How much do HVAC technicians make an hour in Richmond, VA?

The median hourly wage is $28.43. The middle half earn between $22.70 and $31.59 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do apprentice HVAC technicians make in Richmond, VA?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $18.40 an hour ($38,270 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $22.70.

Do HVAC technicians make more in Richmond or Washington?

Washington pays more: the median is $59,130 in Richmond and $71,920 in Washington, a 18% difference.

How does Richmond pay compare with the rest of Virginia?

The Richmond median of $59,130 is 1% less than the Virginia median of $59,730.

HVAC technician salary in Richmond, VA

Updated September 26, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

HVAC technicians in the Richmond, VA area earn a median of $59,130 a year, or $28.43 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $78,620. Across all of Virginia, the median is $59,730, so Richmond pays 1% less than the state as a whole.

Median yearly pay$59,130

Bottom 10% under$38,270Top 10% over$78,620

Apprentice starting pay (estimate): $18.40/hr
Jobs in this area: 2,700
After cost of living: $60,420
Median hourly pay: $28.43/hr
vs U.S. median: −3%
vs Virginia median: −1%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 40060, Richmond, VA). Excludes self-employed HVAC technicians. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. *Starting pay is estimated from the 10th percentile; BLS does not report pay by license level.

Apprentice to senior HVAC technician pay

Stage	Yearly pay	Hourly pay
Apprentice / entry level	$38,270–$47,220$18.40–$22.70/hr
Experienced technician	$59,130$28.43/hr
Senior / top earners	$65,710–$78,620$31.59–$37.80/hr

Estimated from BLS percentiles (10th–25th, median, 75th–90th); BLS does not report pay by license level.

How Richmond, VA compares

Richmond ranks 6th of 11 Virginia metro areas for HVAC technician pay.
HVAC technicians are more concentrated in the Richmond area than nationally: 4.1 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.6 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $78,620, is 2.1 times the 10th-percentile wage, $38,270: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Virginia metro areas

Other trades in Richmond, VA

Electrician Welder Lineman Plumber

Questions

How much do HVAC technicians make in Richmond, VA?: HVAC technicians in the Richmond, VA area earn a median of $59,130 a year, or $28.43 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $78,620.
How much do HVAC technicians make an hour in Richmond, VA?: The median hourly wage is $28.43. The middle half earn between $22.70 and $31.59 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do apprentice HVAC technicians make in Richmond, VA?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $18.40 an hour ($38,270 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $22.70.
Do HVAC technicians make more in Richmond or Washington?: Washington pays more: the median is $59,130 in Richmond and $71,920 in Washington, a 18% difference.
How does Richmond pay compare with the rest of Virginia?: The Richmond median of $59,130 is 1% less than the Virginia median of $59,730.

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 40060 (Richmond, VA). 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 (97.9, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 26, 2026. How we calculate these figures