Key takeaways:
Curious about how much HVAC technicians make in 2025? Here’s what you need to know to understand earning potential and increase your salary in the field.
- Competitive salary range. HVAC technicians can expect to earn between $39,130 and $91,020 per year, with a U.S. median salary of $59,810. Income grows with experience, certifications, and the complexity of services offered.
- Wages vary by location. Pay rates differ widely depending on state, city, cost of living, and local demand. Top-paying cities are largely in California and Alaska, with some states like D.C. exceeding $83,000 in average annual salary.
- Factors influencing earnings. Your experience, certifications, specialization, and willingness to work overtime or emergency jobs all affect how much you make as an HVAC tech.
- Business ownership increases potential. Running your own HVAC business can boost earnings, with some owners earning over $100,000 annually, depending on their team size and service range.
- Opportunities for advancement. Entry-level techs can progress to journeyman, supervisor, or business owner roles for higher earning potential and a rewarding long-term career.
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The average salary for an HVAC technician ranges between $39,130 and $91,020 per year—depending on experience level, location, and type of HVAC services.
Thinking about joining the growing HVAC industry? In this guide, we’ll explore how profitable an HVAC career can be and share tips for increasing your annual salary as you gain experience.
Breakdown of HVAC technician income
Becoming an HVAC technician is pretty straightforward—just complete an HVAC apprentice program and get a state HVAC license. Your HVAC technician’s salary will be lower when you first start out, but it’ll increase over time as you gain more experience.
Keep reading to find out how much money HVAC technicians make per year, month, week, and hour:
How much do HVAC techs make a year?
The median salary for an HVAC technician in the United States is $59,810 before taxes, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2024.
You’ll likely earn between $39,130 and $91,020 throughout your career. The exact amount will depend on factors like your technical skills and the job opportunities available in your area.
Experienced HVAC technicians with advanced certifications, or those working on commercial HVAC systems, can also earn higher wages for their services.
How much do HVAC techs make per month?
As an HVAC technician, you’ll make somewhere between $3,260 and $7,585 a month. If you earn the median salary of $59,810 a year, you’ll make $4,984 per month.
You could make more if your schedule includes overtime, on-call, or emergency HVAC jobs. It all depends on how many hours you work and your hourly wage.
How much do HVAC professionals make per week?
Let’s assume you make $59,810 a year. If you work 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, you’ll earn $1,150 a week before taxes. Your weekly paycheck will vary depending on your hours.
For example, if you work a 60-hour week during the busy season and you’re making time-and-a-half for overtime, you could make an extra $862.50 a week.
How much do HVAC techs make per hour?
If your annual salary is $59,810 and you work 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, your hourly wage will be $28.75/hour before taxes. Your wages could be different if you work more or fewer hours, or if your annual salary is higher or lower.
HVAC technician salary by location
Your HVAC technician’s salary will vary depending on where you’re working. Factors like local demand, cost of living, and the area’s overall economy will affect the average HVAC salary per year in your area.
Highest-paying U.S. cities for HVAC techs
These are the top 10 highest-paying cities in the United States for HVAC contractors. If you’re able to relocate, you might want to consider setting up shop in these profitable areas:
| City/State | Hourly Wage | Monthly Wage | Annual Salary |
| Corcoran, CA | $45.05 | $7,808 | $93,703 |
| Pearblossom, CA | $36.61 | $6,345 | $76,143 |
| Scotts Valley, CA | $36.57 | $6,339 | $76,070 |
| Felton, CA | $35.93 | $6,227 | $74,729 |
| Williamsville, IL | $35.59 | $6,168 | $74,021 |
| Corte Madera, CA | $35.11 | $6,085 | $73,024 |
| Nome, AK | $35.06 | $6,076 | $72,919 |
| Larkspur, CA | $34.68 | $6,010 | $72,125 |
| Berkeley, CA | $34.60 | $5,997 | $71,975 |
| Redwood City, CA | $34.60 | $5,997 | $71,970 |
Source: ZipRecruiter, 2025
Cities like San Jose and San Francisco have a high cost of living, so HVAC technicians need a higher salary to cover expenses. Areas with extreme temperatures, like Alaska and Hawaii, have high wages because HVAC services are in high demand.
Average HVAC salary by state
The average annual salary for HVAC service techs will vary depending on the area. These are the five highest-paying states for HVAC technicians. Washington, D.C., holds the top spot with an annual salary of $83,780.
| State | Hourly Wage | Annual Salary |
| Washington, D.C. | $40.28/hour | $83,780/year |
| Alaska | $39.33/hour | $81,800/year |
| Massachusetts | $38.17/hour | $79,390/year |
| California | $35.80/hour | $74,470/year |
| Washington | $35.58/hour | $74,000/year |
How much do HVAC techs make in Florida?
The average salary for an HVAC technician in Florida is $26.84/hour (ZipRecruiter, 2025). If you work 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, this is an annual salary of $55,827.20.
This is below average for the U.S., and Florida has a higher cost of living than many states. Factor this into your plans if you want to be an HVAC technician in Florida.
READ MORE: How to get a Florida HVAC license
How much do HVAC techs make in California?
HVAC technicians in California earn $32.40/hour on average (ZipRecruiter, 2025). If you work a 40-hour week, 52 weeks a year, you’ll earn an annual salary of $67,392.
California is one of the better-paying states, so this wage is higher than the national average for an HVAC tech salary.
READ MORE: How to get a California HVAC license
How much do HVAC techs make in Texas?
HVAC techs in Texas make a mean wage of $28.67/hour (ZipRecruiter, 2025). At 40 hours a day, 52 weeks a year, that’s an annual salary of $59,633.60.
This is a mid-range salary compared to other states. That said, Texas has a lower cost of living to balance out the reduced wages.
READ MORE: How to get a Texas HVAC license
Factors that affect HVAC technician salaries
There are a number of factors that affect how much HVAC technicians make in a year:
- Experience: Entry-level HVAC technicians earn less while they build skills and earn certifications. Senior techs, supervisors, and business owners tend to earn the highest salaries.
- Location: Areas with a higher cost of living, especially big cities, tend to pay more, so HVAC technicians can afford to live there.
- Demand: You’ll find higher salaries in states with extreme climates, both hot and cold, since there’s higher demand for services.
- Certification: The more certifications you have as an HVAC technician, the more you can earn for your services. Consider getting EPA Section 608, HVAC Excellence, or NATE certification (North American Technician Excellence).
- Industry: The industry you work in will affect your salary. For example, the annual mean wage for an HVAC worker at a college or university is $58,230. On the other hand, the mean wage for an aircraft HVAC technician is $94,390.
- Specialization: Specializing in complex commercial refrigeration, industrial systems, or energy efficiency can help you earn more than you’d make providing basic residential HVAC service.
- Overtime: You can earn extra money by providing on-call emergency service and working scheduled overtime, especially during heat waves and cold snaps.
Income potential for HVAC business owners
Starting an HVAC business is a great way to be your own boss and set your own salary. An HVAC business owner with a team of skilled technicians can earn an average annual salary of $57,767/year, although some business owners earn over $100,000.
In addition to the income factors we described earlier, your earning potential will depend on how much revenue the business earns—and how much profit you put back into the business. You can improve this by figuring out how to competitively price your HVAC services.
One way to improve your revenue is by using HVAC software like Jobber. It can help you schedule jobs, manage technicians, keep work details organized, send quotes and invoices, and collect payment.
READ MORE: Top HVAC apps for boosting productivity
Start a profitable career as an HVAC technician
You’ll likely earn between $39,130 and $91,020 per year during your HVAC career. Your wages will depend on where you live, how experienced you are, and what HVAC services you provide.
With a little time and hard work, an entry-level HVAC technician can progress to more experienced roles, like a journeyman HVAC technician or even an HVAC engineer.
These roles come with the chance of higher wages and a competitive salary in a growing industry, giving you an excellent shot at a profitable long-term career.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Level of experience is one of the biggest factors in how much an HVAC technician earns. The more experience an HVAC technician has, the higher their wages will be.
• Apprentice HVAC technicians have less than three years of experience. They’re still learning the trade, working under supervision, and they may not have certifications yet. This factors into their pay, which is at the lower end of the scale.
• Journeyman HVAC technicians have 3–7 years of experience. They know the trade, they work independently, and they may have a number of advanced certifications. These factors help them earn mid-range salaries.
• HVAC technicians have a wide range of experience and are experts in the industry. They may train apprentices and are likely to be supervisors or business owners, and they can earn higher-end salaries as a result. -
When you’re first starting out as an apprentice HVAC technician, expect to make around $39,130/year. You could be making more or less, depending on your location and the local demand for HVAC services.
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The top 10 highest-paying cities in the United States for HVAC contractors are:
• Corcoran, CA: $93,703
• Pearblossom, CA: $76,143
• Scotts Valley, CA: $76,070
• Felton, CA: $74,729
• Williamsville, IL: $74,021
• Corte Madera, CA: $73,024
• Nome, AK: $72,919
• Larkspur, CA: $72,125
• Berkeley, CA: $71,975
• Redwood City, CA: $71,970 -
When you’re deciding which state to live and work in, keep in mind that some states pay less than others. The lowest-paying states for HVAC salaries are:
• West Virginia ($44,060)
• Mississippi: $45,310
• Arkansas: $45,560
• Alabama: $47,200
• New Mexico: $48,160