HVAC Technician Hourly Pay, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 11,503 US job postings by 2,807 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for HVAC technicians: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 11,503 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for HVAC technicians in US job postings is $33.50 an hour (3,291 postings from 865 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $27.00 to $40.00 an hour.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $29.95 an hour (388 postings).
- The skills that most set HVAC technician postings apart are hvac systems, troubleshooting.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 3 years of experience.
HVAC Technician job postings in the US, October 2026
- $33.50/hr
- Median advertised pay (3,291 postings)
- $27.00–$40.00
- Middle 50% of postings
- $29.95/hr
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 11,503
- US job postings from 2,807 employers
How much does an HVAC technician make an hour?
The median advertised pay is $33.50 an hour, from 3,291 US job postings by 865 employers that state pay. That is about $73,000 a year at 2,080 hours.
Advertised pay in 3,291 US HVAC technician job postings: median $73,000 a year ($33.50 an hour), middle half $60,000 to $90,000.
- Median: $73,000 ($33.50/hr)
- 25th percentile: $60,000
- 75th percentile: $90,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $20K–$30K | 0.2% |
| $30K–$40K | 3.6% |
| $40K–$50K | 7.6% |
| $50K–$60K | 13.5% |
| $60K–$70K | 16.3% |
| $70K–$80K | 19.4% |
| $80K–$90K | 13.1% |
| $90K–$100K | 8.8% |
| $100K–$110K | 7.7% |
| $110K–$120K | 4.0% |
| $120K–$130K | 2.5% |
| $130K–$140K | 1.4% |
| $140K–$150K | 0.4% |
| $150K–$160K | 0.7% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | Most common titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $33.50 | $27.00–$40.00 | 1,611 | HVAC Service Technician, HVAC Technician, HVAC Installer |
| Postings that state an annual salary | $88,000 | $72K–$106K | 720 | HVAC Service Technician, HVAC Technician, HVAC Lead Installer |
| All pay postings, annualised | $73,000 | $60K–$90K | 3,291 | – |
For comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the national median annual wage of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (49-9021) at $61,000 (May 2025). Postings advertise pay; the BLS measures what people earn, across all employers and levels.
What is the starting salary for an HVAC technician?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $29.95 an hour (388 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $29.95/hr | 388 |
| 2-4 years | $36.06/hr | 1,571 |
| 5+ years | $40.00/hr | 616 |
HVAC technician levels and pay
Levels as they appear in job titles, ordered by the median experience asked.
| Level in title | Share of postings | Median experience asked | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| No level in title | 91.6% | 3 years | $35.45/hr |
| Lead | 2.6% | 3 years | – |
| Level II | 1.5% | 3 years | – |
Highest-paying HVAC technician jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC Service Technician | $40.00/hr | 958 | 292 |
| Refrigeration Technician | $38.17/hr | 310 | 103 |
| HVAC Installer | $36.06/hr | 621 | 230 |
| HVAC Technician | $33.50/hr | 814 | 354 |
HVAC technician pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $40.50/hr | $30.79–$51.68 | 141 | 5.7% |
| Texas | $40.00/hr | $32.24–$48.08 | 172 | 9.1% |
| Maryland | $40.00/hr | $37.20–$52.88 | 132 | 3.0% |
| Colorado | $40.00/hr | $33.00–$47.50 | 113 | 2.4% |
| New York | $36.00/hr | $30.00–$45.00 | 149 | 5.0% |
| Virginia | $35.53/hr | $30.00–$45.17 | 100 | 4.0% |
| Ohio | $35.00/hr | $27.50–$41.72 | 112 | 3.7% |
| New Jersey | $34.50/hr | $28.50–$44.47 | 101 | 2.9% |
| North Carolina | $34.00/hr | $26.44–$40.00 | 152 | 5.3% |
| Florida | $32.00/hr | $26.00–$36.06 | 148 | 6.2% |
Skills employers ask for in HVAC technician job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Communication | 33% |
| Customer service | 22% |
| Work independently | 18% |
| Problem-solving | 16% |
| Troubleshooting | 14% |
| Attention to detail | 11% |
| Hvac systems | 9% |
| Hvac | 9% |
| Self-motivated | 7% |
| Organizational skills | 7% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set HVAC technicians apart
- Hvac systems42.9× as often as in all postings · 9%
- Troubleshooting7.3× as often as in all postings · 14%
- Hvac12.5× as often as in all postings · 9%
- Preventative maintenance18.7× as often as in all postings · 5%
- Troubleshooting skills8.4× as often as in all postings · 5%
- Electrical6.6× as often as in all postings · 6%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a HVAC technician job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does an HVAC technician do?
Employers post these jobs as HVAC Technician, HVAC Service Technician, HVAC Installer, HVAC Mechanic, Refrigeration Technician and other titles. The largest specializations are HVAC Technician (28%), HVAC Service Technician (28%), HVAC Installer (16%), Refrigeration Technician (9%), HVAC Controls Technician (3%), HVAC Apprentice (2%), BAS Technician (under 1%).
The closest official occupation is Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (49-9021.00). Its most important tasks:
- Discuss heating or cooling system malfunctions with users to isolate problems or to verify that repairs corrected malfunctions.
- Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.
- Repair or replace defective equipment, components, or wiring.
- Lay out and connect electrical wiring between controls and equipment, according to wiring diagrams, using electrician's hand tools.
- Schedule work with customers and initiate work orders, house requisitions, and orders from stock.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be an HVAC technician?
Among 3,834 postings that state a minimum, the median is 3 years. Under 1% say 0 years and 16% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 3,834 US HVAC technician job postings: median 3 years, and 16% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | 1% |
| 1 yr | 15% |
| 2 yrs | 24% |
| 3-4 yrs | 33% |
| 5-7 yrs | 24% |
| 8-9 yrs | 1% |
| 10+ yrs | 2% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 98%, Part-time 2% of the 1,105 postings that state working hours.
Other names for an HVAC technician: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| HVAC Technician | 595 (21.2%) |
| HVAC Service Technician | 518 (18.4%) |
| HVAC Installer | 181 (6.5%) |
| HVAC Mechanic | 133 (4.7%) |
| Refrigeration Technician | 113 (4.0%) |
| HVAC Maintenance Technician | 92 (3.3%) |
| HVAC Lead Installer | 87 (3.1%) |
| Commercial HVAC Service Technician | 79 (2.8%) |
| Residential HVAC Service Technician | 66 (2.4%) |
| HVAC Tech | 63 (2.2%) |
| Lead HVAC Installer | 55 (2.0%) |
| HVAC Service Manager | 55 (2.0%) |
| HVAC Service Tech | 45 (1.6%) |
| Commercial HVAC Technician | 45 (1.6%) |
| HVAC | 41 (1.5%) |
| HVAC/R Technician | 41 (1.5%) |
| HVAC Installation Technician | 40 (1.4%) |
| HVAC Install Technician | 38 (1.4%) |
| Senior HVAC Technician | 37 (1.3%) |
| HVAC Apprentice | 36 (1.3%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
HVAC Technician compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC Technician | $33.50/hr | 3 years | 11,503 | – |
| Stationary Engineer | $80K | 3 years | 1,016 | 14 |
| Maintenance Technician | $27.50/hr | 2 years | 38,950 | 14 |
| Field Service Technician | $30.30/hr | 2 years | 16,764 | 16 |
| Facilities Manager | $90K | 3 years | 3,360 | 14 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Stationary Engineer | 14 | $80K |
| Maintenance Technician | 14 | $27.50/hr |
| Field Service Technician | 16 | $30.30/hr |
| Facilities Manager | 14 | $90K |
| Electrician | 16 | $36.23/hr |
| Diesel Mechanic | 15 | $32.50/hr |
Applying for HVAC technician jobs?
- HVAC technician resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find HVAC technician jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
How much does an HVAC technician make an hour?
What is the starting salary for an HVAC technician?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 20 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 20 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.