How much does an HVAC technician make?
a year · about $29 an hour
A typical HVAC technician in the United States makes $61,010 a year, about $29 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They travel between homes, schools, or shops, checking furnaces and air conditioners before cleaning, repairing, or installing parts. They explain the fix and record the work; emergency calls can mean evenings or weekends.
Did you know? Some modern HVAC systems have computer parts and network connections, so technicians may repair high-tech controls—not just pipes and motors.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $40,050 and $95,210How do you become one?
Many people start after high school, often around 18, with a 6-month-to-2-year HVAC trade-school program or an apprenticeship. To work with refrigerants, they pass an EPA-approved Section 608 test; state and local license rules vary.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, in-demand skills, and sought-after credentials can affect an HVAC technician’s pay. Pay also varies by employer and location, and more complex work or a specialty can make a difference. Busy seasons may bring overtime or evening and weekend shifts, changing total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Alaska ($77,430), lowest in Arkansas ($48,110).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,050 | $61,010 | $95,210 | about 410,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $77,430 | about 610 |
| Illinois | $77,410 | about 10,000 |
| Massachusetts | $77,300 | about 8,000 |
| Connecticut | $76,610 | about 4,000 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 | about 4,000 |
Official definition: Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and
- www.epa.gov/section608/section-608-technician-certification-requirements
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/search/dwa/choose/49-9021.00
- www.apprenticeship.gov/sites/default/files/2019-04/HS_Apprenticeship_Youth_Guide
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY