How much do hvac technicians make in the US in 2026?

Which state is best for hvac technicians?

Different states win on different measures — here's the top on each. Pick the one that matters to you.

Across 25 states: $48,370–$77,410 (median $60,850).

HVAC Technician pay by state

Where is the union premium biggest for HVAC Technicians?

Named locals and the premium over the BLS all-worker median.

We don't have union scale data for HVAC Technician across our states yet — these states are predominantly non-union, or we haven't added IBEW/UA data. Submitting your pay helps build complete data for HVAC Technician.

Union landscape

TradesPays currently has no union scale data for HVAC Technicians in any of the 25 states we cover. That's not a comment on union prevalence in the trade — it's a data gap we're being straight about rather than papering over. Some HVAC Technicians are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and union scale rates can look quite different from the BLS OEWS figures on this page. If you're working under a CBA or considering a position that is, the only reliable source for your current scale, fringe benefits, and overtime rules is your local. Check directly with them for rates that are specific to your area and agreement. We'll update this section if and when we have verified union scale figures for this trade. Until then, the numbers on this page — the $61,010 national median, the state figures, the percentile range — reflect the broader employed workforce and should be read in that context.

What we don't track yet

A few honest gaps worth knowing before you lean too hard on any single number here. First, we don't have metro-level pay data for HVAC Technicians. The difference between wages in a dense urban market and a rural one can be substantial, and a statewide median will smooth that out in ways that may not reflect your actual situation. If your market is a major metro or a remote region, treat the state figures as a rough baseline, not a precise target. Second, we don't break pay down by apprentice, journeyman, or master tier outside of union scale — and as noted above, we don't have union scale for this trade yet. Career stage absolutely affects earnings, but our current data doesn't let us show you exactly where each tier lands. We're working on it. Third, specialty certifications — EPA 608, commercial refrigeration, controls and building automation — can push pay well above the median, and that nuance isn't visible in a single statewide number. If you have data that would help fill these gaps — your wage, your tier, your metro — use the submission form on this page. Real worker submissions make TradesPays more useful for everyone in the trade.

HVAC Technician pay: FAQ

What is the national median wage for an HVAC Technician?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, the national median annual wage for HVAC Technicians is $61,010. That means half of all workers in this trade earn above that figure and half earn below it.

What is the pay range for the middle 50% of HVAC Technicians?

The 25th percentile sits at $48,360 and the 75th percentile at $77,060, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. If you're below $48,360, that's worth examining. If you're above $77,060, you're in the top quarter nationally.

Which states pay HVAC Technicians the most?

Among the 25 states TradesPays covers, the three highest-paying are Illinois ($77,410), Massachusetts ($77,300), and Minnesota ($76,350), based on BLS OEWS May 2025 state-level data.

Which state has the lowest HVAC Technician wages in the TradesPays dataset?

Alabama has the lowest figure in our current dataset at $48,370 — right around the national 25th percentile. That gap between Alabama and Illinois is nearly $29,000 per year, which underlines how much geography can affect your paycheck.

Does TradesPays have union scale data for HVAC Technicians?

Not yet. We have no union scale data for this trade in any of the 25 states we cover. If you're under a collective bargaining agreement, check with your local for current scale rates — they'll have the accurate, up-to-date figures for your specific area and agreement.

Do certifications like EPA 608 affect HVAC Technician pay?

They can, but our current data doesn't break out wages by certification. The national median and state figures reflect the employed workforce broadly. Specialty certifications — particularly in commercial refrigeration or building automation controls — are generally associated with higher-end pay, but we can't quantify that split with the data we have right now.

How current is the HVAC Technician pay data on TradesPays?

The figures on this page come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. That's the most recent national dataset available. State-level figures are from the same release.

Other trades to compare