HVAC technician salary in Washington
HVAC technicians in Washington earn a median $36.38 an hour ($75,660 a year), 24% above the US median of $29.33 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most earn between $23.47 and $57.86. That ranks Washington 7th of the 50 states and DC, in the top ten by median pay; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays the most of its metros at $38.51.
$36.38
Median hourly pay
24% above the US
$75,660
Median annual pay
$75,660 after state income tax
7,370
HVAC techs employed
2.1 per 1,000 jobs
Pay in Washington, from entry level to the top
BLS counts 7,370 HVAC mechanics and installers on Washington payrolls. Pay is spread wide: the best-paid tenth earn at least 2.5 times what the lowest-paid tenth do ($57.86 against $23.47 an hour). The average, $37.91, sits above the median: a smaller group of high earners pulls it up.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | US hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $23.47 | $48,810 | $19.25 |
| 25th | $28.93 | $60,170 | $23.25 |
| Median | $36.38 | $75,660 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $45.18 | $93,970 | $37.05 |
| 90th (top tenth) | $57.86 | $120,360 | $45.78 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Annual pay is hourly × 2,080 hours.
How Washington compares
The $36.38 median is 24% above the national figure and ranks 7th of the 50 states and DC, in the top ten. HVAC techs are a thinner slice of the workforce here: 2.1 per 1,000 jobs, 21% under the national share. The median worker in Washington, across every occupation, earns $30.28 an hour, so HVAC pays 20% more than the local norm. See every state on the US HVAC technician salary page.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Across Washington's metro areas
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays the most ($38.51 an hour) and Wenatchee-East Wenatchee the least ($29.63), a gap of $8.88. Outside the metros, 2 nonmetropolitan areas report $32.26 and $29.13. The metro with its own salary page is linked.
| Area | Median hourly | HVAC techs |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $38.51 | 3,940 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $37.02 | 150 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $36.66 | 270 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $36.38 | 520 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $35.89 | 180 |
| Bellingham, WA | $34.71 | 240 |
| Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $32.26 | 150 |
| Yakima, WA | $31.68 | 160 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $30.96 | 80 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $30.21 | 610 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $30.06 | 80 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $29.63 | 120 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $29.13 | 180 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Areas with fewer than 100 techs are rough estimates.
What an hour of HVAC work costs in Washington
A tech at the Washington median earns $36.38 an hour. Our price model bills that hour at about $140 here ($93–$186), 24% above the national $113, because local HVAC wages are that much higher.
Of each $140 billed, about $36 is the technician's wage. The other $104 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 Washington AC repair at $460: about $301 of it is labor, the equivalent of 2.1 billed hours, and the technician's own pay for that time comes to roughly $78.
- AC repair cost in Washington: typical $460, of which $301 is labor
- Furnace repair cost in Washington: typical $420, of which $310 is labor
- Heat pump repair cost in Washington: typical $490, of which $306 is labor
- HVAC tune-up cost in Washington: typical $200, of which $200 is labor
Every other local price, wage and climate figure: HVAC prices in Washington.
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
Washington has no state income tax on wages, so the whole $75,660 median is still there before federal tax and FICA. That leaves Washington 3rd of 51 after state tax.
Prices in Washington run 7% above the US average (BEA regional price parities, 2024), which trims the median's buying power to about $70,704 in national terms. On that measure Washington ranks 9th 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 Washington
Next to HVAC techs in Washington, electricians earn $9.40 more an hour and plumbers earn $2.58 more an hour. HVAC out-earns two of the five related trades listed.
| Occupation | Median hourly | vs HVAC |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC technicians (Washington) | $36.38 | — |
| Electricians | $45.78 | +$9.40 |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $38.96 | +$2.58 |
| Sheet metal workers | $47.38 | +$11.00 |
| Home appliance repairers | $27.94 | −$8.44 |
| Maintenance and repair workers | $28.44 | −$7.94 |
| All occupations | $30.28 | −$6.10 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing and training in Washington
Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) contractor registration licenses HVAC contractors across Washington; the relevant classes are General or Specialty contractor registration; HVAC/refrigeration electrical specialty certificate for electrical work.
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 Washington.
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 Washington?
A median $36.38 an hour, or $75,660 a year, across 7,370 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The lowest-paid tenth earn under $23.47 and the top tenth over $57.86.
Where in Washington do HVAC technicians earn the most?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has the highest median ($38.51 an hour) and Wenatchee-East Wenatchee the lowest ($29.63), among the 11 Washington metros with their own BLS estimate.
How much HVAC pay is left after Washington income tax?
Washington has no state income tax on wages, so the whole $75,660 median is still there before federal tax and FICA. 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 Washington?
Contractors do. Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) contractor registration licenses HVAC contractors across Washington; the relevant classes are General or Specialty contractor registration; HVAC/refrigeration electrical specialty certificate for electrical work. Anyone handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification.
What does an hour of HVAC labor cost in Washington?
About $140 in our price model ($93–$186), which scales national billable rates by Washington HVAC wages. A typical AC repair here runs $460, $301 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)
- Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) contractor registration: license lookup
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