The median annual salary for a HVAC technician in the United States is $47,590. The lowest 10% earn less than $29,650, while the highest 10% earn more than $71,800.

The average annual salary for a HVAC technician is $52,400.

HVAC technicians make an average annual salary of $45,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annual Salary For Hvac Technician

he HVAC industry includes a variety of services related to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of buildings and homes. You can find jobs in HVAC design, installation, and repair, as well as HVAC sales, depending on your interests and strengths. You can work as an engineer in the research and development department of an HVAC company or as an assembler or fabricator in an HVAC manufacturing plant. Alternatively, you could work in sales and marketing for an HVAC brand. Another HVAC career opportunity is to work as an HVAC technician and perform maintenance and repairs on HVAC systems.

HVAC careers are in demand because the majority of buildings in modernized societies rely on HVAC systems and services to heat, cool, and circulate air, including private residences, corporate offices, educational institutions, health care facilities, government agencies, retail stores, restaurants, and warehouses. Whether your strengths lie in marketing and communications or mechanics and engineering, there’s an HVAC career in which you can use your talents. You need vocational training to work as an HVAC technician and to work in sales or research and development, you need a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, like marketing or engineering.

High Paying HVAC Jobs

• Thermal EngineerSalary range: $94,000-$130,500 per yearAs a thermal engineer, you maintain, create, or repair mechanical systems that involve a heat transfer process into other forms of energy. You analyze how mechanical heat sources interact with different physical and industrial systems. You test various components of heat transfer within a system, which sometimes involves chemical fluids and gas. You may work with large or small-scale heating or cooling equipment, from industrial heaters to airplane engines. Other duties and responsibilities require you to work in locations in need of heat or cooling mitigation, such as a power plant or landfill. Aerospace companies, public utilities, and other industrial firms hire thermal engineers.
• Hvac Project ManagerSalary range: $67,500-$100,000 per yearAn HVAC project manager is a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning professional who oversees HVAC installations in new construction and replacements in existing buildings. As an HVAC project manager, your primary duties are project design and planning and supervising HVAC technicians throughout the build. A bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering can help you advance in this field, but experience with HVAC installation is more important for this career. Consider working in a technician position to hone your technical skills.
• Cfd EngineerSalary range: $80,500-$96,500 per yearAs a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) engineer, your responsibilities are to use CFD formulas to predict fluid flows and heat transfers. You use software applications such as OpenFOAM or Gerris to compute the finite element method and the finite volume method, which use partial differential equations to create two- or three-dimensional models and simulations. Your job duties include analyzing problems, building models, and proposing solutions. Your experience makes you a valuable part of research and development teams in the mechanical and chemical engineering industries as well as the automobile, aerospace, and aeronautical industries.
• Air Conditioning EngineerSalary range: $53,000-$95,000 per yearThe majority of Air Conditioning Engineer salaries across the United States currently range between $53,000 (25th percentile) and $95,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Air Conditioning Engineer job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• HVAC Design EngineerSalary range: $61,500-$90,500 per yearAn HVAC design engineer designs and installs heating, venting, and air conditioning systems. This career is a mechanical engineering specialty, and responsibilities include engineering heating, venting, or air conditioning systems that fulfill a client’s needs. They oversee the installation and consider various factors, such as square footage of the space, hours per day of use, and energy costs when they design the system.
• HVAC EngineerSalary range: $56,000-$90,000 per yearAs an HVAC engineer, your job is to design heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems, as well as refrigeration systems. Your primary responsibilities center around the design of these systems, but depending on your employer, you may also have installation, maintenance, and repair duties. You must consult with clients, whether residential or commercial, to discover their needs, and then provide them with an estimate. From there, you either create a design for a new HVAC system or identify solutions for their existing system. You may collaborate with other engineers as well as installers, repair technicians, and managers to make sure your designs are within the scope of the project budget and meet clients’ needs.
• Hvac EstimatorSalary range: $50,000-$83,500 per yearAn HVAC estimator analyzes the scope of a proposed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning project to create a detailed estimate of the project’s cost. As an HVAC estimator, you consider the cost of labor and materials and describe what is needed for your client’s consideration. Job duties of an HVAC estimator involve hiring subcontractors, purchasing materials from suppliers, preparing equipment, and assisting with other pre-construction duties. To become an HVAC estimator, you need several years of experience in the HVAC industry. Some HVAC estimators earn at least an associate degree in mechanical engineering or a related field.
• Hvac Sales RepresentativeSalary range: $44,500-$81,500 per yearAs an HVAC sales representative, your responsibilities are to generate new customer leads, form a positive relationship with each customer, and recommend and sell heating, ventilation, or air conditioning products to leads and current customers. Your duties are also to assist HVAC specialists who install, troubleshoot, and repair HVAC equipment by contacting customers, providing quotes about the recommended service, writing proposals and contracts, and designing HVAC systems in customer homes and businesses. These positions are full-time and require frequent travel to meet with clients, but you can perform initial contacts with clients from an office or even from your home.
• Air Conditioning MechanicSalary range: $45,500-$79,000 per yearThe majority of Air Conditioning Mechanic salaries across the United States currently range between $45,500 (25th percentile) and $79,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Air Conditioning Mechanic job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• HVAC Project EngineerSalary range: $63,000-$77,500 per yearThe majority of HVAC Project Engineer salaries across the United States currently range between $63,000 (25th percentile) and $77,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the HVAC Project Engineer job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• HVAC DesignerSalary range: $52,000-$76,500 per yearThe majority of HVAC Designer salaries across the United States currently range between $52,000 (25th percentile) and $76,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the HVAC Designer job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• Commercial Hvac Service TechnicianSalary range: $50,000-$71,000 per yearA commercial HVAC service technician repairs and maintains heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, which the industry refers to as HVAC. As a commercial HVAC technician, you specialize in large HVAC systems used for businesses, schools, medical facilities, manufacturing plants, and factories rather than on the smaller, often less complicated, residential HVAC systems. Your job duties include servicing products, diagnosing problems, performing repairs, and installing new systems according to blueprints and wiring plans.
• Hvac Field Service TechnicianSalary range: $49,500-$70,500 per yearThe majority of Hvac Field Service Technician salaries across the United States currently range between $49,500 (25th percentile) and $70,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Hvac Field Service Technician job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• HVAC Controls TechnicianSalary range: $52,000-$70,000 per yearHVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. As an HVAC controls technician, you work with the devices that control these heating and cooling systems. You may install new HVAC controls or repair existing units. Your duties include installing panels and the wiring that connects them to the HVAC system, thermostats, and other sensors. In many cases, your job involves working with computers to automate the climate control process. In these cases, installation can include setting up and configuring programmable logic controllers (PLCs). You use specialized software, such as Niagara WorkBench, to set up an automated system.
• Hvac Residential Service TechnicianSalary range: $45,500-$69,500 per yearThe majority of Hvac Residential Service Technician salaries across the United States currently range between $45,500 (25th percentile) and $69,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Hvac Residential Service Technician job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• Commercial Hvac TechnicianSalary range: $49,000-$66,500 per yearThe majority of Commercial Hvac Technician salaries across the United States currently range between $49,000 (25th percentile) and $66,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Commercial Hvac Technician job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• Hvac Technician ResidentialSalary range: $44,500-$66,000 per yearThe majority of Hvac Technician Residential salaries across the United States currently range between $44,500 (25th percentile) and $66,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Hvac Technician Residential job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• HVAC Service TechnicianSalary range: $43,500-$62,500 per yearAn HVAC service technician installs, tests, and repairs heating and air conditioning systems. “HVAC” is an acronym for “heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.” Technicians have the qualifications and skills to install and service various systems, and test ventilation and air quality systems after installation. They work in residential homes, office buildings, factories, and on new construction projects. Many are self-employed or run their own companies. Some states require HVAC service technicians to be licensed by the state.
• Hvac SpecialistSalary range: $42,000-$62,500 per yearThe majority of Hvac Specialist salaries across the United States currently range between $42,000 (25th percentile) and $62,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Hvac Specialist job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• HVAC MechanicSalary range: $44,000-$61,500 per yearAn HVAC mechanic repairs and maintains heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. HVAC mechanics check the heating and cooling units at residential or commercial properties and follow specifications to install a heating or cooling unit, repair air conditioning systems, or check for appropriate ventilation. HVAC mechanics must communicate their findings to the property owner, suggest ways to maintain the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems throughout the year, and keep records of completed repairs.
• HVAC Installation TechnicianSalary range: $41,500-$60,500 per yearAs an HVAC installation technician, you assemble, install, and repair heating and cooling systems in residential and commercial buildings. For large jobs, responsibilities include directing sheet metal fabrication experts, electricians, and pipefitters to execute the ductwork; wiring; connecting the condensing unit, air handler, and furnace; and ensuring that all the pipe threading and fittings are up to specification. After installation is complete, you may also help the end users learn how to control the system and perform routine maintenance that will prolong the life of the installation.
• HVAC TechnicianSalary range: $41,000-$59,000 per yearThe job of an HVAC technician is to test, install, and repair heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in new and existing homes and commercial buildings. A strong candidate for an HVAC technician job will have professional training and job experience with HVAC systems. Blueprint reading is also an important skill. It is also common for job seekers in this field to list their physical attributes such as dexterity, strength, and stamina on their resumes to increase hiring potential.
• HVAC Maintenance TechnicianSalary range: $35,500-$50,000 per yearThe majority of HVAC Maintenance Technician salaries across the United States currently range between $35,500 (25th percentile) and $50,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the HVAC Maintenance Technician job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• Weatherization TechnicianSalary range: $31,000-$40,000 per yearAs a weatherization technician, your responsibilities are to maintain, repair, and install energy efficient materials in client homes and businesses. Additional responsibilities are to insulate attic and sub-floors; seal doors and windows; and install locksets, thermostats, and carbon monoxide alarms. Other duties include maintaining a clean and organized workspace; operating hand tools, power tools, maintenance and construction equipment, and insulation blowers; and explaining weatherization and conservation to customers. Weatherization technicians work in hot and cold conditions inside attics, crawl spaces, and basements.
• Duct CleanerSalary range: $27,500-$36,000 per yearAs a duct cleaner, it is your job to clean air ducts for heating and cooling systems. Your duties include cleaning these systems, providing basic maintenance, and performing inspections. The job is often the first step for a career as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technician. There are no formal qualifications to become a duct cleaner, but you should have customer service experience, adequate physical fitness, and comfort working within cramped or confined spaces. You often work inside a home, business, or school where and while others are present. Some HVAC companies offer duct cleaning positions as apprenticeships to learn the basics of heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.