HVAC technician salary in Iowa
HVAC technicians in Iowa earn a median $29.17 an hour ($60,680 a year), in line with the US median of $29.33 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most earn between $20.69 and $41.48. That ranks Iowa 27th of the 50 states and DC by median pay; Davenport-Moline-Rock Island pays the most of its metros at $31.34.
$29.17
Median hourly pay
in line with the US
$60,680
Median annual pay
$58,929 after state income tax
3,840
HVAC techs employed
2.5 per 1,000 jobs
Pay in Iowa, from entry level to the top
BLS counts 3,840 HVAC mechanics and installers on Iowa payrolls. The best-paid tenth earn at least 2.0 times what the lowest-paid tenth do ($41.48 against $20.69 an hour). The average, $30.35, sits above the median: a smaller group of high earners pulls it up.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | US hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $20.69 | $43,040 | $19.25 |
| 25th | $23.34 | $48,540 | $23.25 |
| Median | $29.17 | $60,680 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $36.51 | $75,950 | $37.05 |
| 90th (top tenth) | $41.48 | $86,280 | $45.78 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Annual pay is hourly × 2,080 hours.
How Iowa compares
The $29.17 median is in line with the national figure and ranks 27th of the 50 states and DC. That is 2.5 per 1,000 jobs, close to the national share. The median worker in Iowa, across every occupation, earns $23.34 an hour, so HVAC pays 25% more than the local norm. See every state on the US HVAC technician salary page.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Across Iowa's metro areas
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island pays the most ($31.34 an hour) and Sioux City the least ($28.77), a gap of $2.57. Outside the metros, 4 nonmetropolitan areas report $29.72, $29.04, $27.98 and $27.46.
| Area | Median hourly | HVAC techs |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31.34 | 410 |
| Iowa City, IA | $30.98 | 150 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $30.11 | 900 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $29.72 | 370 |
| Dubuque, IA | $29.53 | 130 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $29.17 | 380 |
| Ames, IA | $29.05 | 190 |
| Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $29.04 | 410 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $29.04 | 260 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $28.77 | 200 |
| Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $27.98 | 160 |
| Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $27.46 | 270 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Areas with fewer than 100 techs are rough estimates.
What an hour of HVAC work costs in Iowa
A tech at the Iowa median earns $29.17 an hour. Our price model bills that hour at about $112 here ($75–$149), at the national level, because local HVAC wages match the US median.
Of each $112 billed, about $29 is the technician's wage. The other $83 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 Iowa AC repair at $390: about $245 of it is labor, the equivalent of 2.2 billed hours, and the technician's own pay for that time comes to roughly $64.
- AC repair cost in Iowa: typical $390, of which $245 is labor
- Furnace repair cost in Iowa: typical $350, of which $251 is labor
- Heat pump repair cost in Iowa: typical $410, of which $245 is labor
- HVAC tune-up cost in Iowa: typical $160, of which $160 is labor
Every other local price, wage and climate figure: HVAC prices in Iowa.
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
Iowa's flat 3.8% income tax, after a $14,600 standard deduction, takes about $1,751 of the $60,680 median and leaves $58,929. That leaves Iowa 25th of 51 after state tax.
Prices in Iowa run 12% below the US average (BEA regional price parities, 2024), so the $60,680 median buys what $69,143 would nationally. On that measure Iowa ranks 11th 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 Iowa
Next to HVAC techs in Iowa, electricians earn about the same and plumbers earn $1.55 more an hour. HVAC out-earns two of the five related trades listed.
| Occupation | Median hourly | vs HVAC |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC technicians (Iowa) | $29.17 | — |
| Electricians | $29.26 | +$0.09 |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $30.72 | +$1.55 |
| Sheet metal workers | $31.95 | +$2.78 |
| Home appliance repairers | $21.20 | −$7.97 |
| Maintenance and repair workers | $25.08 | −$4.09 |
| All occupations | $23.34 | −$5.83 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing and training in Iowa
Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL), Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board licenses HVAC contractors across Iowa; the relevant classes are Mechanical, HVAC-Refrigeration, Hydronic and Sheet Metal (master/journeyperson/apprentice); contractor license.
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 Iowa.
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 Iowa?
A median $29.17 an hour, or $60,680 a year, across 3,840 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The lowest-paid tenth earn under $20.69 and the top tenth over $41.48.
Where in Iowa do HVAC technicians earn the most?
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island has the highest median ($31.34 an hour) and Sioux City the lowest ($28.77), among the 8 Iowa metros with their own BLS estimate.
How much HVAC pay is left after Iowa income tax?
Iowa's flat 3.8% income tax, after a $14,600 standard deduction, takes about $1,751 of the $60,680 median and leaves $58,929. 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 Iowa?
Contractors do. Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL), Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board licenses HVAC contractors across Iowa; the relevant classes are Mechanical, HVAC-Refrigeration, Hydronic and Sheet Metal (master/journeyperson/apprentice); contractor license. Anyone handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification.
What does an hour of HVAC labor cost in Iowa?
About $112 in our price model ($75–$149), which scales national billable rates by Iowa HVAC wages. A typical AC repair here runs $390, $245 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)
- Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL), Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board: license lookup
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