HVAC Technician Salary in Chicago, Illinois — 2026 Data
HVAC Technicians in Chicago, Illinois earn an average of $79,340 per year ($38.14 per hour). The median (50th percentile) wage is $77,960 per year. That is 22% above the national average of $64,780. Data updated August 2026.
Methodology: Wage figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release data vintage (survey reference period May 2025), mapped from SOC occupation 49-9021 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers to the job title "HVAC Technician". Values are measured survey estimates for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area (MSA) — not modeled or interpolated. Year-over-year comparisons use the May 2024 OEWS release. The year shown in page titles is the publication and update year, not the data vintage.
HVAC Technician Pay in Chicago at a Glance
| Average (mean) annual salary | $79,340 |
|---|---|
| Average (mean) hourly rate | $38.14 per hour |
| Median (50th percentile) annual | $77,960 |
| Median hourly wage | $37.48 per hour |
| Entry-level pay (10th percentile) | $47,460 |
| Senior-level pay (90th percentile) | $117,940 |
| National average | $64,780 |
| Employment (Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN) | 7,210 workers |
| Data vintage | BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 49-9021 |
Salary Percentiles for HVAC Technicians in Chicago
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,460 | $22.82/hr |
| 25th percentile | $61,050 | $29.35/hr |
| 50th percentile (median) | $77,960 | $37.48/hr |
| 75th percentile | $96,790 | $46.53/hr |
| 90th percentile | $117,940 | $56.70/hr |
Chicago Metro vs. National HVAC Technician Wages
The median HVAC Technician wage in the Chicago, Illinois metro area is $77,960 per year — 27.8% above the national median of $61,010 for this occupation. The metro average (mean) of $79,340 is 22.5% above the national average of $64,780. At the 25th percentile, $61,050 is 26.2% above the national 25th percentile of $48,360, and at the 75th percentile, $96,790 is 25.6% above the national 75th percentile of $77,060. Every comparison is like-for-like: median against national median, average against national average, and each percentile against the same national percentile.
| Measure | Chicago metro | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) | $77,960 | $61,010 (national median) | +27.8% |
| Average (mean) | $79,340 | $64,780 (national average) | +22.5% |
| 25th percentile | $61,050 | $48,360 (national 25th percentile) | +26.2% |
| 75th percentile | $96,790 | $77,060 (national 75th percentile) | +25.6% |
Nearby Metros for HVAC Technicians
| Metro area | Average annual salary | Median | Hourly rate | vs. Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $69,250 | $63,150 | $33.29/hr | −12.7% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $70,230 | $62,930 | $33.76/hr | −11.5% |
| Kansas City, MO | $64,870 | $62,680 | $31.19/hr | −18.2% |
| St Louis, MO | $68,000 | $63,000 | $32.69/hr | −14.3% |
| Des Moines, IA | $66,600 | $62,640 | $32.02/hr | −16.1% |
Wage Trend
The median wage for HVAC Technicians in Chicago is 4.8% above the prior data vintage's median ($74,400 in May 2024).
Explore More HVAC Technician Wage Data
HVAC Technician Salaries in Other Illinois Cities
- HVAC Technician salary in San Francisco, CA — $86,540
- HVAC Technician salary in Seattle, WA — $85,420
- HVAC Technician salary in Anchorage, AK — $85,290
- HVAC Technician salary in Boston, MA — $79,890
- HVAC Technician salary in New York, NY — $79,730