HVAC technician salary in Louisiana
HVAC technicians in Louisiana earn a median $28.20 an hour ($58,650 a year), 4% below the US median of $29.33 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most earn between $17.77 and $37.60. That ranks Louisiana 36th of the 50 states and DC by median pay; New Orleans-Metairie pays the most of its metros at $30.53.
$28.20
Median hourly pay
4% below the US
$58,650
Median annual pay
$57,266 after state income tax
5,380
HVAC techs employed
2.8 per 1,000 jobs
Pay in Louisiana, from entry level to the top
BLS counts 5,380 HVAC mechanics and installers on Louisiana payrolls. The best-paid tenth earn at least 2.1 times what the lowest-paid tenth do ($37.60 against $17.77 an hour). The average, $27.35, sits below the median, held down by a long tail of lower-paid starters.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | US hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $17.77 | $36,950 | $19.25 |
| 25th | $21.62 | $44,980 | $23.25 |
| Median | $28.20 | $58,650 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $31.73 | $65,990 | $37.05 |
| 90th (top tenth) | $37.60 | $78,210 | $45.78 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Annual pay is hourly × 2,080 hours.
How Louisiana compares
The $28.20 median is 4% below the national figure and ranks 36th of the 50 states and DC. That is 2.8 per 1,000 jobs, close to the national share. The median worker in Louisiana, across every occupation, earns $21.89 an hour, so HVAC pays 29% more than the local norm. See every state on the US HVAC technician salary page.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Across Louisiana's metro areas
New Orleans-Metairie pays the most ($30.53 an hour) and Alexandria the least ($22.75), a gap of $7.78. Outside the metros, 3 nonmetropolitan areas report $26.60, $24.41 and $23.44.
| Area | Median hourly | HVAC techs |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $30.53 | 1,280 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $30.26 | 1,180 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $28.19 | 500 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $28.11 | 250 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $27.56 | 270 |
| Monroe, LA | $27.54 | 260 |
| Hammond, LA | $27.47 | 130 |
| Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $26.60 | 150 |
| Lafayette, LA | $24.99 | 450 |
| Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $24.41 | 330 |
| Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $23.44 | 120 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $22.77 | 220 |
| Alexandria, LA | $22.75 | 190 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Areas with fewer than 100 techs are rough estimates.
What an hour of HVAC work costs in Louisiana
A tech at the Louisiana median earns $28.20 an hour. Our price model bills that hour at about $109 here ($72–$144), 4% below the national $113, because local HVAC wages are that much lower.
Of each $109 billed, about $28 is the technician's wage. The other $81 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 Louisiana AC repair at $380: about $235 of it is labor, the equivalent of 2.2 billed hours, and the technician's own pay for that time comes to roughly $61.
- AC repair cost in Louisiana: typical $380, of which $235 is labor
- Furnace repair cost in Louisiana: typical $340, of which $241 is labor
- Heat pump repair cost in Louisiana: typical $400, of which $236 is labor
- HVAC tune-up cost in Louisiana: typical $150, of which $150 is labor
Every other local price, wage and climate figure: HVAC prices in Louisiana.
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
Louisiana's flat 3% income tax, after a $12,500 standard deduction, takes about $1,384 of the $58,650 median and leaves $57,266. That leaves Louisiana 35th of 51 after state tax.
Prices in Louisiana run 12% below the US average (BEA regional price parities, 2024), so the $58,650 median buys what $66,489 would nationally. On that measure Louisiana ranks 17th 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 Louisiana
Next to HVAC techs in Louisiana, electricians earn $1.39 more an hour and plumbers earn $2.42 more an hour. HVAC out-earns three of the five related trades listed.
| Occupation | Median hourly | vs HVAC |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC technicians (Louisiana) | $28.20 | — |
| Electricians | $29.59 | +$1.39 |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $30.62 | +$2.42 |
| Sheet metal workers | $24.19 | −$4.01 |
| Home appliance repairers | $23.67 | −$4.53 |
| Maintenance and repair workers | $21.13 | −$7.07 |
| All occupations | $21.89 | −$6.31 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing and training in Louisiana
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) licenses HVAC contractors across Louisiana; the relevant classes are Mechanical Work (Statewide) classification; Residential Building; Home Improvement registration.
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 Louisiana.
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 Louisiana?
A median $28.20 an hour, or $58,650 a year, across 5,380 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The lowest-paid tenth earn under $17.77 and the top tenth over $37.60.
Where in Louisiana do HVAC technicians earn the most?
New Orleans-Metairie has the highest median ($30.53 an hour) and Alexandria the lowest ($22.75), among the 10 Louisiana metros with their own BLS estimate.
How much HVAC pay is left after Louisiana income tax?
Louisiana's flat 3% income tax, after a $12,500 standard deduction, takes about $1,384 of the $58,650 median and leaves $57,266. 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 Louisiana?
Contractors do. Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) licenses HVAC contractors across Louisiana; the relevant classes are Mechanical Work (Statewide) classification; Residential Building; Home Improvement registration. Anyone handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification.
What does an hour of HVAC labor cost in Louisiana?
About $109 in our price model ($72–$144), which scales national billable rates by Louisiana HVAC wages. A typical AC repair here runs $380, $235 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)
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC): license lookup
Second opinion
Get one fair quote from a licensed local pro
Tell us the job and when suits you. We confirm by phone or text, then pass your request to one licensed contractor who covers your ZIP. Nobody else gets your number.
- We confirm the job before anyone calls you
- One contractor, never a bidding list
- License checked with the state
- Free for homeowners