Best paying cities for hvac technicians, after cost of living
After cost of living, hvac technician pay goes furthest in Chicago (worth $75,251) and least far in Tampa (worth $50,089).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $77,960 | 103.6 | $75,251 | +23% |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $82,050 | 110.4 | $74,321 | +22% |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $77,490 | 104.8 | $73,941 | +21% |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $78,530 | 108.3 | $72,512 | +19% |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $80,100 | 111.1 | $72,097 | +18% |
| 6 | New York, NY | $77,990 | 112.6 | $69,263 | +14% |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $78,490 | 115.6 | $67,898 | +11% |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $71,580 | 105.8 | $67,656 | +11% |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $74,880 | 111.9 | $66,917 | +10% |
| 10 | St. Louis, MO | $63,000 | 95.1 | $66,246 | +9% |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $71,920 | 108.9 | $66,042 | +8% |
| 12 | Pittsburgh, PA | $62,140 | 94.7 | $65,618 | +8% |
| 13 | Los Angeles, CA | $73,830 | 113.6 | $64,991 | +7% |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $63,170 | 100.3 | $62,981 | +3% |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $64,580 | 102.6 | $62,943 | +3% |
| 16 | Nashville, TN | $60,270 | 96.3 | $62,586 | +3% |
| 17 | Sacramento, CA | $66,670 | 106.7 | $62,484 | +2% |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $60,820 | 98.1 | $61,998 | +2% |
| 19 | Portland, OR | $65,260 | 105.4 | $61,917 | +1% |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $58,590 | 94.7 | $61,869 | +1% |
| 21 | Charlotte, NC | $59,840 | 97.3 | $61,501 | +1% |
| 22 | Baltimore, MD | $63,180 | 104.5 | $60,459 | −1% |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,240 | 100.2 | $60,120 | −1% |
| 24 | Houston, TX | $58,940 | 98.6 | $59,777 | −2% |
| 25 | Phoenix, AZ | $61,170 | 103.3 | $59,216 | −3% |
| 26 | Atlanta, GA | $58,970 | 100.1 | $58,911 | −3% |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $59,560 | 103.1 | $57,769 | −5% |
| 28 | Miami, FL | $58,040 | 114.2 | $50,823 | −17% |
| 29 | Orlando, FL | $51,460 | 101.4 | $50,750 | −17% |
| 30 | Tampa, FL | $50,540 | 100.9 | $50,089 | −18% |
U.S. median for hvac technicians: $61,010. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, SOC 49-9021); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.