HVAC technician salary in Tennessee
Updated September 26, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025
HVAC technicians in Tennessee earn a median of $55,490 a year, or $26.68 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The top 10% earn more than $81,590. Nationally the median is $61,010, so Tennessee pays 9% less than the U.S. overall and ranks 45th of 51.
- Apprentice starting pay (estimate)
- $18.53/hr
- Jobs in Tennessee
- 9,740
- After cost of living
- $60,400
- Median hourly pay
- $26.68/hr
- vs U.S. median
- −9%
- Rank among states
- 45th of 51
Apprentice to senior HVAC technician pay
| Stage | Yearly pay | Hourly pay |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $38,540–$46,990$18.53–$22.59/hr | |
| Experienced technician | $55,490$26.68/hr | |
| Senior / top earners | $65,590–$81,590$31.53–$39.23/hr |
Estimated from BLS percentiles (10th–25th, median, 75th–90th); BLS does not report pay by license level.
How Tennessee compares
- HVAC technicians are more concentrated in Tennessee than nationally: 3.0 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.1 times the U.S. share.
- The 90th-percentile wage, $81,590, is 2.1 times the 10th-percentile wage, $38,540: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.
Pay by metro area
Rural Tennessee
- East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area$47,600
- South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area$47,490
- North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area$47,240
- West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area$47,060
Other trades in Tennessee
Questions
- How much do HVAC technicians make in Tennessee?
- HVAC technicians in Tennessee earn a median of $55,490 a year, or $26.68 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The top 10% earn more than $81,590.
- How much do HVAC technicians make an hour in Tennessee?
- The median hourly wage is $26.68. The middle half earn between $22.59 and $31.53 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
- What do apprentice HVAC technicians make in Tennessee?
- BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $18.53 an hour ($38,540 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $22.59.
- Where in Tennessee do HVAC technicians earn the most?
- Among Tennessee metro areas, Nashville–Davidson––Murfreesboro––Franklin has the highest median at $60,270 a year, and Johnson City the lowest at $48,010.
- Do HVAC technicians in Tennessee earn more than the national average?
- The Tennessee median of $55,490 is 9% less than the U.S. median of $61,010. Prices in Tennessee run 8% below the national average (BEA), so the median buys about what $60,400 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 47. 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 (91.9, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 26, 2026. How we calculate these figures