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 15 HVAC job titles by salary.
| Rank | Job Title | Entry (10th %ile) | Median | Top Earners (90th %ile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial HVAC Service Manager | $115,000 | $118,500 | $172,000 |
| 2 | HVAC Service Manager | $86,000 | $110,000 | $150,000 |
| 3 | HVAC Estimator | $82,405 | $101,962 | $130,696 |
| 4 | HVAC Engineer | $76,638 | $100,569 | $131,048 |
| 5 | HVAC Project Manager | $50,000 | $92,500 | $130,000 |
| 6 | HVAC Installer | $47,196 | $82,183 | $98,250 |
| 7 | Commercial HVAC Technician | $62,024 | $76,170 | $108,553 |
| 8 | HVAC Service Technician | $51,606 | $73,003 | $109,225 |
| 9 | Sheet Metal Worker | $40,229 | $72,764 | $88,246 |
| 10 | Commercial HVAC Installer | $52,857 | $71,964 | $82,107 |
| 11 | Senior HVAC Technician | $44,000 | $68,000 | $147,100 |
| 12 | Refrigeration Technician | $40,287 | $66,702 | $97,754 |
| 13 | HVAC Sales Representative | $39,719 | $61,250 | $172,188 |
| 14 | Commercial Refrigeration Technician | $38,859 | $58,972 | $86,243 |
| 15 | HVAC Apprentice | $36,000 | $45,000 | $70,000 |
Location significantly impacts HVAC earnings. These states offer the highest overall HVAC salaries:
| Rank | State | Overall HVAC Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $99,961 | +25% |
| 2 | Hawaii | $97,562 | +22% |
| 3 | New York | $95,963 | +20% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $94,363 | +18% |
| 5 | New Jersey | $92,764 | +16% |
| 6 | Alaska | $91,964 | +15% |
| 7 | Connecticut | $91,964 | +15% |
| 8 | Washington | $89,565 | +12% |
| 9 | Maryland | $87,966 | +10% |
| 10 | Colorado | $86,367 | +8% |
Use our interactive tool to calculate your personalized HVAC salary based on title, experience, and location.