What is the best state for HVAC technicians?

After cost of living, North Dakota: the median of $74,490 a year buys about what $83,740 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays HVAC technicians the most?

Before adjusting for prices, the District of Columbia has the highest median, $84,390. After cost of living it ranks 4th of 51.

What is the worst state for HVAC technicians after cost of living?

Alabama, where the median of $48,370 buys about what $54,460 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best states for HVAC technicians

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, North Dakota is the best-paying state for HVAC technicians: its median of $74,490 a year buys what $83,740 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. By raw pay, the District of Columbia leads at $84,390, but its higher prices drop it to 4th of 51. Counting prices moves 13 states ten or more places.

HVAC technician pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	North Dakota$74,490 median · prices 89.0	$83,740	$74,490	89.0
2	Illinois$77,410 median · prices 100.0	$77,440	$77,410	100.0
3	Minnesota$76,350 median · prices 98.6	$77,420	$76,350	98.6
4	District of Columbia$84,390 median · prices 109.9	$76,790	$84,390	109.9
5	Alaska$77,430 median · prices 102.4	$75,650	$77,430	102.4
6	Connecticut$76,610 median · prices 103.6	$73,940	$76,610	103.6
7	Massachusetts$77,300 median · prices 105.8	$73,090	$77,300	105.8
8	New Hampshire$73,850 median · prices 104.2	$70,900	$73,850	104.2
9	Washington$75,660 median · prices 107.0	$70,700	$75,660	107.0
10	South Dakota$61,390 median · prices 88.6	$69,300	$61,390	88.6
11	Iowa$60,680 median · prices 87.8	$69,140	$60,680	87.8
12	New York$74,430 median · prices 107.9	$68,970	$74,430	107.9
13	New Jersey$74,450 median · prices 108.8	$68,430	$74,450	108.8
14	Ohio$62,510 median · prices 92.8	$67,380	$62,510	92.8
15	Kansas$60,460 median · prices 90.1	$67,130	$60,460	90.1
16	Maryland$70,020 median · prices 105.0	$66,710	$70,020	105.0
17	Louisiana$58,650 median · prices 88.2	$66,490	$58,650	88.2
18	Nebraska$59,850 median · prices 90.1	$66,420	$59,850	90.1
19	Missouri$59,950 median · prices 90.8	$66,010	$59,950	90.8
20	Rhode Island$67,370 median · prices 102.3	$65,870	$67,370	102.3
21	Wisconsin$61,710 median · prices 94.1	$65,580	$61,710	94.1
22	California$72,560 median · prices 110.7	$65,530	$72,560	110.7
23	Oklahoma$57,560 median · prices 87.8	$65,530	$57,560	87.8
24	Maine$63,170 median · prices 97.0	$65,090	$63,170	97.0
25	Kentucky$58,620 median · prices 90.2	$65,020	$58,620	90.2
26	Indiana$60,430 median · prices 93.3	$64,750	$60,430	93.3
27	Montana$60,850 median · prices 94.6	$64,290	$60,850	94.6
28	Pennsylvania$62,400 median · prices 97.6	$63,950	$62,400	97.6
29	Vermont$62,150 median · prices 98.0	$63,450	$62,150	98.0
30	Colorado$65,200 median · prices 103.1	$63,270	$65,200	103.1
31	Michigan$60,850 median · prices 96.2	$63,240	$60,850	96.2
32	Delaware$62,320 median · prices 99.8	$62,440	$62,320	99.8
33	Oregon$62,940 median · prices 103.4	$60,890	$62,940	103.4
34	North Carolina$57,260 median · prices 94.3	$60,700	$57,260	94.3
35	Nevada$60,510 median · prices 100.0	$60,520	$60,510	100.0
36	Tennessee$55,490 median · prices 91.9	$60,400	$55,490	91.9
37	South Carolina$56,610 median · prices 93.7	$60,380	$56,610	93.7
38	Hawaii$65,450 median · prices 110.0	$59,530	$65,450	110.0
39	Texas$57,760 median · prices 97.1	$59,510	$57,760	97.1
40	Utah$58,730 median · prices 98.9	$59,400	$58,730	98.9
41	Virginia$59,730 median · prices 101.1	$59,080	$59,730	101.1
42	Wyoming$54,700 median · prices 92.7	$59,010	$54,700	92.7
43	Arizona$59,400 median · prices 100.7	$59,000	$59,400	100.7
44	Idaho$56,240 median · prices 95.5	$58,890	$56,240	95.5
45	Georgia$56,390 median · prices 96.3	$58,560	$56,390	96.3
46	Mississippi$48,680 median · prices 87.0	$55,980	$48,680	87.0
47	Arkansas$48,110 median · prices 86.9	$55,340	$48,110	86.9
48	Florida$56,670 median · prices 103.4	$54,800	$56,670	103.4
49	West Virginia$48,850 median · prices 89.5	$54,580	$48,850	89.5
50	New Mexico$50,270 median · prices 92.2	$54,520	$50,270	92.2
51	Alabama$48,370 median · prices 88.8	$54,460	$48,370	88.8

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full HVAC technician pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for HVAC technicians.

How we ranked them

Each state's median annual wage for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-9021) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Wages exclude self-employed HVAC technicians. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for HVAC technicians?: After cost of living, North Dakota: the median of $74,490 a year buys about what $83,740 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays HVAC technicians the most?: Before adjusting for prices, the District of Columbia has the highest median, $84,390. After cost of living it ranks 4th of 51.
What is the worst state for HVAC technicians after cost of living?: Alabama, where the median of $48,370 buys about what $54,460 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.