HVAC technician salary in Mississippi
HVAC technicians in Mississippi earn a median $23.41 an hour ($48,680 a year), 20% below the US median of $29.33 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most earn between $17.39 and $36.65. That ranks Mississippi 49th of the 50 states and DC, in the bottom ten by median pay; Jackson pays the most of its metros at $25.03.
$23.41
Median hourly pay
20% below the US
$48,680
Median annual pay
$46,639 after state income tax
2,700
HVAC techs employed
2.3 per 1,000 jobs
Pay in Mississippi, from entry level to the top
BLS counts 2,700 HVAC mechanics and installers on Mississippi payrolls. The best-paid tenth earn at least 2.1 times what the lowest-paid tenth do ($36.65 against $17.39 an hour). The average, $25.49, sits above the median: a smaller group of high earners pulls it up.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | US hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $17.39 | $36,160 | $19.25 |
| 25th | $19.05 | $39,630 | $23.25 |
| Median | $23.41 | $48,680 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $29.51 | $61,390 | $37.05 |
| 90th (top tenth) | $36.65 | $76,240 | $45.78 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Annual pay is hourly × 2,080 hours.
How Mississippi compares
The $23.41 median is 20% below the national figure and ranks 49th of the 50 states and DC, in the bottom ten. That is 2.3 per 1,000 jobs, close to the national share. The median worker in Mississippi, across every occupation, earns $19.29 an hour, so HVAC pays 21% more than the local norm. See every state on the US HVAC technician salary page.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Across Mississippi's metro areas
Jackson pays the most ($25.03 an hour) and Hattiesburg the least ($22.40), a gap of $2.63. Outside the metros, 4 nonmetropolitan areas report $22.60, $22.57, $22.39 and $22.34.
| Area | Median hourly | HVAC techs |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MS | $25.03 | 770 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $23.19 | 330 |
| Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $22.60 | 390 |
| Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $22.57 | 240 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $22.40 | 100 |
| Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $22.39 | 200 |
| West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $22.34 | 220 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Areas with fewer than 100 techs are rough estimates.
What an hour of HVAC work costs in Mississippi
A tech at the Mississippi median earns $23.41 an hour. Our price model bills that hour at about $90 here ($60–$120), 20% below the national $113, because local HVAC wages are that much lower.
Of each $90 billed, about $23 is the technician's wage. The other $67 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 Mississippi AC repair at $340: about $193 of it is labor, the equivalent of 2.1 billed hours, and the technician's own pay for that time comes to roughly $50.
- AC repair cost in Mississippi: typical $340, of which $193 is labor
- Furnace repair cost in Mississippi: typical $300, of which $199 is labor
- Heat pump repair cost in Mississippi: typical $360, of which $193 is labor
- HVAC tune-up cost in Mississippi: typical $130, of which $130 is labor
Every other local price, wage and climate figure: HVAC prices in Mississippi.
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
Mississippi's flat 4.4% income tax, after a $2,300 standard deduction, takes about $2,041 of the $48,680 median and leaves $46,639. That leaves Mississippi 49th of 51 after state tax.
Prices in Mississippi run 13% below the US average (BEA regional price parities, 2024), so the $48,680 median buys what $55,986 would nationally. On that measure Mississippi ranks 46th 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 Mississippi
Next to HVAC techs in Mississippi, electricians earn $5.85 more an hour and plumbers earn $3.26 more an hour. HVAC out-earns two of the five related trades listed.
| Occupation | Median hourly | vs HVAC |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC technicians (Mississippi) | $23.41 | — |
| Electricians | $29.26 | +$5.85 |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $26.67 | +$3.26 |
| Sheet metal workers | $23.80 | +$0.39 |
| Home appliance repairers | $17.25 | −$6.16 |
| Maintenance and repair workers | $21.32 | −$2.09 |
| All occupations | $19.29 | −$4.12 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing and training in Mississippi
Mississippi State Board of Contractors licenses HVAC contractors across Mississippi; the relevant classes are Mechanical/HVAC classification (commercial); Residential Builder/Remodeler licenses.
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 Mississippi.
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 Mississippi?
A median $23.41 an hour, or $48,680 a year, across 2,700 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The lowest-paid tenth earn under $17.39 and the top tenth over $36.65.
Where in Mississippi do HVAC technicians earn the most?
Jackson has the highest median ($25.03 an hour) and Hattiesburg the lowest ($22.40), among the 3 Mississippi metros with their own BLS estimate.
How much HVAC pay is left after Mississippi income tax?
Mississippi's flat 4.4% income tax, after a $2,300 standard deduction, takes about $2,041 of the $48,680 median and leaves $46,639. 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 Mississippi?
Contractors do. Mississippi State Board of Contractors licenses HVAC contractors across Mississippi; the relevant classes are Mechanical/HVAC classification (commercial); Residential Builder/Remodeler licenses. Anyone handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification.
What does an hour of HVAC labor cost in Mississippi?
About $90 in our price model ($60–$120), which scales national billable rates by Mississippi HVAC wages. A typical AC repair here runs $340, $193 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)
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors: license lookup
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