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 $146,750 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 | $95,000 | $118,500 | $146,750 |
| 2 | HVAC Service Manager | $80,000 | $112,500 | $152,500 |
| 3 | HVAC Estimator | $89,127 | $101,092 | $130,282 |
| 4 | HVAC Engineer | $78,344 | $98,606 | $128,298 |
| 5 | HVAC Project Manager | $50,000 | $92,500 | $130,000 |
| 6 | HVAC Installer | $49,214 | $81,770 | $97,629 |
| 7 | Commercial HVAC Technician | $62,164 | $76,571 | $109,413 |
| 8 | HVAC Service Technician | $51,617 | $72,671 | $109,380 |
| 9 | Commercial HVAC Installer | $52,818 | $71,291 | $82,273 |
| 10 | Sheet Metal Worker | $40,766 | $70,235 | $91,968 |
| 11 | Senior HVAC Technician | $44,000 | $68,000 | $140,000 |
| 12 | Refrigeration Technician | $44,275 | $66,278 | $99,484 |
| 13 | Commercial Refrigeration Technician | $38,819 | $59,633 | $86,446 |
| 14 | HVAC Sales Representative | $40,000 | $50,000 | $175,000 |
| 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 | $98,720 | +25% |
| 2 | Hawaii | $96,351 | +22% |
| 3 | New York | $94,771 | +20% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $93,192 | +18% |
| 5 | New Jersey | $91,612 | +16% |
| 6 | Alaska | $90,822 | +15% |
| 7 | Connecticut | $90,822 | +15% |
| 8 | Washington | $88,453 | +12% |
| 9 | Maryland | $86,874 | +10% |
| 10 | Colorado | $85,294 | +8% |
Use our interactive tool to calculate your personalized HVAC salary based on title, experience, and location.