HVAC technician salary in North Carolina
Updated September 26, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025
HVAC technicians in North Carolina earn a median of $57,260 a year, or $27.53 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The top 10% earn more than $77,160. That's 6% less than the national median of $61,010, 40th of 51 states and DC.
- Apprentice starting pay (estimate)
- $18.16/hr
- Jobs in North Carolina
- 15,230
- After cost of living
- $60,700
- Median hourly pay
- $27.53/hr
- vs U.S. median
- −6%
- Rank among states
- 40th of 51
Apprentice to senior HVAC technician pay
| Stage | Yearly pay | Hourly pay |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $37,780–$46,830$18.16–$22.52/hr | |
| Experienced technician | $57,260$27.53/hr | |
| Senior / top earners | $64,310–$77,160$30.92–$37.10/hr |
Estimated from BLS percentiles (10th–25th, median, 75th–90th); BLS does not report pay by license level.
How North Carolina compares
- HVAC technicians are more concentrated in North Carolina than nationally: 3.1 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.2 times the U.S. share.
- The 90th-percentile wage, $77,160, is 2.0 times the 10th-percentile wage, $37,780: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.
Pay by metro area
Rural North Carolina
- Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area$51,500
- Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area$49,750
- Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area$47,980
Other trades in North Carolina
Questions
- How much do HVAC technicians make in North Carolina?
- HVAC technicians in North Carolina earn a median of $57,260 a year, or $27.53 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The top 10% earn more than $77,160.
- How much do HVAC technicians make an hour in North Carolina?
- The median hourly wage is $27.53. The middle half earn between $22.52 and $30.92 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
- What do apprentice HVAC technicians make in North Carolina?
- BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $18.16 an hour ($37,780 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $22.52.
- Where in North Carolina do HVAC technicians earn the most?
- Among North Carolina metro areas, Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia has the highest median at $59,840 a year, and Jacksonville the lowest at $48,570.
- Do HVAC technicians in North Carolina earn more than the national average?
- The North Carolina median of $57,260 is 6% less than the U.S. median of $61,010. Prices in North Carolina run 6% below the national average (BEA), so the median buys about what $60,700 would nationally.
About this data
Wages are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025, occupation 49-9021 (Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers), area code 37. BLS counts wage and salary workers only, so self-employed HVAC technicians and business owners aren't included. The cost-of-living figure divides the median by the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (94.3, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 26, 2026. How we calculate these figures