Last reviewed: September 2026 · By the HVAC Brief Editorial Team · Our sourcing and editorial standards
Among the 30 largest US metro areas, the median wage for HVAC mechanics and installers ranged from $38.51 an hour in Seattle to $24.30 in Tampa, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 estimates. The national median was $29.33.
19 of the 30 metros pay above the national median. The three Florida metros we pulled sit at or near the bottom, and New York employs the most technicians by a wide margin, 21,820.
The 30 largest metros, ranked by median wage
| Rank | Metro area | Median hourly | Median annual | Employed | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $38.51 | $80,100 | 3,940 | +31% |
| 2 | Boston | $37.75 | $78,530 | 6,050 | +29% |
| 3 | San Francisco | $37.73 | $78,490 | 3,980 | +29% |
| 4 | New York | $37.50 | $77,990 | 21,820 | +28% |
| 5 | Chicago | $37.48 | $77,960 | 7,210 | +28% |
| 6 | Minneapolis-St. Paul | $37.25 | $77,490 | 2,420 | +27% |
| 7 | San Diego | $36.00 | $74,880 | 3,210 | +23% |
| 8 | Los Angeles | $35.49 | $73,830 | 10,720 | +21% |
| 9 | Washington DC | $34.58 | $71,920 | 8,730 | +18% |
| 10 | Denver | $34.41 | $71,580 | 4,360 | +17% |
| 11 | Sacramento | $32.06 | $66,670 | 2,940 | +9% |
| 12 | Portland OR | $31.38 | $65,260 | 2,580 | +7% |
| 13 | Philadelphia | $31.05 | $64,580 | 8,610 | +6% |
| 14 | Riverside-San Bernardino | $30.92 | $64,300 | 4,820 | +5% |
| 15 | Baltimore | $30.38 | $63,180 | 3,960 | +4% |
| 16 | Detroit | $30.37 | $63,170 | 5,740 | +4% |
| 17 | St. Louis | $30.29 | $63,000 | 2,980 | +3% |
| 18 | Pittsburgh | $29.87 | $62,140 | 2,680 | +2% |
| 19 | Phoenix | $29.41 | $61,170 | 8,070 | +0% |
| 20 | Austin | $29.24 | $60,820 | 3,140 | -0% |
| 21 | Nashville | $28.97 | $60,270 | 3,500 | -1% |
| 22 | Las Vegas | $28.96 | $60,240 | 3,150 | -1% |
| 23 | Charlotte | $28.77 | $59,840 | 3,860 | -2% |
| 24 | Dallas-Fort Worth | $28.63 | $59,560 | 10,910 | -2% |
| 25 | Atlanta | $28.35 | $58,970 | 7,060 | -3% |
| 26 | Houston | $28.34 | $58,940 | 7,680 | -3% |
| 27 | San Antonio | $28.17 | $58,590 | 3,160 | -4% |
| 28 | Miami | $27.90 | $58,040 | 9,140 | -5% |
| 29 | Orlando | $24.74 | $51,460 | 5,140 | -16% |
| 30 | Tampa | $24.30 | $50,540 | 6,090 | -17% |
Figures are for SOC 49-9021, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers. Metro names are shortened; each refers to the full metropolitan statistical area.
What the spread shows
The top of the table is the high-cost coastal and northern metros; the bottom is concentrated in the Sun Belt. The gap between Seattle and Tampa is $14.21 an hour, about $29,560 a year at the median.
Two things the ranking does not say. It does not adjust for living costs, which BLS wage data does not do. And it does not show demand: some of the lowest-paying metros employ large numbers of technicians, because cooling demand in hot climates supports a big trade regardless of pay levels.
Median wages were $27.90 an hour in Miami, $24.74 in Orlando and $24.30 in Tampa, all below the national median and the bottom three of the 30 metros. The same pattern appears at state level, where Florida has among the most technicians and among the lowest medians; see HVAC technician pay by state.
Median wage is not what a contractor pays overall
OEWS measures pay for one occupation across all employers. The BLS Current Employment Statistics series for plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractors measures average hourly earnings for everyone on those firms’ payrolls, including office and supervisory staff, and it is a different number for a different population. Our employment and wages tracker follows that series monthly, and contractor pay explains how the two relate.
For someone entering the trade
The median is the midpoint, not a starting wage; apprentices and new technicians earn below it. Pay also varies with certification, specialism and whether the work is residential, commercial or refrigeration. See how to become an HVAC technician for the federal certification requirement and training routes.
Frequently asked questions
Which city pays HVAC technicians the most?
Among the 30 largest metro areas, Seattle had the highest median wage for HVAC mechanics and installers at $38.51 an hour, or $80,100 a year, in the BLS May 2025 estimates. Boston and San Francisco followed at $37.75 and $37.73.
Which city pays HVAC technicians the least?
Among the 30 largest metros, Tampa had the lowest median at $24.30 an hour, followed by Orlando at $24.74, per BLS May 2025 estimates. BLS wage figures are not adjusted for local living costs.
How much do HVAC technicians make?
The national median wage for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers was $29.33 an hour, $61,010 a year, in May 2025. Among the largest metros, medians ranged from $24.30 to $38.51 an hour.
Where do the most HVAC technicians work?
Of the 30 largest metros, New York employed the most HVAC mechanics and installers, 21,820, followed by Dallas-Fort Worth and Los Angeles. Employment reflects market size and climate as much as pay.
Methodology and limitations
Figures are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for SOC 49-9021 in metropolitan statistical areas, retrieved from the BLS public data API. Series follow the pattern OEUM plus the area code, all-industry code, occupation code and datatype.
- OEWS estimates are survey-based and carry sampling error, especially for smaller metros.
- Wages are not adjusted for cost of living.
- These are the 30 largest metro areas by population, not the 30 highest-paying.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-9021, metropolitan areas.
The HVAC Brief is an independent trade publication. We do not sell equipment, take manufacturer advertising, or accept payment for placement in our research. Corrections welcome.
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