HVAC Technician Salaries in 2024: A State-by-State Guide

Payscale.com database shows salary range for HVAC workers

The database of salaries comes from Payscale.com, which works with human resources and compensation specialists to modernize compensation and salary benchmarking through technology. 

Based on more than 2,000 commercially available, reputable compensation surveys, each of which complies with generally accepted principles and practices of WorldatWork and U.S. Department of Justice compensation survey standards, the database covers all 50 states.

The data includes figures for the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles for various experience levels, providing a range for HVAC salaries that informs hiring managers and job seekers alike. The 90th percentile figure is the salary at which 90% of similar employees make less, and 10% make more.  

To maintain congruence, each survey's average HVAC technician salary data is aged to Jan. 1, 2024, using aging factors specific to the combination of the job's function, level, and geographic location. The figures include base salary only, so benefits, commissions, bonuses, spiffs, and similar enhancements are not included. 

The data is broken down for HVAC tech salaries by state, region, and for selected cities. 

Among the findings from the most recent HVAC tech salary data:

• The 50th percentile salary for an entry-level HVAC technician (0-2 years experience) nationwide is $52,300. For intermediate experience (2-4 years), it’s $63,500, and for experienced HVAC technicians (4-6 years), it’s $74,500. 

• The average entry-level HVAC technician salary nationally is up 0.58% since Jan. 1, 2023.

• HVAC supervisors (7-plus years of experience), at the median, make $87,700.

• The HVAC technician salaries in the data fall in a wide range even within the same state, based on location and other factors. In California, for example, intermediate HVAC technicians in the 10th percentile make $52,500. In the 90th percentile, it’s $84,900. In Ohio, those numbers are $46,500 and $75,200. 

• The 50th percentile is higher than the national figure for entry-level HVAC technicians in 18 of the 50 states. 

• Entry-level HVAC technicians have the highest median pay in two of the nation’s biggest cities, with San Francisco ($62,000, $29.81 per hour) and New York City ($58,500, $28.13) topping the list. 

• Cost of living is an important factor to consider in heating and air conditioning salaries. San Francisco has the highest salary for entry-level HVAC technicians, $62,000 at the 50th percentile, but the high cost of home ownership means the dollars are worth less when cost of living is factored in. 

• Mississippi ($48,100) and West Virginia ($48,100) have the lowest median salary for entry-level HVAC technicians; California ($57,000), New Jersey ($56,000) and Washington ($55,900) are the highest paying states. 

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HVAC technician salaries affected by need for qualified candidates

As with all jobs, HVAC technician salaries are tied to supply and demand. The more jobs posted exceeds qualified candidates, the higher the salary must be to fill positions. 

HVAC business owners, like others in the skilled trades, struggle to find qualified employees in a highly competitive climate. They also worry about investing time and money in training, only to see those HVAC technicians go off on their own or to work for another company.

According to Bradham, that’s part of the reality for HVAC owners today. But more money isn’t always the answer. Technicians want a great workplace culture, Bradham says, and that culture provides value. 

Managing the labor shortage is part of that answer, but not all of it. 

“The industry is so behind on having great techs, and people will pay anything and they'll do it just to put a Band-Aid over their needs for the time being,” Bradham says.

“Technicians will jump for a dollar or two quickly if they need the money, or if you just have bad culture. They'll take off on you either way. But sometimes money’s not the answer,” he adds.

Contractors must also work to change a misguided but negative perception about the trades. The same potential employees targeted by home and commercial services companies—the ones working for Uber and DoorDash and hanging out at QuikTrip—think technology and the ability to make your own schedule are cool. 

“I think a lot of our workforce—the younger, impressionable kids—seem to be going the route where they're self-managed,” MacIsaac says. “They're doing Uber or Uber Eats or DoorDash or something along those lines. They don't have a supervisor.”

After searching for full-time Uber driver salaries online, MacIsaac found the average Uber driver yearly pay in North Carolina is $28,657, which is nearly half of what an entry-level HVAC technician can earn.

“It's half,” MacIsaac repeats. “I always joke around, these kids want to go work at the iPhone store. What do they make compared to what you can make in a trade? It's probably about half. And so for me, where are we losing this workforce to?

“The ‘cool factor’ is hurting us. If I were to talk to a guidance counselor, I would tell them, ‘Hey, it's not uncool to be in the trades.’”

How to attract top talent

Beyond a salary that aligns with industry standards, recruiting and retaining qualified personnel for an HVAC technician job requires:

• Attractive benefits: Health, vision, and dental insurance, a retirement plan, and paid time off are the basics. Level up your benefits program with perks that make your company stand out, like a free gym membership, paid volunteer days, and company-sponsored events.

• Career development opportunities: Offer training programs, mentorship opportunities, and continuous learning initiatives. Encourage career growth with clear paths for advancement and professional development courses.

• Bonuses/incentives: Implement performance-based bonuses for meeting efficiency and customer-satisfaction targets. Offer incentives like tool allowances, safety bonuses, and rewards for completing additional certifications. Recognize outstanding work with spot bonuses and celebrate milestones with team events.

HVAC technicians with an aptitude for sales can earn more

Troubleshooting a problem and performing repairs or being part of an install crew requires technical skill but not sales ability. Recognizing and capitalizing on opportunity increases revenue for companies and earning potential for technicians. 

Darius Lyvers, Chief Operating Officer at F.H. Furr in Northern Virginia, searches for a service technician with an attitude that’s a little outgoing and a little persuasive, but not necessarily someone who’s just really friendly and personable, because that type can spend all their time talking to customers without selling anything, Lyvers says. 

“You can train a lot of the technical,” he says. “Training sales is definitely harder.”

Weldon Long, a former HVAC company owner who is now a New York Times best-selling author and highly sought speaker, trainer and consultant, agrees. There’s an understanding in the industry, he says, that techs need to be trained, but sales skills are sometimes looked down upon.

“You would never grab your accountant and say, ‘Hey, can you run some service calls for me today?’” Long says. “We understand a service technician has to be trained, experienced, skilled, all those things.”

Same with sales, he says. 

“When it comes to sales, we'll grab somebody with a pulse and a heartbeat and say, ‘Hey you’re the sales guy.’ No skills, no training, no aptitude for it,” Long says. “We have to elevate the sales function and the lead-management function. 

“I'm not saying it's more important than service techs and quality installations—but man, it’s equally important,” he adds.

It’s important for the HVAC technician’s income, too.

HVAC technician salaries: Frequently asked questions

Check out the answers to common FAQs about HVAC technician salaries. 

How much does an HVAC service technician make? 

• The median salary for a senior HVAC tech in the United States is $74,500 per year, or $35.82 per hour.

• An entry-level HVAC tech, in the 50th percentile nationally, makes an average of $52,300, or an hourly wage of $25.14.

• In the 10th percentile (where 90% of HVAC techs make more, and 10% less), a senior HVAC tech nationally makes $28.61 per hour, or $59,500 annually. At the 90th percentile, the numbers are $42.98 per hour and $89,400 annually.

Highest HVAC average salary by state:

Lowest HVAC average salary by state:

Do HVAC technicians make good money?

HVAC technicians have high earning potential, especially for those who don’t want to go to college. Requiring only a high school diploma or the equivalent, the median salary nationally for an entry-level HVAC technician is $52,300, and for senior level HVAC technicians the median figure rises to $74,500. 

But there are other factors to consider when answering the question, “How much do HVAC technicians make?” Here are three factors to consider:

• Whether an HVAC technician makes good money depends on more than just the raw dollar figure.

• If loans are necessary to attend college, that debt must be taken into consideration. HVAC technicians often attend trade school and avoid most, if not all, of that debt.

• Cost of living is another factor. Larger, urban areas generally have higher salaries, but the dollars don’t go as far in those locations.

What cities have the highest HVAC technician salaries?

In the Payscale.com data, the top five cities in the survey for entry-level HVAC salaries are: San Francisco; New York City; Newark, New Jersey; Seattle; and Bridgeport, Connecticut.

• Bigger cities tend to have higher salaries for HVAC technicians. San Francisco has the highest entry-level HVAC technician salary at $62,500, or $29.81 per hour. 

• The average salary for an entry-level HVAC tech in New York City is $58,500.

How do HVAC salaries compare with those in other trades?

• HVAC technician vs. plumber salary: Nationally, the 50th percentile salary for an entry-level HVAC technician ($52,300) is higher than the 50th percentile salary for a plumber ($52,000).

• HVAC technician vs. electrician salary: Nationally, entry-level HVAC technicians ($52,300) make less than entry-level electricians ($58,500).

• Salaries for all three trades increase most rapidly—generally by about 20%-30%, although there are outliers—by the time the technician reaches the intermediate level (2-4 years). Licensed HVAC salaries increase more slowly afterward, the data show.

Median National Salary by Trade

HVAC salaries: Other factors to consider

Salaries can vary by job title and description. Sales techs typically make more than HVAC installers and service techs, for instance. 

Cost of living is also a factor not addressed in the database. For example, the median base pay for an entry-level HVAC tech in Charleston, West Virginia, is $46,300. To have the same standard of living in San Francisco, you’d need to make $113,741. The median pay for an entry-level HVAC tech in San Francisco is $62,000.

Licensing requirements vary slightly by state. Some states require lengthy apprentice periods. An HVAC or refrigeration apprentice salary could be less than licensed, entry-level HVAC technicians with all certifications. North Carolina requires 3,000 hours as a trainee to become licensed, for example. Check the requirements for your state. 

HVAC technician unions and more: Other factors could be in play as well, such as experience level, skill set, whether the HVAC technician is covered by a union, and more.

To find out more about how ServiceTitan can help you pay your HVAC techs’ salaries and manage your heating and cooling, schedule a free demo here.

ServiceTitan: Software to Run Payroll and Your Entire HVAC Business

ServiceTitan® is the leading all-in-one software solution for the home service industry including hundreds of heating and air businesses.HVAC business owners can manage all aspects of their business either from a tablet, on the ServiceTitan Mobile App, or from a computer at the office. Our software gives HVAC businesses the tools they need to manage: dispatch, scheduling, call booking, marketing and reporting, as well as all payroll related tasks, which we focus on below.

Efficiently Run HVAC business Payroll

ServiceTitan’s integrated payroll tools make it easy to pay your HVAC technicians with real-time timesheet tracking and automated bonus and overtime calculation features. By using our platform you don’t need to transfer dozens of documents between employees and managers, spend hours manually checking and inputting timesheet information into third-party payroll software, or get your techs into the office, and away from billable jobs, to sign off on timesheets. ServiceTitan automatically syncs everything for you so you can run payroll in just a few clicks.

Keep on Top of Timesheets

ServiceTitan’s timesheet feature automatically tracks time spent driving, vendor runs, and time spent on the actual job, so each timesheet is fully up to date at the end of each week, month, or other established payment period.  If any of your HVAC technicians runs into overtime, that’s also easy to configure and calculate in a few clicks. Double checking for potential discrepancies in these details usually takes hours, but with ServiceTitan it’s all accurately done for you, so you can be sure you are paying everyone correctly.

Timesheets within ServiceTitan are synced with our dispatch tools in real time, so you always know who is available for a new job. Our software also helps you correctly pay employees working back at the office. They can clock in and out right in the ServiceTitan interface so hours worked are updated in real time on their timesheets.This means timesheets and payslips always match so you don’t have to spend hours checking them.

Easily Apply Bonuses and Commissions

ServiceTitan makes it straightforward to apply bonuses and commissions to your salary structure, no matter how complex your performance-based pay. Configure ServiceTitan to provide accurate and timely calculations of bonuses, overtime and commissions to keep your team motivated to do their best work.

Techs also get to track their own timesheet to check for discrepancies, which they can highlight within the software itself, and understand how much they’ll be paid in any given period. Once they’ve taken a look, each employee can digitally sign off on their current time sheet, making the whole process more efficient.  Technicians can sign timesheets remotely and without driving to the office, which is one more step in making sure everyone is paid efficiently, in the right amount, on time, every time.

Integrate with QuickBooks or Sage Intacct

If you already use QuickBooks or Sage Intacct, but are also using (or considering) ServiceTitan to help manage your electrical business, you can easily combine the two with our QuickBooks integration program or Intacct integration.

Your accounting team won’t need to learn new software when you transition to ServiceTitan. You can go completely paperless while monitoring all your transactions in real time. If you need to check a payment has been made, or a deposit has been processed? You don’t have to call the bank or look it up on your banking app because the information is right there in ServiceTitan.

You’ll also never need to enter the same more than once; just generate your invoices and purchase orders right within ServiceTitan, then export them to QuickBooks or Intacct for secure, fully accessible accounting.

QuickBooks and Sage Intacct are not included when you sign up for ServiceTitan, but you can link either of them to ServiceTitan to run your bookkeeping processes more efficiently.

Correctly Calculate Your Labor Rate with ServiceTitan’s Free Online Tool

ServiceTitan’s Labor Rate Calculator helps you accurately identify the total cost of employing your HVAC technicians and gives you a figure for how much you should be charging customers for labor to ensure maximum business profitability. All you need to do is add the key metrics requested into our free online tool to calculate a flat hourly fee that takes into account every related cost, including all your overheads.

ServiceTitan: Manage Your Payroll and Entire HVAC Business in One Place

ServiceTitan gives you and your team the software tools you need for paying and managing every aspect of your HVAC technicians’ salaries, including:

• Payroll

• Timesheets

• QuickBooks and Sage Intacct integrations

Beyond dealing with payroll ServiceTitan also provides you with tools to:

• Market your HVAC business

• Manage call booking

• Deal with dispatch and service scheduling

• Monitor and report on employee performance

• Process on-the-spot payments

• And more…

To find out more about how ServiceTitan can help you pay your HVAC technicians’ salaries and manage your HVAC business, schedule a free demo here.