Skip to Content

How Much Do HVAC Installers Make Yearly?

An HVAC installer rakes in an annual income that ranges between $30,000 and $65,000 a year. This translates to an average hourly rate of $21.47 per hour.

Do you have plans to build a career in the construction industry, specifically in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) sector? If you answer yes to the above question, then one of your major concerns or driving force (for some people though) would be how much you are likely going to make yearly from this business.

Trust me, anyone who wants to start a business would want to know if they can make enough money that will guarantee them some level of comfort and perhaps financial freedom. So, if you want to first know how much you are likely going to make yearly as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technician, then your inquiry is not out of place.

In this article, we will give an estimate of what you are expected to make yearly as an HVAC installer. We will also consider some of the important factors that can influence how much you are expected to make yearly when you work as an HVAC installer in the United States of America.

Factors That Influence the Income of an HVAC Installer

  1. The Location of Practice

One of the major factors that can determine how much you are likely going to make as an HVAC installer is the location you choose to practice. For example, if you choose to practice in the United States, the city or state where you want to practice will determine how much you will make yearly.

This is so because different cities and states in the US have different pay scales for HVAC installers. HVAC installers in Alaska earn the highest pay in the United States.

In Alaska, the average HVAC installer makes about $63,314 yearly while in Washington HVAC installers make about $62,246 yearly. In California, the District of Columbia, and Connecticut in Washington they make $60,508, $56,247, and $54,869 yearly respectively. These are the five highest-paying states for HVAC installers in the United States.

  1. The Qualifications and Years of Experience of the HVAC Installer

Another factor that can influence the income an HVAC installer is expected to make yearly is their qualifications and years of experience. As expected, the higher the qualification and years of experience someone has in any industry, the higher pay they will attract in their industry. In essence, an HVAC installer that is well-experienced and qualified will earn more.

According to a report published by Payscale in February 2022, HVAC technicians earn an average of $63,264 a year in the United States of America. However, with a master HVAC license, an HVAC installer will earn an average annual salary of $77,000.

  1. The Niche or Area of Operation

The fact that HVAC covers a range of services that revolve around heating, ventilation, and air conditioning means that different niche ideas will attract different levels of income. For example, a refrigerator technician makes an average of $50,701 annually in the United States of America, an HVAC maintenance helper makes an average of $30,824 per year, and an instrument apprentice makes about $38,849 yearly.

An HVAC installer and service technician makes an average of $37,202, and an HVAC mechanic and HVAC-R technician make an average of $50,752 and $53,354 respectively. In essence, the amount an HVAC is expected to make yearly will depend on their niche or area of operation.

  1. The Company You Are Working For

Another factor that will determine the amount an HVAC installer is expected to make yearly is the company where the HVAC installer is working.

In the United States, Superior Energy Services ($61,783 yearly), GPAC ($61,419 yearly), Aristotle ($56,347 yearly) and Dayton Freight ($56,176 yearly), Style Crest ($56,115 yearly) are the 5 highest paying companies for HVAC installers, and this is according to the most recent salary estimates conducted by experts in the industry.

So, any HVAC installer that is lucky to work for any of the five companies listed above will definitely make more money yearly.

  1. The Industry of Operation

Lastly, another factor that can influence the amount an HVAC installer is expected to make annually is the industry the HVAC installer is operating in.

From available data, in the United States, the industry that pays the highest salaries for HVAC installer are the transportation industry ($46,478), the construction industry ($45,027), professional industries ($43,148), the retail industry ($43,039), and the manufacturing industry ($42,955).

In essence, if you are looking to earn more salary annually as an HVAC installer, then you may want to consider working in any of the industries that are listed above.

In conclusion,

It is important to note that an HVAC installer that is well-qualified and experienced has the capacity to determine how much they can earn.

Plus, a self-employed HVAC technician that is hardworking and has a robust business network can work across different industries and different niche areas in the industry, and may likely earn more than the industry’s average if they are willing to put in the work and expertise.