Data-driven ranking of top HVAC careers by median salary
The highest paying HVAC job is Commercial HVAC Service Manager with a median salary of $118,500. Top earners in this role can make up to $172,000 annually. Below is a complete ranking of all 14 HVAC job titles by salary.
| Rank | Job Title | Entry (10th %ile) | Median | Top Earners (90th %ile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial HVAC Service Manager | $118,500 | $118,500 | $172,000 |
| 2 | Senior HVAC Technician | $60,000 | $112,000 | $148,255 |
| 3 | HVAC Service Manager | $90,000 | $107,500 | $135,600 |
| 4 | HVAC Engineer | $79,150 | $104,332 | $125,415 |
| 5 | HVAC Project Manager | $85,000 | $95,000 | $130,000 |
| 6 | HVAC Estimator | $75,000 | $90,000 | $125,000 |
| 7 | HVAC Sales Representative | $30,000 | $87,500 | $200,000 |
| 8 | Sheet Metal Worker | $52,308 | $80,904 | $86,665 |
| 9 | Commercial HVAC Technician | $62,840 | $79,988 | $110,000 |
| 10 | HVAC Installer | $46,260 | $75,891 | $98,551 |
| 11 | HVAC Service Technician | $53,641 | $73,458 | $109,693 |
| 12 | Commercial HVAC Installer | $54,400 | $73,089 | $84,333 |
| 13 | Refrigeration Technician | $42,850 | $66,230 | $95,977 |
| 14 | HVAC Apprentice | $36,000 | $45,000 | $99,460 |
Location significantly impacts HVAC earnings. These states offer the highest overall HVAC salaries:
| Rank | State | Overall HVAC Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $107,981 | +25% |
| 2 | Hawaii | $105,390 | +22% |
| 3 | New York | $103,662 | +20% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $101,934 | +18% |
| 5 | New Jersey | $100,207 | +16% |
| 6 | Alaska | $99,343 | +15% |
| 7 | Connecticut | $99,343 | +15% |
| 8 | Washington | $96,751 | +12% |
| 9 | Maryland | $95,024 | +10% |
| 10 | Colorado | $93,296 | +8% |
Use our interactive tool to calculate your personalized HVAC salary based on title, experience, and location.