HVAC technician salary in New Jersey
HVAC technicians in New Jersey earn a median $35.79 an hour ($74,450 a year), 22% above the US median of $29.33 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most earn between $23.09 and $56.03. That ranks New Jersey 9th of the 50 states and DC, in the top ten by median pay; Trenton-Princeton pays the most of its metros at $36.17.
$35.79
Median hourly pay
22% above the US
$74,450
Median annual pay
$71,829 after state income tax
10,330
HVAC techs employed
2.4 per 1,000 jobs
Pay in New Jersey, from entry level to the top
BLS counts 10,330 HVAC mechanics and installers on New Jersey payrolls. Pay is spread wide: the best-paid tenth earn at least 2.4 times what the lowest-paid tenth do ($56.03 against $23.09 an hour). The average, $37.30, sits above the median: a smaller group of high earners pulls it up.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | US hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $23.09 | $48,020 | $19.25 |
| 25th | $27.26 | $56,700 | $23.25 |
| Median | $35.79 | $74,450 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $46.59 | $96,910 | $37.05 |
| 90th (top tenth) | $56.03 | $116,550 | $45.78 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Annual pay is hourly × 2,080 hours.
How New Jersey compares
The $35.79 median is 22% above the national figure and ranks 9th of the 50 states and DC, in the top ten. That is 2.4 per 1,000 jobs, close to the national share. The median worker in New Jersey, across every occupation, earns $28.16 an hour, so HVAC pays 27% more than the local norm. See every state on the US HVAC technician salary page.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Across New Jersey's metro areas
Trenton-Princeton pays the most ($36.17 an hour) and Atlantic City-Hammonton the least ($29.15), a gap of $7.02.
| Area | Median hourly | HVAC techs |
|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $36.17 | 430 |
| Vineland, NJ | $32.81 | 290 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $29.15 | 480 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Areas with fewer than 100 techs are rough estimates.
What an hour of HVAC work costs in New Jersey
A tech at the New Jersey median earns $35.79 an hour. Our price model bills that hour at about $138 here ($92–$183), 22% above the national $113, because local HVAC wages are that much higher.
Of each $138 billed, about $36 is the technician's wage. The other $102 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 New Jersey AC repair at $460: about $296 of it is labor, the equivalent of 2.1 billed hours, and the technician's own pay for that time comes to roughly $77.
- AC repair cost in New Jersey: typical $460, of which $296 is labor
- Furnace repair cost in New Jersey: typical $420, of which $307 is labor
- Heat pump repair cost in New Jersey: typical $490, of which $301 is labor
- HVAC tune-up cost in New Jersey: typical $200, of which $200 is labor
Every other local price, wage and climate figure: HVAC prices in New Jersey.
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
New Jersey's graduated income tax (top rate 10.75%) takes about $2,621 of the $74,450 median, leaving $71,829, or 96% of gross. That leaves New Jersey 10th of 51 after state tax.
Prices in New Jersey run 9% above the US average (BEA regional price parities, 2024), which trims the median's buying power to about $68,422 in national terms. On that measure New Jersey ranks 13th 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 New Jersey
Next to HVAC techs in New Jersey, electricians earn $1.35 more an hour and plumbers earn $1.82 more an hour. HVAC out-earns two of the five related trades listed.
| Occupation | Median hourly | vs HVAC |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC technicians (New Jersey) | $35.79 | — |
| Electricians | $37.14 | +$1.35 |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $37.61 | +$1.82 |
| Sheet metal workers | $44.64 | +$8.85 |
| Home appliance repairers | $26.66 | −$9.13 |
| Maintenance and repair workers | $26.35 | −$9.44 |
| All occupations | $28.16 | −$7.63 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing and training in New Jersey
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Examiners of Master HVACR Contractors licenses HVAC contractors across New Jersey; the relevant classes are Master HVACR Contractor.
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 New Jersey.
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 New Jersey?
A median $35.79 an hour, or $74,450 a year, across 10,330 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The lowest-paid tenth earn under $23.09 and the top tenth over $56.03.
Where in New Jersey do HVAC technicians earn the most?
Trenton-Princeton has the highest median ($36.17 an hour) and Atlantic City-Hammonton the lowest ($29.15), among the 3 New Jersey metros with their own BLS estimate.
How much HVAC pay is left after New Jersey income tax?
New Jersey's graduated income tax (top rate 10.75%) takes about $2,621 of the $74,450 median, leaving $71,829, or 96% 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 New Jersey?
Contractors do. New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Examiners of Master HVACR Contractors licenses HVAC contractors across New Jersey; the relevant classes are Master HVACR Contractor. Anyone handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification.
What does an hour of HVAC labor cost in New Jersey?
About $138 in our price model ($92–$183), which scales national billable rates by New Jersey HVAC wages. A typical AC repair here runs $460, $296 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)
- New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Examiners of Master HVACR Contractors: license lookup
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