HVAC technician salary in Florida
HVAC technicians in Florida earn a median $27.24 an hour ($56,670 a year), 7% below the US median of $29.33 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most earn between $18.45 and $37.60. That ranks Florida 41st of the 50 states and DC by median pay; Naples-Marco Island pays the most of its metros at $28.62.
$27.24
Median hourly pay
7% below the US
$56,670
Median annual pay
$56,670 after state income tax
39,160
HVAC techs employed
3.9 per 1,000 jobs
Pay in Florida, from entry level to the top
BLS counts 39,160 HVAC mechanics and installers on Florida payrolls. The best-paid tenth earn at least 2.0 times what the lowest-paid tenth do ($37.60 against $18.45 an hour). The average, $27.55, is close to the median, so a few high earners don't skew the picture.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | US hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $18.45 | $38,370 | $19.25 |
| 25th | $22.51 | $46,830 | $23.25 |
| Median | $27.24 | $56,670 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $30.59 | $63,620 | $37.05 |
| 90th (top tenth) | $37.60 | $78,210 | $45.78 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Annual pay is hourly × 2,080 hours.
How Florida compares
The $27.24 median is 7% below the national figure and ranks 41st of the 50 states and DC. HVAC work is unusually common here: 3.9 of every 1,000 jobs, 50% above the national share. The median worker in Florida, across every occupation, earns $23.02 an hour, so HVAC pays 18% more than the local norm. See every state on the US HVAC technician salary page.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Across Florida's metro areas
Naples-Marco Island pays the most ($28.62 an hour) and Sebring the least ($21.50), a gap of $7.12. Outside the metros, 2 nonmetropolitan areas report $27.92 and $24.35. Metros with their own salary page are linked.
| Area | Median hourly | HVAC techs |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $28.62 | 910 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $28.40 | 1,870 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $28.17 | 3,340 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $27.97 | 2,110 |
| South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $27.92 | 340 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $27.90 | 9,140 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $27.90 | 950 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $27.52 | 1,130 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $27.50 | 830 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $27.45 | 290 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $27.25 | 1,120 |
| Gainesville, FL | $26.77 | 480 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $25.81 | 620 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $24.81 | 450 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $24.74 | 5,140 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $24.62 | 200 |
| North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $24.35 | 450 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $24.30 | 6,090 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $24.26 | 340 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $23.70 | 820 |
| Ocala, FL | $23.57 | 600 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $23.47 | 570 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $22.82 | 170 |
| Sebring, FL | $21.50 | 170 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Areas with fewer than 100 techs are rough estimates.
What an hour of HVAC work costs in Florida
A tech at the Florida median earns $27.24 an hour. Our price model bills that hour at about $105 here ($70–$139), 7% below the national $113, because local HVAC wages are that much lower.
Of each $105 billed, about $27 is the technician's wage. The other $78 pays for payroll taxes and benefits, insurance, the truck and tools, drive and training time nobody is billed for, and the shop's margin.
Take a typical Florida AC repair at $380: about $228 of it is labor, the equivalent of 2.2 billed hours, and the technician's own pay for that time comes to roughly $59.
- AC repair cost in Florida: typical $380, of which $228 is labor
- Furnace repair cost in Florida: typical $330, of which $229 is labor
- Heat pump repair cost in Florida: typical $400, of which $228 is labor
- HVAC tune-up cost in Florida: typical $150, of which $150 is labor
Every other local price, wage and climate figure: HVAC prices in Florida.
Source: wages, BLS OEWS May 2025; billable rate, HomeGuide HVAC repair costs (2026) scaled by local HVAC wages; repair prices, HVACFIND Price Index 2026Q4.2 (model estimates for a 1,500–2,500 sq ft home).
After state tax and local prices
Florida has no state income tax on wages, so the whole $56,670 median is still there before federal tax and FICA. That leaves Florida 37th of 51 after state tax.
Prices in Florida run 3% above the US average (BEA regional price parities, 2024), which trims the median's buying power to about $54,801 in national terms. On that measure Florida ranks 48th of 51.
Source: state income tax at 2026 rates, single filer, standard deduction; federal income tax, FICA and city taxes left out. Price parities: BEA, 2024.
Other trades in Florida
Next to HVAC techs in Florida, electricians earn $0.28 more an hour and plumbers earn $1.80 less an hour. HVAC out-earns three of the five related trades listed.
| Occupation | Median hourly | vs HVAC |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC technicians (Florida) | $27.24 | — |
| Electricians | $27.52 | +$0.28 |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $25.44 | −$1.80 |
| Sheet metal workers | $23.87 | −$3.37 |
| Home appliance repairers | $27.54 | +$0.30 |
| Maintenance and repair workers | $22.15 | −$5.09 |
| All occupations | $23.02 | −$4.22 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing and training in Florida
Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) licenses HVAC contractors across Florida; the relevant classes are Class A Air Conditioning (unlimited); Class B Air Conditioning (tonnage/BTU limits); Class C (servicing); Mechanical Contractor; Certified = statewide, Registered = local only.
Refrigerant work also needs EPA Section 608 certification. BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award, usually a certificate from a trade school or community college program, as the typical way in, followed by long-term on-the-job training, which BLS defines as more than 12 months. No prior work experience is required. How to check an HVAC contractor's license in Florida.
Source: HVACFIND licensing list, checked 2026-09-30 (confirm with the board before relying on it); BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035.
Questions
How much do HVAC technicians make in Florida?
A median $27.24 an hour, or $56,670 a year, across 39,160 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The lowest-paid tenth earn under $18.45 and the top tenth over $37.60.
Where in Florida do HVAC technicians earn the most?
Naples-Marco Island has the highest median ($28.62 an hour) and Sebring the lowest ($21.50), among the 22 Florida metros with their own BLS estimate.
How much HVAC pay is left after Florida income tax?
Florida has no state income tax on wages, so the whole $56,670 median is still there before federal tax and FICA. This uses 2026 rates for a single filer with the standard deduction; federal income tax and FICA are not included.
Do you need a license for HVAC work in Florida?
Contractors do. Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) licenses HVAC contractors across Florida; the relevant classes are Class A Air Conditioning (unlimited); Class B Air Conditioning (tonnage/BTU limits); Class C (servicing); Mechanical Contractor; Certified = statewide, Registered = local only. Anyone handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification.
What does an hour of HVAC labor cost in Florida?
About $105 in our price model ($70–$139), which scales national billable rates by Florida HVAC wages. A typical AC repair here runs $380, $228 of it labor.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: HVAC mechanics and installers (49-9021)
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035
- O*NET 31.0: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- EPA Section 608 technician certification
- HomeGuide: HVAC repair cost and hourly rates (2026)
- Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB): license lookup
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