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Even though HVAC technicians may be needed all over the country, employment levels can be higher in some states than others. Likewise, the average pay an HVAC technician can earn may be higher in some states and cities.1
The 5 states with the highest number of HVAC technicians employed as of May 2020 were Florida, California, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania.1
The 5 states with the highest annual mean wage for HVAC technicians at that time were the Alaska, District of Columbia (D.C.), Hawaii, Washington, and Massachusetts, reported the Bureau of Labor Statistics.1
How many HVAC technicians were employed in each of these states? And how much did they earn in the top paying states?
Keep reading for a closer look at the labor department’s data.
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Top 5 States for HVAC Techs by Employment
1. Florida
Florida is considered the top state for HVAC technician jobs, with 33,210 positions filled as of May 2020. The average hourly wage in Florida for an HVAC tech was $21.85, and the average yearly salary was $45,450.1
The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro area in Florida employed 9,160 HVAC technicians, making it one of the top metro cities in the country for HVAC employment.1
Florida’s projects job growth between 2018 and 2028 for HVAC/R mechanics and installers to be 16%.2
HVAC/R training in Jacksonville is offered by our sister school Tulsa Welding School.
2. California
California employed 32,410 HVAC technicians in May 2020. The average hourly wage for a technician in California was $30.56, and the average annual salary was $63,560.1
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area was one of the top metropolitan regions for the occupation, with 10,780 technicians employed.1
Between 2018 and 2028, the projected occupational growth rate for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers in California is 13%.2
3. Texas
Texas employed 28,010 HVAC professionals as of May 2020. The average hourly pay rate in Texas for HVAC technicians was $23.73, and the average annual salary was $49,360.1
The state of Texas was home to two of the top metropolitan cities for employment of HVAC techs. The Houston-the Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area employed 8,220 technicians and the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area employed 7,250 techs.1
Texas’s projected employment growth for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers between 2018 and 2028 is 16%.2
If you are interested in HVAC training in Houston, TX it is offered by our sister school, TWS.edu.
4. New York
As of May 2020, New York employed 16,730 HVAC professionals. The average hourly pay in the state was $30.33, and the average annual pay was $63,080.1
The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area, which is part of the states of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, had the highest employment level for the HVAC occupation. As of 2020, there were 17,120 HVAC positions filled.1
The projected job growth for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the state of New York between 2018 and 2028 is 11%, according to data from the.2
5. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania employed 14,900 HVAC professionals in May 2020. The average hourly wage in the state for industry professionals was $26.32, and the average annual wage was $54,740.1
Pennsylvania’s job growth projections for heating, A/C and refrigeration mechanics and installers between 2018 and 2028 is 9%2
Top 5 States for HVAC Techs by Pay
1. Alaska
Alaska employed only 300 HVAC technicians as of May 2020. The average hourly wage for an HVAC technician in Alaska was $38.28, and the annual average wage was $79,630.1
Alaska was home to the top-paying metro areas of Fairbanks and Anchorage. Fairbanks HVAC technicians had the highest hourly mean wage in the country of $44.15. Anchorage HVAC technicians had an hourly mean wage of $36.41.1
2. District of Columbia
Washington D.C. employed only 290 HVAC techs as of May 2020, but they earned the top hourly and annual wage on average. HVAC technicians in D.C. took home a mean hourly wage of $35.32 and a mean annual wage of $73,460.1
3. Hawaii
As of May 2020, there were 910 HVAC techs employed in Hawaii. Technicians in Hawaii earned an average yearly salary of $65,640 and hourly wage of $31.56.1
The Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina metro area was one of the top-paying cities for HVAC technicians. Techs in the field earned an average hourly wage of $33.92 and yearly wage of $70,550.1
4. Washington
Washington employed a significant number of HVAC professionals, with 6,950 positions filled. Technicians in Washington earned an average of $65,180 yearly and $31.34 hourly.1
The state was home to one top-paying metro area for the occupation, which was the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area. Techs in this area earned an average of $72,860 annually and $35.03 hourly in May 2020.1
5. Massachusetts
Massachusetts employed 7,620 HVAC technicians as of May 2020. Techs in the state earned an average hourly wage of $31.13 and annual wage of $64,760.1
The Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area was a top paying nonmetropolitan area, with average hourly wages of $30.85 and yearly wages of $64,170 for HVAC technicians.1
Train for a Career in HVAC
Even in regions of high demand, HVAC training may help give techs an advantage in the job market because employers typically prefer to hire candidates with HVAC credentials from a postsecondary school.3
If you’re interested in preparing for an HVAC career, reach out to The Refrigeration School to find out more about its vocational training programs.3
Additional Sources
1https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes499021.htm
2https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/StateAndLocal/ProjectedEmployment.aspx?soccode=%20499021&location=UNITED%20STATES
3https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm#tab-4
