HVAC Technician Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) HVAC technician in the US earns $29.33 an hour, or $61,010 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 409,670 jobs (May 2025, occupation: HVAC mechanics and installers). The middle half earn between $48,360 and $77,060 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $95,210.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $51,202 a year ($4,267 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Alaska ($62,922 a year) and lowest in Alabama ($39,055).
HVAC Technician pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $19.25 | $40,050 | $34,360 |
| 25th percentile | $23.25 | $48,360 | $41,037 |
| Median (half earn more) | $29.33 | $61,010 | $51,202 |
| 75th percentile | $37.05 | $77,060 | $63,042 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $45.78 | $95,210 | $75,810 |
The average (mean) is $64,780 a year ($31.14 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 49-9021. Source
HVAC Technician salary by state
The highest median pay for HVAC technicians is in District of Columbia ($84,390), Alaska ($77,440), Illinois ($77,400), Massachusetts ($77,290), Connecticut ($76,610). The lowest is in Arkansas ($48,110), Alabama ($48,380), Mississippi ($48,690).
The most HVAC technicians work in Florida (39,160), California (35,130), Texas (34,730).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Alaska ($62,922), Washington ($61,014), North Dakota ($60,889), New Hampshire ($60,791), Illinois ($59,594). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $23.26 | $48,380 | $39,055 | 8,260 |
| Alaska | $37.23 | $77,440 | $62,922 | 610 |
| Arizona | $28.56 | $59,400 | $48,720 | 10,860 |
| Arkansas | $23.13 | $48,110 | $39,543 | 4,960 |
| California | $34.88 | $72,550 | $56,090 | 35,130 |
| Colorado | $31.35 | $65,210 | $51,662 | 8,940 |
| Connecticut | $36.83 | $76,610 | $58,754 | 3,800 |
| Delaware | $29.96 | $62,320 | $49,223 | 1,730 |
| District of Columbia | $40.57 | $84,390 | $68,199* | 400 |
| Florida | $27.24 | $56,660 | $47,706 | 39,160 |
| Georgia | $27.11 | $56,390 | $45,424 | 12,290 |
| Hawaii | $31.47 | $65,460 | $51,001 | 1,300 |
| Idaho | $27.04 | $56,240 | $45,237 | 4,550 |
| Illinois | $37.21 | $77,400 | $59,594 | 9,740 |
| Indiana | $29.05 | $60,420 | $47,774 | 8,530 |
| Iowa | $29.17 | $60,670 | $49,157 | 3,840 |
| Kansas | $29.07 | $60,470 | $48,193 | 3,770 |
| Kentucky | $28.18 | $58,610 | $47,340 | 5,100 |
| Louisiana | $28.20 | $58,660 | $47,899 | 5,380 |
| Maine | $30.37 | $63,170 | $49,839 | 2,250 |
| Maryland | $33.67 | $70,030 | $53,053 | 8,560 |
| Massachusetts | $37.16 | $77,290 | $59,499 | 8,200 |
| Michigan | $29.26 | $60,860 | $48,745 | 12,590 |
| Minnesota | $36.71 | $76,360 | $57,823 | 4,200 |
| Mississippi | $23.41 | $48,690 | $40,080 | 2,700 |
| Missouri | $28.82 | $59,950 | $48,478 | 7,220 |
| Montana | $29.26 | $60,860 | $48,975 | 1,230 |
| Nebraska | $28.77 | $59,840 | $48,144 | 3,020 |
| Nevada | $29.09 | $60,510 | $50,800 | 4,170 |
| New Hampshire | $35.51 | $73,860 | $60,791 | 2,560 |
| New Jersey | $35.79 | $74,440 | $57,662 | 10,330 |
| New Mexico | $24.17 | $50,270 | $40,996 | 1,950 |
| New York | $35.78 | $74,420 | $57,378 | 24,430 |
| North Carolina | $27.53 | $57,260 | $46,369 | 15,230 |
| North Dakota | $35.81 | $74,480 | $60,889 | 970 |
| Ohio | $30.06 | $62,520 | $50,927 | 14,150 |
| Oklahoma | $27.67 | $57,550 | $46,367 | 5,650 |
| Oregon | $30.26 | $62,940 | $48,112 | 3,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $30.00 | $62,400 | $50,359 | 15,880 |
| Rhode Island | $32.39 | $67,370 | $52,995 | 1,450 |
| South Carolina | $27.22 | $56,620 | $45,573 | 6,920 |
| South Dakota | $29.51 | $61,380 | $51,499 | 1,610 |
| Tennessee | $26.68 | $55,490 | $46,766 | 9,740 |
| Texas | $27.77 | $57,760 | $48,590 | 34,730 |
| Utah | $28.24 | $58,740 | $46,752 | 5,580 |
| Vermont | $29.88 | $62,150 | $50,212 | 970 |
| Virginia | $28.72 | $59,740 | $47,560 | 14,690 |
| Washington | $36.38 | $75,670 | $61,014 | 7,370 |
| West Virginia | $23.49 | $48,860 | $40,043 | 1,690 |
| Wisconsin | $29.67 | $61,710 | $48,898 | 6,630 |
| Wyoming | $26.30 | $54,700 | $46,131 | 690 |
Overtime and pay rules for HVAC technicians
HVAC technicians who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on an HVAC technician's pay
On the median $61,010, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 16.1% of pay for a single filer: $5,141 of income tax and $4,667 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $44,910, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($3,050 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $366, so it costs about $2,684 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed HVAC technicians are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Lab Technologist | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Paralegal | $62,890 | $30.24 |
| Paramedic | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | $28.50 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $29 an hour is how much a year.
HVAC Technician salary questions
How much does an HVAC technician make?
The median pay is $29.33 an hour, or $61,010 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $40,050 and the top 10% more than $95,210.
How much does an HVAC technician make after taxes?
About $51,202 a year, or $1,969 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Alabama, at that state's own median pay, it is about $39,055.
How much does an HVAC technician make a month?
About $5,084 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $4,267 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays HVAC technicians the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $84,390 a year ($40.57 an hour). Next are Alaska ($77,440) and Illinois ($77,400). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Alaska.
How much does an HVAC technician make an hour?
The median is $29.33 an hour. The middle half earn $23.25 to $37.05, and the top 10% more than $45.78.
Do HVAC technicians get paid overtime?
HVAC technicians who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
More trades and construction salaries
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.