Entry-Level Opportunities for HVAC Technicians — 2026
Anchorage, Alaska ranks first with an average HVAC Technician salary of $85,290 per year ($41.01/hr). Full ranking of 100 cities below, 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 metropolitan 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.
Ranked Cities
| City | State | Average Annual Salary | Hourly Rate | Entry Level | Senior Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | Alaska | $85,290 | $41.01/hr | $58,070 | $105,140 |
| Seattle | Washington | $85,420 | $41.07/hr | $51,380 | $129,390 |
| Boston | Massachusetts | $79,890 | $38.41/hr | $50,890 | $103,050 |
| New York | New York | $79,730 | $38.33/hr | $50,690 | $108,780 |
| San Francisco | California | $86,540 | $41.61/hr | $49,180 | $129,380 |
| Denver | Colorado | $74,310 | $35.72/hr | $49,010 | $104,880 |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | $76,270 | $36.67/hr | $48,660 | $100,660 |
| Portland | Oregon | $72,700 | $34.95/hr | $48,650 | $98,810 |
| Allentown | Pennsylvania | $67,380 | $32.39/hr | $48,400 | $94,580 |
| Worcester | Massachusetts | $73,430 | $35.30/hr | $48,300 | $96,800 |
| Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | $66,150 | $31.80/hr | $48,040 | $86,910 |
| Modesto | California | $68,520 | $32.94/hr | $47,820 | $90,480 |
| Colorado Springs | Colorado | $66,950 | $32.19/hr | $47,550 | $94,990 |
| Stockton | California | $74,730 | $35.93/hr | $47,540 | $102,520 |
| Chicago | Illinois | $79,340 | $38.14/hr | $47,460 | $117,940 |
| Lancaster | Pennsylvania | $62,360 | $29.98/hr | $47,360 | $79,490 |
| Syracuse | New York | $68,990 | $33.17/hr | $47,320 | $96,780 |
| Washington | District of Columbia | $73,740 | $35.45/hr | $46,920 | $105,180 |
| Riverside | California | $68,660 | $33.01/hr | $46,760 | $95,910 |
| San Diego | California | $75,960 | $36.52/hr | $46,710 | $113,990 |
| Nashville | Tennessee | $61,140 | $29.39/hr | $46,620 | $91,170 |
| Sacramento | California | $71,680 | $34.46/hr | $46,620 | $101,260 |
| Los Angeles | California | $74,630 | $35.88/hr | $46,590 | $109,010 |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | $64,620 | $31.07/hr | $46,480 | $92,710 |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin | $70,230 | $33.76/hr | $46,350 | $99,740 |
| Bakersfield | California | $70,240 | $33.77/hr | $46,210 | $95,730 |
| Hartford | Connecticut | $73,610 | $35.39/hr | $46,190 | $100,430 |
| Scranton | Pennsylvania | $63,430 | $30.50/hr | $46,080 | $89,510 |
| Des Moines | Iowa | $66,600 | $32.02/hr | $46,020 | $98,460 |
| Louisville | Kentucky | $60,030 | $28.86/hr | $45,870 | $78,740 |
| St Louis | Missouri | $68,000 | $32.69/hr | $45,870 | $100,180 |
| Rochester | New York | $66,710 | $32.07/hr | $45,860 | $91,190 |
| York | Pennsylvania | $64,020 | $30.78/hr | $45,740 | $91,270 |
| Spokane | Washington | $67,410 | $32.41/hr | $45,690 | $94,380 |
| Kansas City | Missouri | $64,870 | $31.19/hr | $45,620 | $88,760 |
| Omaha | Nebraska | $63,330 | $30.45/hr | $45,610 | $83,640 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | $68,700 | $33.03/hr | $45,540 | $98,740 |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | $69,440 | $33.38/hr | $45,510 | $100,800 |
| Madison | Wisconsin | $69,250 | $33.29/hr | $45,450 | $100,900 |
| Ogden | Utah | $62,940 | $30.26/hr | $45,400 | $83,110 |
| Bridgeport | Connecticut | $75,390 | $36.24/hr | $45,230 | $100,360 |
| Baltimore | Maryland | $70,450 | $33.87/hr | $45,040 | $103,320 |
| Providence | Rhode Island | $70,900 | $34.09/hr | $44,970 | $104,080 |
| Wichita | Kansas | $62,680 | $30.13/hr | $44,580 | $84,780 |
| Austin | Texas | $63,930 | $30.74/hr | $44,030 | $92,180 |
| Fresno | California | $69,230 | $33.29/hr | $43,920 | $101,680 |
| Grand Rapids | Michigan | $64,200 | $30.86/hr | $43,710 | $94,590 |
| Urban Honolulu | Hawaii | $66,760 | $32.10/hr | $43,120 | $99,100 |
| Detroit | Michigan | $66,680 | $32.06/hr | $42,840 | $95,610 |
| Boise | Idaho | $61,000 | $29.33/hr | $41,010 | $80,540 |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | $62,480 | $30.04/hr | $40,760 | $88,870 |
| Columbus | Ohio | $68,730 | $33.04/hr | $40,680 | $100,590 |
| Dallas | Texas | $61,760 | $29.69/hr | $40,290 | $84,880 |
| Charleston | South Carolina | $58,470 | $28.11/hr | $40,280 | $77,060 |
| Charlotte | North Carolina | $59,940 | $28.82/hr | $40,110 | $79,210 |
| Cincinnati | Ohio | $65,290 | $31.39/hr | $39,750 | $96,400 |
| Tampa | Florida | $55,940 | $26.89/hr | $39,620 | $75,300 |
| Durham | North Carolina | $58,480 | $28.12/hr | $39,560 | $77,360 |
| Miami | Florida | $60,000 | $28.85/hr | $39,520 | $80,220 |
| Columbia | South Carolina | $56,410 | $27.12/hr | $39,460 | $73,830 |
| Fort Wayne | Indiana | $65,910 | $31.69/hr | $39,450 | $96,980 |
| Buffalo | New York | $65,320 | $31.40/hr | $39,240 | $91,820 |
| Cleveland | Ohio | $66,940 | $32.18/hr | $39,220 | $98,310 |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia | $58,380 | $28.07/hr | $39,220 | $76,960 |
| Raleigh | North Carolina | $58,490 | $28.12/hr | $39,160 | $77,830 |
| Knoxville | Tennessee | $57,930 | $27.85/hr | $39,120 | $84,810 |
| Memphis | Tennessee | $60,300 | $28.99/hr | $38,820 | $87,650 |
| Houston | Texas | $60,390 | $29.03/hr | $38,780 | $83,120 |
| Dayton | Ohio | $65,880 | $31.67/hr | $38,630 | $96,620 |
| Provo | Utah | $55,880 | $26.86/hr | $38,610 | $76,110 |
| Toledo | Ohio | $67,560 | $32.48/hr | $38,610 | $99,740 |
| Greenville | South Carolina | $57,440 | $27.62/hr | $38,520 | $77,520 |
| Baton Rouge | Louisiana | $59,810 | $28.76/hr | $38,490 | $80,080 |
| Salt Lake City | Utah | $62,670 | $30.13/hr | $38,370 | $83,200 |
| Atlanta | Georgia | $60,460 | $29.07/hr | $38,310 | $82,740 |
| New Orleans | Louisiana | $60,970 | $29.31/hr | $38,300 | $81,610 |
| Richmond | Virginia | $58,490 | $28.12/hr | $38,270 | $78,620 |
| Akron | Ohio | $64,000 | $30.77/hr | $38,240 | $96,690 |
| Phoenix | Arizona | $62,210 | $29.91/hr | $38,210 | $83,180 |
| Albuquerque | New Mexico | $56,800 | $27.31/hr | $38,190 | $75,770 |
| Orlando | Florida | $56,030 | $26.94/hr | $38,020 | $77,840 |
| Greensboro | North Carolina | $58,180 | $27.97/hr | $38,010 | $76,380 |
| San Antonio | Texas | $59,150 | $28.44/hr | $37,960 | $82,400 |
| Jacksonville | Florida | $58,820 | $28.28/hr | $37,920 | $79,910 |
| Cape Coral | Florida | $57,500 | $27.65/hr | $37,830 | $78,070 |
| Victoria | Texas | $52,710 | $25.34/hr | $37,700 | $75,780 |
| Palm Bay | Florida | $56,850 | $27.33/hr | $37,470 | $78,460 |
| Birmingham | Alabama | $52,640 | $25.31/hr | $37,440 | $69,830 |
| Lakeland | Florida | $56,550 | $27.19/hr | $37,380 | $76,270 |
| Pensacola | Florida | $56,230 | $27.03/hr | $37,190 | $76,880 |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma | $58,220 | $27.99/hr | $37,170 | $78,390 |
| Chattanooga | Tennessee | $56,010 | $26.93/hr | $37,160 | $77,020 |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | $60,040 | $28.87/hr | $37,160 | $83,530 |
| Little Rock | Arkansas | $50,270 | $24.17/hr | $36,710 | $63,360 |
| Jackson | Mississippi | $54,440 | $26.18/hr | $36,380 | $78,730 |
| Augusta | Georgia | $51,910 | $24.96/hr | $36,240 | $72,850 |
| Mobile | Alabama | $52,030 | $25.02/hr | $36,220 | $70,720 |
| McAllen | Texas | $50,380 | $24.22/hr | $36,060 | $73,010 |
| Tucson | Arizona | $55,830 | $26.84/hr | $36,050 | $75,860 |
| El Paso | Texas | $49,300 | $23.70/hr | $28,130 | $72,600 |