HVAC technician salary in Hawaii
HVAC technicians in Hawaii earn a median $31.47 an hour ($65,450 a year), 7% above the US median of $29.33 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most earn between $20.73 and $47.80. That ranks Hawaii 15th of the 50 states and DC by median pay; Kahului-Wailuku pays the most of its metros at $35.92.
$31.47
Median hourly pay
7% above the US
$65,450
Median annual pay
$61,919 after state income tax
1,300
HVAC techs employed
2.1 per 1,000 jobs
Pay in Hawaii, from entry level to the top
BLS counts 1,300 HVAC mechanics and installers on Hawaii payrolls. The best-paid tenth earn at least 2.3 times what the lowest-paid tenth do ($47.80 against $20.73 an hour). The average, $32.24, is close to the median, so a few high earners don't skew the picture.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | US hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $20.73 | $43,120 | $19.25 |
| 25th | $26.75 | $55,630 | $23.25 |
| Median | $31.47 | $65,450 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $37.11 | $77,190 | $37.05 |
| 90th (top tenth) | $47.80 | $99,430 | $45.78 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Annual pay is hourly × 2,080 hours.
How Hawaii compares
The $31.47 median is 7% above the national figure and ranks 15th of the 50 states and DC. HVAC techs are a thinner slice of the workforce here: 2.1 per 1,000 jobs, 21% under the national share. The median worker in Hawaii, across every occupation, earns $27.08 an hour, so HVAC pays 16% more than the local norm. See every state on the US HVAC technician salary page.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Across Hawaii's metro areas
Kahului-Wailuku pays the most ($35.92 an hour) and Urban Honolulu the least ($31.47), a gap of $4.45. Outside the metros, the nonmetropolitan area reports $31.27.
| Area | Median hourly | HVAC techs |
|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $35.92 | 110 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $31.47 | 1,060 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $31.27 | 130 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Areas with fewer than 100 techs are rough estimates.
What an hour of HVAC work costs in Hawaii
A tech at the Hawaii median earns $31.47 an hour. Our price model bills that hour at about $121 here ($80–$161), 7% above the national $113, because local HVAC wages are that much higher.
Of each $121 billed, about $31 is the technician's wage. The other $90 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 Hawaii AC repair at $430: about $260 of it is labor, the equivalent of 2.1 billed hours, and the technician's own pay for that time comes to roughly $68.
- AC repair cost in Hawaii: typical $430, of which $260 is labor
- Furnace repair cost in Hawaii: typical $390, of which $271 is labor
- Heat pump repair cost in Hawaii: typical $460, of which $264 is labor
- HVAC tune-up cost in Hawaii: typical $170, of which $170 is labor
Every other local price, wage and climate figure: HVAC prices in Hawaii.
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
Hawaii's graduated income tax (top rate 11%) takes about $3,531 of the $65,450 median, leaving $61,919, or 95% of gross. That leaves Hawaii 16th of 51 after state tax.
Prices in Hawaii run 10% above the US average (BEA regional price parities, 2024), which trims the median's buying power to about $59,527 in national terms. On that measure Hawaii ranks 38th 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 Hawaii
Next to HVAC techs in Hawaii, electricians earn $14.91 more an hour and plumbers earn $6.06 more an hour. HVAC out-earns two of the five related trades listed.
| Occupation | Median hourly | vs HVAC |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC technicians (Hawaii) | $31.47 | — |
| Electricians | $46.38 | +$14.91 |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $37.53 | +$6.06 |
| Sheet metal workers | $46.32 | +$14.85 |
| Home appliance repairers | $28.03 | −$3.44 |
| Maintenance and repair workers | $27.86 | −$3.61 |
| All occupations | $27.08 | −$4.39 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing and training in Hawaii
Hawaii DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing, Contractors License Board licenses HVAC contractors across Hawaii; the relevant classes are C-52 Ventilating and air conditioning contractor.
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 Hawaii.
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 Hawaii?
A median $31.47 an hour, or $65,450 a year, across 1,300 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The lowest-paid tenth earn under $20.73 and the top tenth over $47.80.
Where in Hawaii do HVAC technicians earn the most?
Kahului-Wailuku has the highest median ($35.92 an hour) and Urban Honolulu the lowest ($31.47), among the 2 Hawaii metros with their own BLS estimate.
How much HVAC pay is left after Hawaii income tax?
Hawaii's graduated income tax (top rate 11%) takes about $3,531 of the $65,450 median, leaving $61,919, or 95% of gross. 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 Hawaii?
Contractors do. Hawaii DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing, Contractors License Board licenses HVAC contractors across Hawaii; the relevant classes are C-52 Ventilating and air conditioning contractor. Anyone handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification.
What does an hour of HVAC labor cost in Hawaii?
About $121 in our price model ($80–$161), which scales national billable rates by Hawaii HVAC wages. A typical AC repair here runs $430, $260 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)
- Hawaii DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing, Contractors License Board: license lookup
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