HVAC technicians’ wages vary depending on factors such as location and experience.
The main function of HVAC technicians around the country is to ensure that people are kept as comfortable as possible in their homes or places of work. In saying this, it’s just as crucial for HVAC business owners to ensure that they take as good care of their employees as possible.
While there are several factors that will affect whether an employee signs up with a specific HVAC company and remains long term, the most important aspect that affects their decision is usually the salary that’s being offered.
It’s important to keep in mind that HVAC positions will include an extensive range of positions, ranging from apprentice, and general service technician right up to that of senior HVAC service specialist. As such, the salaries paid will usually reflect the position they hold.
Just How Much Does an HVAC Technician Earn?
At present, the average salary for an HVAC technician working in the US is approximately $25 per hour. However, these rates will differ depending on levels of experience, qualifications, and the state that an HVAC technician is working in. Below are some examples of hourly rates paid to HVAC technicians in different parts of the country:
- Connecticut currently has the highest average salary at just under $53
- Idaho offers the lowest average salary at present – just over $22 per hour
- The bottom 10 states’ hourly pay rates vary by less than $3 per hour, and the top 10 states have a pay range that spans just over $9 per hour
Approximate Salary Range for HVAC Technicians in Different States
When perusing this data, it’s important to remember that it represents an extensive range of job functions and titles – from that of an administrative employee right up to that of a senior HVAC technician.
- Connecticut falls into the top four states with regards to the highest individual salary being paid – around $75 per hour, with the average hourly rate coming in at just under $53
- Although Louisiana sets the bar with the highest individual salary at a little over $111 per hour, its average salary of just under $28 places it among the bottom third of states around the country
- Massachusetts and Rhode Island currently have the highest salary floor in the industry, with entry level jobs being posted and advertising a salary of more than $17 per hour
- At the moment, the state of Maryland is offering the lowest individual salary rates in the industry – just under $7 per hour. However, they do offer the second highest individual salary rate in the country of just over $76 per hour
Are there any HVAC Jobs that Pay More than $55,000 Annual Salaries?
With the average salary for HVAC technicians being at just under $25 per hour, this means that the majority of technicians in this industry will already be earning approximately $50,000 per year if they’re working in a full time capacity.
Below are just a few insights regarding job availability and approximate salaries being paid in a few states:
- Alaska only has around 110 job vacancies that need to be filled, with just over 16% of them offering a salary of $55,000 or higher
- At present, New Hampshire has the highest percentage of high-paying HVAC technician positions available, with almost 25% of vacant positions offering salaries of $55,000 per year or more
- Florida currently has just under 4,800 available posts for HVAC technicians posted on online job sites, and only around 20% of them are offering salaries of more than 55% per year
Examples of Cities with the Best Paid HVAC Technician Jobs
Although many people expect the highest-paying jobs for HVAC technicians to be listed in the largest cities in each state, this is not always the case. In many cases, it won’t only be the major metropolitan areas that offer the highest paying jobs for qualified HVAC technicians. Below are just a few examples of how pay rates can vary in different cities:
- Idaho Falls, ID currently offers some of the lowest paying jobs for HVAC technicians
- Danbury, CT is currently offering the highest average hourly salary rates for available HVAC technician positions
- Although the city of Lexington, KY presently ranks right at the bottom in terms of average salary rates being offered for HVAC technicians, the state itself ranks among the top two with regard to the highest percentage of jobs being available that offer salary rates of $55,000 per year or more
- While major metropolitan cities such as San Francisco, Boston, and Philadelphia rank among the top 10 with regards to salary rates being offered, so does the city of Anchorage, AK
Although a large number of the major cities seem to be offering higher salaries for HVAC technicians, this doesn’t mean that there are no opportunities for this in the smaller cities – in fact, many HVAC technicians have reported that they earn good wages in some of the smaller cities around the country.
Basic Guide to Salaries for HVAC Technicians in the US
When it comes to profit levels in the HVAC industry, wages being paid to HVAC technicians are probably one of the biggest factors that have an effect. This is because qualified and certified technicians and the salaries being paid to them are crucial to the overall pricing, deliverability, and marketing aspects of the business as a whole. Wages will also always have a direct effect with regard to acquiring talent, retaining it, and job satisfaction levels.
After initially qualifying as an HVAC technician, it will be in your best interests to do everything possible to keep your qualifications and certification up to date – this is not the time to think that because you’ve obtained certification, you won’t ever have to undergo training again. This will help ensure that you not only remain updated with changes in industry regulations and available products and systems; it will go a long way when the time comes to negotiate a higher salary from a particular employer or company as well.