HVAC technician salary in North Carolina
HVAC technicians in North Carolina earn a median $27.53 an hour ($57,260 a year), 6% below the US median of $29.33 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most earn between $18.16 and $37.10. That ranks North Carolina 40th of the 50 states and DC by median pay; Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia pays the most of its metros at $28.77.
$27.53
Median hourly pay
6% below the US
$57,260
Median annual pay
$55,368 after state income tax
15,230
HVAC techs employed
3.1 per 1,000 jobs
Pay in North Carolina, from entry level to the top
BLS counts 15,230 HVAC mechanics and installers on North Carolina payrolls. The best-paid tenth earn at least 2.0 times what the lowest-paid tenth do ($37.10 against $18.16 an hour). The average, $27.60, is close to the median, so a few high earners don't skew the picture.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | US hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $18.16 | $37,780 | $19.25 |
| 25th | $22.52 | $46,830 | $23.25 |
| Median | $27.53 | $57,260 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $30.92 | $64,310 | $37.05 |
| 90th (top tenth) | $37.10 | $77,160 | $45.78 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Annual pay is hourly × 2,080 hours.
How North Carolina compares
The $27.53 median is 6% below the national figure and ranks 40th of the 50 states and DC. HVAC work is unusually common here: 3.1 of every 1,000 jobs, 17% above the national share. The median worker in North Carolina, across every occupation, earns $23.06 an hour, so HVAC pays 19% more than the local norm. See every state on the US HVAC technician salary page.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Across North Carolina's metro areas
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia pays the most ($28.77 an hour) and Jacksonville the least ($23.35), a gap of $5.42. Outside the metros, 3 nonmetropolitan areas report $24.76, $23.92 and $23.07. Metros with their own salary page are linked.
| Area | Median hourly | HVAC techs |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $28.77 | 3,860 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $28.45 | 750 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $28.32 | 2,550 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $28.14 | 1,170 |
| Asheville, NC | $27.94 | 660 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $27.03 | 490 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $26.78 | 150 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $26.61 | 700 |
| Greenville, NC | $25.56 | 220 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $25.28 | 160 |
| Burlington, NC | $25.21 | 280 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $24.78 | 160 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $24.76 | 860 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $24.18 | 300 |
| Wilmington, NC | $23.97 | 710 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $23.92 | 750 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $23.35 | 210 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $23.07 | 1,060 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Areas with fewer than 100 techs are rough estimates.
What an hour of HVAC work costs in North Carolina
A tech at the North Carolina median earns $27.53 an hour. Our price model bills that hour at about $106 here ($70–$141), 6% below the national $113, because local HVAC wages are that much lower.
Of each $106 billed, about $28 is the technician's wage. The other $78 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 North Carolina AC repair at $380: about $230 of it is labor, the equivalent of 2.2 billed hours, and the technician's own pay for that time comes to roughly $60.
- AC repair cost in North Carolina: typical $380, of which $230 is labor
- Furnace repair cost in North Carolina: typical $340, of which $237 is labor
- Heat pump repair cost in North Carolina: typical $400, of which $231 is labor
- HVAC tune-up cost in North Carolina: typical $150, of which $150 is labor
Every other local price, wage and climate figure: HVAC prices in North Carolina.
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
North Carolina's flat 4.25% income tax, after a $12,750 standard deduction, takes about $1,892 of the $57,260 median and leaves $55,368. That leaves North Carolina 41st of 51 after state tax.
Prices in North Carolina run 6% below the US average (BEA regional price parities, 2024), so the $57,260 median buys what $60,702 would nationally. On that measure North Carolina ranks 34th 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 North Carolina
Next to HVAC techs in North Carolina, electricians earn about the same and plumbers earn about the same. HVAC out-earns three of the five related trades listed.
| Occupation | Median hourly | vs HVAC |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC technicians (North Carolina) | $27.53 | — |
| Electricians | $27.31 | −$0.22 |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $27.44 | −$0.09 |
| Sheet metal workers | $24.39 | −$3.14 |
| Home appliance repairers | $22.73 | −$4.80 |
| Maintenance and repair workers | $23.03 | −$4.50 |
| All occupations | $23.06 | −$4.47 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing and training in North Carolina
North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors licenses HVAC contractors across North Carolina; the relevant classes are Heating Group 1 (H-1 hydronic), Group 2 (H-2) and Group 3 (H-3) forced-air/AC by tonnage; Class I (all buildings) vs Class II (residential); Refrigeration; Fuel Piping.
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 North Carolina.
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 North Carolina?
A median $27.53 an hour, or $57,260 a year, across 15,230 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The lowest-paid tenth earn under $18.16 and the top tenth over $37.10.
Where in North Carolina do HVAC technicians earn the most?
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia has the highest median ($28.77 an hour) and Jacksonville the lowest ($23.35), among the 15 North Carolina metros with their own BLS estimate.
How much HVAC pay is left after North Carolina income tax?
North Carolina's flat 4.25% income tax, after a $12,750 standard deduction, takes about $1,892 of the $57,260 median and leaves $55,368. 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 North Carolina?
Contractors do. North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors licenses HVAC contractors across North Carolina; the relevant classes are Heating Group 1 (H-1 hydronic), Group 2 (H-2) and Group 3 (H-3) forced-air/AC by tonnage; Class I (all buildings) vs Class II (residential); Refrigeration; Fuel Piping. Anyone handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification.
What does an hour of HVAC labor cost in North Carolina?
About $106 in our price model ($70–$141), which scales national billable rates by North Carolina HVAC wages. A typical AC repair here runs $380, $230 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)
- North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors: 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