Do hvac technicians make more than welders?

Nationally, hvac technicians earn more: a median of $61,010 a year vs $53,750 for welders, a gap of $7,260 (about 14%) (BLS OEWS May 2025).

What is the pay range for hvac technicians vs welders?

Hvac technicians earn $48,360 to $77,060 a year between the 25th and 75th percentiles, with a median of $61,010. Welders earn $46,790 to $63,010, with a median of $53,750 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do hvac technicians and welders earn the most?

Among the states TradesPays covers, hvac technicians earn the highest median in Illinois ($77,410 a year) and welders in Washington ($63,020) (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Which trade employs more people, hvac technicians or welders?

BLS counts 416,210 welders nationwide vs 409,670 hvac technicians (OEWS May 2025).

Which trade pays more in my state?

It varies by state. The HVAC Technician and Welder pay-by-state tables on TradesPays list the median in every covered state, and the compare tool at tradespays.com/compare puts both trades side by side in any state.

HVAC Technician vs Welder: which trade pays more?

Both trades side by side on the same BLS OEWS May 2025 data: national percentiles, union scales where a local publishes one, and the metros where both are measured.

In 2026, hvac technicians out-earn welders nationally: the median is $61,010 a year for hvac technicians vs $53,750 for welders, a gap of $7,260 (about 14%) (BLS OEWS May 2025). Last updated June 2026.

HVAC Technician vs Welder pay, nationally

Measure	HVAC Technician	Welder
Median pay	$61,010/yr	$53,750/yr
25th percentile	$48,360	$46,790
75th percentile	$77,060	$63,010
Workers nationwide (BLS)	409,670	416,210
Highest-paying state	Illinois ($77,410)	Washington ($63,020)

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Wages are nominal, not cost-of-living adjusted.

Where both trades are measured: metro by metro

Metros where BLS publishes a median for both trades, ranked by combined employment. Gap is the hvac technician median minus the welder median: positive means hvac technicians earn more in that metro.

Metro	HVAC Technician	Welder	Gap
New York, NY	$77,990	$61,680	+$16,310/yr
Houston, TX	$58,940	$57,940	+$1,000/yr
Dallas, TX	$59,560	$51,630	+$7,930/yr
Los Angeles, CA	$73,830	$56,160	+$17,670/yr
Chicago, IL	$77,960	$52,650	+$25,310/yr
Phoenix, AZ	$61,170	$56,540	+$4,630/yr

Compare by state

National medians hide big state swings. Every covered state's median for each trade is on its hub, and the compare tool puts both trades side by side in any state.

HVAC Technician pay by state →Welder pay by state →Pick a state and compare →

HVAC Technician vs Welder: FAQ

Do hvac technicians make more than welders?: Nationally, hvac technicians earn more: a median of $61,010 a year vs $53,750 for welders, a gap of $7,260 (about 14%) (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the pay range for hvac technicians vs welders?: Hvac technicians earn $48,360 to $77,060 a year between the 25th and 75th percentiles, with a median of $61,010. Welders earn $46,790 to $63,010, with a median of $53,750 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do hvac technicians and welders earn the most?: Among the states TradesPays covers, hvac technicians earn the highest median in Illinois ($77,410 a year) and welders in Washington ($63,020) (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Which trade employs more people, hvac technicians or welders?: BLS counts 416,210 welders nationwide vs 409,670 hvac technicians (OEWS May 2025).
Which trade pays more in my state?: It varies by state. The HVAC Technician and Welder pay-by-state tables on TradesPays list the median in every covered state, and the compare tool at tradespays.com/compare puts both trades side by side in any state.

Already in one of these trades?

The negotiation kit is built per trade and state. Below is each trade's highest-paying covered state; for your own state, start from the pay-by-state list on the trade's page above.

HVAC Technicians earn the most in Illinois ($77,410 median).

Want the whole play, not just the number?

The full hvac technician kit for Illinois: pay by metro, the union scale where one is public, three ready scripts, and answers to the pushback you will hear. $19, one time.

Get the full kit for $19

Welders earn the most in Washington ($63,020 median).

Want the whole play, not just the number?

The full welder kit for Washington: pay by metro, the union scale where one is public, three ready scripts, and answers to the pushback you will hear. $19, one time.

Get the full kit for $19

Other trade matchups

The amount and bar show each matchup's national median pay gap (BLS OEWS May 2025).