HVAC technician salary in Michigan
HVAC technicians in Michigan earn a median $29.26 an hour ($60,850 a year), in line with the US median of $29.33 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most earn between $19.33 and $45.81. That ranks Michigan 25th of the 50 states and DC by median pay; Ann Arbor pays the most of its metros at $36.06.
$29.26
Median hourly pay
in line with the US
$60,850
Median annual pay
$58,502 after state income tax
12,590
HVAC techs employed
2.9 per 1,000 jobs
Pay in Michigan, from entry level to the top
BLS counts 12,590 HVAC mechanics and installers on Michigan payrolls. The best-paid tenth earn at least 2.4 times what the lowest-paid tenth do ($45.81 against $19.33 an hour). The average, $31.01, sits above the median: a smaller group of high earners pulls it up.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | US hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $19.33 | $40,210 | $19.25 |
| 25th | $23.09 | $48,040 | $23.25 |
| Median | $29.26 | $60,850 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $37.40 | $77,780 | $37.05 |
| 90th (top tenth) | $45.81 | $95,290 | $45.78 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Annual pay is hourly × 2,080 hours.
How Michigan compares
The $29.26 median is in line with the national figure and ranks 25th of the 50 states and DC. That is 2.9 per 1,000 jobs, close to the national share. The median worker in Michigan, across every occupation, earns $23.69 an hour, so HVAC pays 24% more than the local norm. See every state on the US HVAC technician salary page.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Across Michigan's metro areas
Ann Arbor pays the most ($36.06 an hour) and Midland the least ($27.16), a gap of $8.90. Outside the metros, 4 nonmetropolitan areas report $28.07, $28.03, $27.77 and $25.11. Metros with their own salary page are linked.
| Area | Median hourly | HVAC techs |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $36.06 | 460 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $30.37 | 5,740 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $29.46 | 430 |
| Jackson, MI | $29.43 | 110 |
| Traverse City, MI | $29.13 | 210 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $29.06 | 490 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $28.94 | 1,920 |
| Bay City, MI | $28.93 | 70 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $28.90 | 130 |
| Saginaw, MI | $28.88 | 210 |
| Flint, MI | $28.79 | 430 |
| Monroe, MI | $28.53 | 130 |
| Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $28.07 | 390 |
| Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $28.03 | 320 |
| Niles, MI | $27.95 | 240 |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $27.77 | 300 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $27.19 | 180 |
| Midland, MI | $27.16 | 90 |
| Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $25.11 | 450 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Areas with fewer than 100 techs are rough estimates.
What an hour of HVAC work costs in Michigan
A tech at the Michigan median earns $29.26 an hour. Our price model bills that hour at about $113 here ($75–$150), at the national level, because local HVAC wages match the US median.
Of each $113 billed, about $29 is the technician's wage. The other $84 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 Michigan AC repair at $390: about $243 of it is labor, the equivalent of 2.2 billed hours, and the technician's own pay for that time comes to roughly $63.
- AC repair cost in Michigan: typical $390, of which $243 is labor
- Furnace repair cost in Michigan: typical $350, of which $249 is labor
- Heat pump repair cost in Michigan: typical $410, of which $243 is labor
- HVAC tune-up cost in Michigan: typical $160, of which $160 is labor
Every other local price, wage and climate figure: HVAC prices in Michigan.
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
Michigan's flat 4.25% income tax, after a $5,600 standard deduction, takes about $2,348 of the $60,850 median and leaves $58,502. That leaves Michigan 27th of 51 after state tax.
Prices in Michigan run 4% below the US average (BEA regional price parities, 2024), so the $60,850 median buys what $63,240 would nationally. On that measure Michigan ranks 31st 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 Michigan
Next to HVAC techs in Michigan, electricians earn $7.41 more an hour and plumbers earn $9.30 more an hour. HVAC out-earns two of the five related trades listed.
| Occupation | Median hourly | vs HVAC |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC technicians (Michigan) | $29.26 | — |
| Electricians | $36.67 | +$7.41 |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $38.56 | +$9.30 |
| Sheet metal workers | $31.01 | +$1.75 |
| Home appliance repairers | $25.08 | −$4.18 |
| Maintenance and repair workers | $22.87 | −$6.39 |
| All occupations | $23.69 | −$5.57 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing and training in Michigan
Michigan LARA, Bureau of Construction Codes, Mechanical Contractor license licenses HVAC contractors across Michigan; the relevant classes are Mechanical contractor work classifications incl. HVAC equipment, ductwork, refrigeration, hydronic, limited/unlimited heating service, limited/unlimited refrigeration and AC service.
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 Michigan.
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 Michigan?
A median $29.26 an hour, or $60,850 a year, across 12,590 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The lowest-paid tenth earn under $19.33 and the top tenth over $45.81.
Where in Michigan do HVAC technicians earn the most?
Ann Arbor has the highest median ($36.06 an hour) and Midland the lowest ($27.16), among the 15 Michigan metros with their own BLS estimate.
How much HVAC pay is left after Michigan income tax?
Michigan's flat 4.25% income tax, after a $5,600 standard deduction, takes about $2,348 of the $60,850 median and leaves $58,502. 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 Michigan?
Contractors do. Michigan LARA, Bureau of Construction Codes, Mechanical Contractor license licenses HVAC contractors across Michigan; the relevant classes are Mechanical contractor work classifications incl. HVAC equipment, ductwork, refrigeration, hydronic, limited/unlimited heating service, limited/unlimited refrigeration and AC service. Anyone handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification.
What does an hour of HVAC labor cost in Michigan?
About $113 in our price model ($75–$150), which scales national billable rates by Michigan HVAC wages. A typical AC repair here runs $390, $243 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)
- Michigan LARA, Bureau of Construction Codes, Mechanical Contractor license: license lookup
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