HVAC technician salary, job growth and outlook

HVAC technicians earn a median of $61,010 a year. Employment is projected to grow 11% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 40,600 openings every year.

Pay has climbed for three years running. The median was $57,300 in 2023, $59,810 in 2024, and $61,010 in 2025.

How much do HVAC technicians make?

The median annual wage for HVAC technicians is $61,010. Half of all technicians earn more than that and half earn less.

The spread is wide. The lowest paid 10% earn under $40,050 a year. The highest paid 10% earn more than $95,210. That gap of more than $55,000 between the bottom and the top is what separates a first year apprentice from a commercial refrigeration or controls specialist.

For comparison, the median wage across all US occupations was $49,500 in May 2024. HVAC pays well above the national middle.

HVAC job growth: 11% through 2035

Employment of HVAC technicians will grow 11% between 2025 and 2035. That is much faster than the average for all occupations.

The projection has been revised upward two years in a row. The 2023 to 2033 outlook was 9%. The 2024 to 2034 outlook was 8%. The current 2025 to 2035 outlook is 11%.

How many HVAC job openings are there each year?

About 40,600 HVAC technician openings are projected every year over the decade.

Most of those openings are not new positions. They exist because workers are transferring to other occupations or leaving the workforce entirely, including retirement. That is the number that matters for anyone hiring: the pool is turning over, not simply expanding.

The previous forecast cycle put annual openings at 40,100.

How many HVAC technicians are there in the US?

HVAC technicians held about 440,900 jobs in 2025, up from 425,200 in 2024.

That figure counts wage and salary jobs. It does not include self employed technicians or HVAC business owners, so the true number of people working in the trade is higher.

What do you need to become an HVAC technician?

The typical entry requirement is a postsecondary nondegree award. No four year degree is needed.

New technicians then go through a long period of on the job training to reach full competency. Many technicians also need a licence or certification depending on the state and the type of work.

No prior work experience in a related occupation is expected at entry.

The 5 highest paying states for HVAC technicians

Location is one of the largest single factors in HVAC pay. The states below pay the highest annual mean wage.

The states at the top share a pattern. They combine a high cost of living with either extreme climate demand or a dense stock of commercial buildings, and in several cases a small technician workforce serving a large service area.

What changed since the last update

Wage data is refreshed each spring and the employment projections each autumn, so figures on this page move. Superseded numbers are kept here so it is clear which one is current.