HVAC Salaries in 2026 by State

HVAC salaries vary based on multiple factors, including your certifications, experience, negotiation skills and, last but not least, the state you work in.

In a previous article we’ve discussed how Gen Z-ers quit college to work in the trades, with 77% of them even considering entrepreneurship opportunities in several trades, including HVAC.

Today, we will discuss what you should expect in terms of salary in the HVAC field based on your experience and the state you live in. The numbers will be useful whether you plan to build a career as an experienced technician, or become a residential or commercial contractor with your own professional crew.

What’s the HVAC Salary in Each US State?

Salary ranges differ based on the state you live in and your experience in the field. The following table breaks the numbers down:

How Much Do HVAC Supervisors Earn?

Once you’ve qualified as an experienced HVAC pro, you can then become a supervisor, which will add anywhere between 10% and 20%+ to your salary, depending on the state. The expected salary range as an HVAC supervisor is $85,000-$100,000.

To get there, though, you need special certifications like North American Technician Excellence (NATE), CFC Certification and DDC (Direct Digital Control) OEM Technical Credentials, and proven leadership and administrative skills.

How Many HVAC Job Openings Are Available Each Year?

The HVAC sector currently has around 40,600 fresh job openings each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the employment rate is expected to grow by 11% between 2025 and 2035, which is the highest rate among all other blue-collar trades. 

Keep in mind that these are just approximates, as the markets move constantly.

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How to Earn More Money in HVAC?

Payscale, whose report informed today’s numbers, estimates that the average salary for HVAC workers will increase between 3.44% and 3.62% per year, depending on experience level and other factors, over the next decade.

Understandably, this isn’t a satisfactory growth rate for many looking to build a career in the HVAC trade. 

With that in mind, here are some strategies to help you earn more money in the HVAC trade, whether as a solo entrepreneur or a standard employed technician:

Add More Certifications to Your Portfolio

The EPA Section 608 certification is the basic requirement for any HVAC professional, regardless of your skill level. But you can add even more certifications to your repertoire, like NATE, which alone can add $15,000 or more to your yearly revenue. 

You can then acquire commercial specialty certifications in areas like refrigeration, hydronics, and automation systems, which will further boost your earning potential.

Specialize in High-Ticket / Commercial Jobs

The extra certifications you’ve now added to your portfolio allow you to focus more on high-ticket jobs or commercial projects, which pay a lot more. For reference, commercial and industrial refrigeration can pump your salary to $85,000-$120,000+, which is double the national average of about $$59,000.

Work on Your Sales Skills

This advice targets solo entrepreneurs and contractors primarily. The idea is that technical skills are relatively easy to master, while sales abilities require a lot more training. This is why many technicians ignore this aspect completely.

The problem is that, by doing so, they miss on a lot of potential earnings. 

Learn how to convince the client that a complete system replacement is better than repairing the current one or how to have them join your recurrent maintenance enrolment plan. This skillset alone can pump your yearly revenue by 15-30%.

Choose Where You Work Carefully

One strategy to earn more money as an HVAC professional is to pay less in taxes. Look into states like Texas, Florida, or Washington for that, since these lack a state income tax.

Moving your operations into areas with more demand, like Florida and California and prioritizing urban areas with high population over rural ones can increase earnings by up to 25-40%.

A noteworthy caveat here: it’s important to weigh these advantages against aspects like the cost of living. The high living costs associated with California, for instance, may eliminate any financial gain you could get from moving there.

Union vs. Non-Union Pay

The average pay for non-union HVAC professionals is around $55,000-$62,000. On the other hand, non-union commercial techs have more professional freedom. Employers can offer rates of $35-$50/hr or more for experienced commercial technicians, signing bonuses (up to $5,000 or more), increased job flexibility, and faster promotions.

Union HVAC professionals have a higher base salary ($70,000-$85,000+) and the long-term benefits are also worth mentioning:

• Guaranteed paid time off
• Stronger health insurance plans
• Annuity funds separate from the pension

That being said, union memberships are not free. A $70,000 yearly salary could demand  $1,400-$2,450 per year in union fees.

In short, both options can be financially lucrative, depending on your specific situation and goals.

Learn to Negotiate Your Salary

Some things never go out of fashion and negotiating your salary is one of them. Make sure you have some leverage on your side, whether that’s a certification-rich portfolio, vast experience in the field, or targeted market knowledge (clients, opportunities).

Here are some numbers to help you understand how effective negotiations are in terms of payment boosts:

• 73% of employers expect job candidates to negotiate their salaries 
• 55% of workers accept the first offer and don’t negotiate (given the first point, this translates to a missed opportunity)
• 68% of negotiations typically result in at least 10% higher salaries
• 52% of employers admit that they offer less than they would pay if the worker would negotiate

These numbers show that you have both strong incentives and room to negotiate your pay, especially with good leverage on your side.

Whether you want to build a career as an HVAC professional, or learn how to price your HVAC services as a future contractor, this guide is a strong starting point.

FAQ

Which states have the highest HVAC salaries?

California, New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts, and New York have the highest salary ranges, between $59,000 and $81,000+, depending on your skill level, experience, and specializations.

How much does an HVAC technician make per hour?

HVAC technicians make between $24 and $50/$60 per hour, depending on factors like expertise, certifications, experience, and the state they work in.

How to increase your salary as an HVAC technician?

Learn to negotiate your pay (can add 10% or more to your salary), stack different certifications, choose between union and non-unionized jobs, and prioritize high-ticket contractors in the commercial sector. These tactics can both increase your pay and reduce your costs, especially if you move to no-state-tax states.

What is the highest-paying HVAC job?

Some of the best-paying HVAC jobs are in commercial and industrial refrigeration and heat pumps. These sectors can come with salary ranges between $85,000 and $120,000, but require special certifications like Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association (RETA), as well as ammonia-specific and CO2 transcritical system training.