HVAC technician salary in Wisconsin
HVAC technicians in Wisconsin earn a median $29.67 an hour ($61,710 a year), in line with the US median of $29.33 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most earn between $22.08 and $47.15. That ranks Wisconsin 23rd of the 50 states and DC by median pay; Madison pays the most of its metros at $30.36.
$29.67
Median hourly pay
in line with the US
$61,710
Median annual pay
$59,537 after state income tax
6,630
HVAC techs employed
2.3 per 1,000 jobs
Pay in Wisconsin, from entry level to the top
BLS counts 6,630 HVAC mechanics and installers on Wisconsin payrolls. The best-paid tenth earn at least 2.1 times what the lowest-paid tenth do ($47.15 against $22.08 an hour). The average, $32.41, sits above the median: a smaller group of high earners pulls it up.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | US hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $22.08 | $45,930 | $19.25 |
| 25th | $24.44 | $50,840 | $23.25 |
| Median | $29.67 | $61,710 | $29.33 |
| 75th | $38.03 | $79,100 | $37.05 |
| 90th (top tenth) | $47.15 | $98,070 | $45.78 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Annual pay is hourly × 2,080 hours.
How Wisconsin compares
The $29.67 median is in line with the national figure and ranks 23rd of the 50 states and DC. That is 2.3 per 1,000 jobs, close to the national share. The median worker in Wisconsin, across every occupation, earns $24.17 an hour, so HVAC pays 23% more than the local norm. See every state on the US HVAC technician salary page.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Across Wisconsin's metro areas
Madison pays the most ($30.36 an hour) and Wausau the least ($28.42), a gap of $1.94. Outside the metros, 4 nonmetropolitan areas report $29.66, $29.29, $28.76 and $28.49.
| Area | Median hourly | HVAC techs |
|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $30.36 | 1,020 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $30.25 | 1,620 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $30.00 | 270 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $29.68 | 170 |
| Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $29.66 | 130 |
| Appleton, WI | $29.62 | 320 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $29.61 | 120 |
| Green Bay, WI | $29.49 | 420 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $29.46 | 150 |
| Kenosha, WI | $29.45 | 120 |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $29.29 | 500 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $29.10 | 130 |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $28.76 | 280 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $28.73 | 150 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $28.61 | 100 |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $28.49 | 550 |
| Wausau, WI | $28.42 | 140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Areas with fewer than 100 techs are rough estimates.
What an hour of HVAC work costs in Wisconsin
A tech at the Wisconsin median earns $29.67 an hour. Our price model bills that hour at about $114 here ($76–$152), at the national level, because local HVAC wages match the US median.
Of each $114 billed, about $30 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 Wisconsin AC repair at $390: about $246 of it is labor, the equivalent of 2.2 billed hours, and the technician's own pay for that time comes to roughly $64.
- AC repair cost in Wisconsin: typical $390, of which $246 is labor
- Furnace repair cost in Wisconsin: typical $350, of which $251 is labor
- Heat pump repair cost in Wisconsin: typical $410, of which $246 is labor
- HVAC tune-up cost in Wisconsin: typical $160, of which $160 is labor
Every other local price, wage and climate figure: HVAC prices in Wisconsin.
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
Wisconsin's graduated income tax (top rate 7.65%) takes about $2,173 of the $61,710 median, leaving $59,537, or 96% of gross. That leaves Wisconsin 23rd of 51 after state tax.
Prices in Wisconsin run 6% below the US average (BEA regional price parities, 2024), so the $61,710 median buys what $65,579 would nationally. On that measure Wisconsin ranks 21st 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 Wisconsin
Next to HVAC techs in Wisconsin, electricians earn $7.13 more an hour and plumbers earn $9.37 more an hour. HVAC out-earns two of the five related trades listed.
| Occupation | Median hourly | vs HVAC |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC technicians (Wisconsin) | $29.67 | — |
| Electricians | $36.80 | +$7.13 |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $39.04 | +$9.37 |
| Sheet metal workers | $37.38 | +$7.71 |
| Home appliance repairers | $25.21 | −$4.46 |
| Maintenance and repair workers | $26.83 | −$2.84 |
| All occupations | $24.17 | −$5.50 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing and training in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) licenses HVAC contractors across Wisconsin; the relevant classes are HVAC Contractor registration and HVAC Qualifier certification; Dwelling Contractor certification (to pull 1-2 family permits).
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 Wisconsin.
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 Wisconsin?
A median $29.67 an hour, or $61,710 a year, across 6,630 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The lowest-paid tenth earn under $22.08 and the top tenth over $47.15.
Where in Wisconsin do HVAC technicians earn the most?
Madison has the highest median ($30.36 an hour) and Wausau the lowest ($28.42), among the 13 Wisconsin metros with their own BLS estimate.
How much HVAC pay is left after Wisconsin income tax?
Wisconsin's graduated income tax (top rate 7.65%) takes about $2,173 of the $61,710 median, leaving $59,537, 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 Wisconsin?
Contractors do. Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) licenses HVAC contractors across Wisconsin; the relevant classes are HVAC Contractor registration and HVAC Qualifier certification; Dwelling Contractor certification (to pull 1-2 family permits). Anyone handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification.
What does an hour of HVAC labor cost in Wisconsin?
About $114 in our price model ($76–$152), which scales national billable rates by Wisconsin HVAC wages. A typical AC repair here runs $390, $246 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)
- Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS): license lookup
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