Work the peak seasons: summer cooling and winter heating calls bring overtime and on-call pay.
- Earn a state HVAC or mechanical contractor license where your state offers one, and move toward lead tech or service manager.
Find HVAC technician work
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FAQ
How much do HVAC technicians make an hour?
The national median wage for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (SOC 49-9021) was $29.33 an hour, or $61,010 a year, in the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates. Half earned more and half earned less.
What do the highest-paid HVAC technicians earn?
The top 10% earned at least $95,210 a year ($45.78/hr). The bottom 10% earned less than $40,050 ($19.25/hr).
Which states pay HVAC technicians the most?
By median annual wage in the BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates: District of Columbia ($84,390); Alaska ($77,430); Illinois ($77,410). Living costs differ by state, too.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 49-9021 (Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers). They cover wage and salary workers in all industries, not the self-employed, and are not broken out by experience.
Source and method
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Files oesm25nat and oesm25st from bls.gov, downloaded Nov 8, 2026. Occupation: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (SOC 49-9021), cross-industry, all ownerships. OEWS wages are straight-time gross pay: they include commissions, production bonuses, tips and on-call pay, and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. Annual wages are generally the hourly wage times 2,080 hours. "Not published" = estimate not released by BLS. BLS occupation profile · All pay guides