HVAC technician salary in Massachusetts
HVAC technicians in Massachusetts earn a median $37.16 an hour ($77,300 a year), 27% above the US median of $29.33 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most earn between $24.44 and $49.23. That ranks Massachusetts 4th of the 50 states and DC, in the top ten by median pay; Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays the most of its metros at $37.75.
$37.16
Median hourly pay
27% above the US
$77,300
Median annual pay
$73,435 after state income tax
8,200
HVAC techs employed
2.3 per 1,000 jobs
Pay in Massachusetts, from entry level to the top
BLS counts 8,200 HVAC mechanics and installers on Massachusetts payrolls. The best-paid tenth earn at least 2.0 times what the lowest-paid tenth do ($49.23 against $24.44 an hour). The average, $37.38, is close to the median, so a few high earners don't skew the picture.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | US hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $24.44 | $50,820 | $19.25 |
| 25th | $29.36 | $61,070 | $23.25 |
| Median | $37.16 | $77,300 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $45.71 | $95,070 | $37.05 |
| 90th (top tenth) | $49.23 | $102,410 | $45.78 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Annual pay is hourly × 2,080 hours.
How Massachusetts compares
The $37.16 median is 27% above the national figure and ranks 4th of the 50 states and DC, in the top ten. That is 2.3 per 1,000 jobs, close to the national share. The median worker in Massachusetts, across every occupation, earns $30.57 an hour, so HVAC pays 22% more than the local norm. See every state on the US HVAC technician salary page.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Across Massachusetts's metro areas
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays the most ($37.75 an hour) and Pittsfield the least ($30.72), a gap of $7.03. Outside the metros, the nonmetropolitan area reports $34.98.
| Area | Median hourly | HVAC techs |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $37.75 | 6,050 |
| Springfield, MA | $36.79 | 460 |
| Worcester, MA | $35.48 | 800 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $35.27 | 180 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $35.25 | 460 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $34.98 | 150 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $30.72 | 190 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Areas with fewer than 100 techs are rough estimates.
What an hour of HVAC work costs in Massachusetts
A tech at the Massachusetts median earns $37.16 an hour. Our price model bills that hour at about $143 here ($95–$190), 27% above the national $113, because local HVAC wages are that much higher.
Of each $143 billed, about $37 is the technician's wage. The other $106 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 Massachusetts AC repair at $460: about $308 of it is labor, the equivalent of 2.2 billed hours, and the technician's own pay for that time comes to roughly $80.
- AC repair cost in Massachusetts: typical $460, of which $308 is labor
- Furnace repair cost in Massachusetts: typical $420, of which $316 is labor
- Heat pump repair cost in Massachusetts: typical $480, of which $308 is labor
- HVAC tune-up cost in Massachusetts: typical $200, of which $200 is labor
Every other local price, wage and climate figure: HVAC prices in Massachusetts.
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
Massachusetts's graduated income tax (top rate 9%) takes about $3,865 of the $77,300 median, leaving $73,435, or 95% of gross. That leaves Massachusetts 7th of 51 after state tax.
Prices in Massachusetts run 6% above the US average (BEA regional price parities, 2024), which trims the median's buying power to about $73,090 in national terms. On that measure Massachusetts ranks 7th 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 Massachusetts
Next to HVAC techs in Massachusetts, electricians earn $1.02 more an hour and plumbers earn $7.98 more an hour. HVAC out-earns two of the five related trades listed.
| Occupation | Median hourly | vs HVAC |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC technicians (Massachusetts) | $37.16 | — |
| Electricians | $38.18 | +$1.02 |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $45.14 | +$7.98 |
| Sheet metal workers | $39.47 | +$2.31 |
| Home appliance repairers | $34.02 | −$3.14 |
| Maintenance and repair workers | $28.04 | −$9.12 |
| All occupations | $30.57 | −$6.59 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing and training in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Division of Occupational Licensure (Refrigeration Technicians; Sheet Metal; Plumbers and Gas Fitters boards) plus Home Improvement Contractor registration licenses HVAC contractors across Massachusetts; the relevant classes are Refrigeration Contractor/Technician; Sheet Metal; Gas Fitter; Oil Burner Technician (Dept of Fire Services).
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 Massachusetts.
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 Massachusetts?
A median $37.16 an hour, or $77,300 a year, across 8,200 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The lowest-paid tenth earn under $24.44 and the top tenth over $49.23.
Where in Massachusetts do HVAC technicians earn the most?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has the highest median ($37.75 an hour) and Pittsfield the lowest ($30.72), among the 6 Massachusetts metros with their own BLS estimate.
How much HVAC pay is left after Massachusetts income tax?
Massachusetts's graduated income tax (top rate 9%) takes about $3,865 of the $77,300 median, leaving $73,435, 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 Massachusetts?
Contractors do. Massachusetts Division of Occupational Licensure (Refrigeration Technicians; Sheet Metal; Plumbers and Gas Fitters boards) plus Home Improvement Contractor registration licenses HVAC contractors across Massachusetts; the relevant classes are Refrigeration Contractor/Technician; Sheet Metal; Gas Fitter; Oil Burner Technician (Dept of Fire Services). Anyone handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification.
What does an hour of HVAC labor cost in Massachusetts?
About $143 in our price model ($95–$190), which scales national billable rates by Massachusetts HVAC wages. A typical AC repair here runs $460, $308 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)
- Massachusetts Division of Occupational Licensure (Refrigeration Technicians; Sheet Metal; Plumbers and Gas Fitters boards) plus Home Improvement Contractor registration: license lookup
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