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HVAC pay gets quoted as one number, usually the national median. That number is real but almost useless on its own, because a first-year apprentice and a senior specialist can be tens of thousands of dollars apart.
Here is what the wage data shows for 2026, broken down by experience level and employer, plus the part most salary guides skip: what changes when you stop being an employee and start running your own truck.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median of $61,010 a year for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers in May 2025. The lowest 10% earned less than $40,050 and the highest 10% more than $95,210.
Where you sit in that spread comes down to experience, licence and certification level, employer type and location. If you run your own truck, the numbers work differently, as the last sections explain.
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How much HVAC techs make: the pay spreadHVAC technician salary by experience levelWhere HVAC techs earn the mostHow HVAC compares to the other tradesWhat actually moves your payEmployee pay versus running your own truckIs HVAC still a good trade to enter?FAQ
How much HVAC techs make: the pay spread
BLS publishes the median and the two ends of the range. Half of all HVAC technicians earn more than the median and half earn less.
The hourly figures for the two ends are our own calculation, dividing annual pay by 2,080 hours. BLS wage estimates do not include overtime, and they do not cover self-employed workers, who are about 6% of HVAC technicians.
HVAC technician salary by experience level
BLS does not split pay by experience, so these are typical ranges from published 2026 salary guides. They agree on the shape, with wide spread between sources.
BLS says HVAC technicians typically complete a training program of 6 months to 2 years, followed by a lengthy period of on-the-job training, and some train through a multi-year apprenticeship. EPA refrigerant-handling certification is required for nearly all technicians, while many other certifications are optional.
The step from entry level to mid level usually comes when a tech earns their EPA certification and finishes training. Senior pay generally comes from commercial or complex system experience and, in many states, a licence.
Where HVAC techs earn the most
Pay also depends on who employs you. BLS reports these median wages for May 2025 in some of the largest industries.
Most technicians work for contractors, which is also where the median is lowest. Roles in wholesale trade pay about $11,000 more at the median, though they are far fewer.
How HVAC compares to the other trades
At the national median, HVAC sits very close to plumbing and electrical. All three come from BLS data for May 2025.
Plumbing pays about $2,800 more than HVAC at the median and electrical about $2,200 more. The real trade-off is the path, because HVAC has the shortest route to earning, so you start banking real money earlier.
If you want to compare what each trade charges as a business, see our plumber hourly rate and electrician hourly rate guides.
What actually moves your pay
Four factors do most of the work, and you control more of them than the median suggests.
Specialty. Commercial, refrigeration and controls work tends to pay above residential service. Technicians who specialise in residential systems can also sell service contracts, which provide recurring maintenance income.
Employer and location. The industry table shows a gap of more than $10,000 between the largest and smallest medians, and pay varies a lot by state and metro area.
Overtime. Many technicians work extra hours in peak heating and cooling seasons and are on call for emergencies. BLS wage estimates exclude overtime, so total earnings can run higher than the published figures.
Certification and licence. EPA certification is the entry gate. Additional certifications are mostly optional, while a state licence, where required, lets you work independently.
Employee pay versus running your own truck
This is the part most salary guides leave out, and it is the question many experienced techs are asking. A self-employed HVAC tech does not earn a wage. They earn whatever is left after costs.
A solo operator billing $150 an hour is not making $150 an hour, because insurance, van, fuel, tools, software, licensing and unbillable time all come out first.
The upside is that the ceiling disappears, because an owner is capped by demand and capacity rather than by what an employer will pay. In our HVAC business owner salary model, a solo owner needs about 8 jobs a week to match the $61,010 median and about 11 to match the top 10%.
The downside is that a bad month is entirely yours. If you are weighing the jump, work out your real hourly floor first, and see what it costs to start an HVAC business.
Our free Hourly Rate Calculator works backwards from the take-home you want, your realistically billable hours, overhead and self-employment tax to the rate you would actually need to charge.
Is HVAC still a good trade to enter?
BLS projects employment of HVAC technicians to grow 11% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3% average for all occupations. That adds about 48,200 jobs, with roughly 40,600 openings a year once replacement of workers who leave is counted.
BLS points to commercial construction, including data centers, residential building and the retrofit of existing systems as drivers of that demand. The trade has costs too, because HVAC technicians have one of the highest injury and illness rates of any occupation, and schedules can include evenings, weekends and on-call emergencies.
FAQ
How much do HVAC techs make a year?
The BLS median is $61,010 a year for May 2025. The lowest 10% earned less than $40,050 and the highest 10% earned more than $95,210.
How much do HVAC techs make an hour?
The BLS median is $29.33 an hour. Published salary guides put apprentices at roughly $19 to $26 an hour and senior technicians at roughly $32 to $41.
Can HVAC techs make $100,000 a year?
Yes, but not at the median. The top 10% earn more than $95,210 in base pay, and specialists, technicians who work significant overtime and owners who run their own truck can pass $100,000.
How much do HVAC apprentices make?
Published salary guides put entry-level HVAC pay at roughly $39,000 to $54,000 a year, or about $19 to $26 an hour. It varies widely by employer and location.
Do HVAC techs make more than plumbers and electricians?
Not at the median. BLS reports $61,010 for HVAC, $63,800 for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, and $63,190 for electricians. HVAC has the shortest path to earning.
How long does it take to become an HVAC technician?
BLS says training programs typically last 6 months to 2 years, followed by a lengthy period of on-the-job training. Some techs train through a multi-year apprenticeship, and EPA refrigerant certification is required for nearly all.
Do HVAC techs get paid overtime?
Many work extra hours during peak heating and cooling seasons and are on call for emergencies. BLS wage estimates exclude overtime, so total earnings can be higher than the published median.
How much does an HVAC business owner make?
It depends on bookings and costs. In our model, a solo owner earns about $34,560 at 6 jobs a week and about $69,840 at 9, before income tax. See our HVAC business owner salary guide for the assumptions.
How we researched this: wage, employment and outlook figures come from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 data, checked October 2026. Experience-level ranges come from several published 2026 salary guides and vary widely, and the owner figures come from our own model with stated assumptions.
Last verified: October 2026.