HVAC · FF-012
U.S. HVAC Workforce & Building Energy
Explore the HVAC technician workforce, current pay, projected demand, major employers, and why heating and cooling remain central to building energy use.
Interactive comparison
HVAC employment and outlook
Switch between workforce, wage, employer mix, and projected growth benchmarks.
Current workforce
HVACR is a large skilled-trades occupation
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics provides the latest national employment and wage estimates for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.
Demand through 2034
Employment is projected to grow faster than the economy overall
BLS attributes demand to building construction, increasingly sophisticated climate-control systems, repair and replacement work, energy-efficiency upgrades, and pollution-reduction efforts.
Where technicians work
Contractors employ most HVAC technicians
| Employer group | Share of HVAC jobs | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing, heating & air-conditioning contractors | 70% | Largest employer group |
| Self-employed workers | 5% | Independent service and contracting |
| Wholesale trade | 3% | Equipment and supply distribution |
| Educational services | 3% | Schools and institutional facilities |
| Retail trade | 3% | Retail facilities and service operations |
Building-energy context
Heating and cooling account for around 35% of building energy consumption
DOE identifies heating and cooling as the largest building-energy end use, accounting for around 35% of energy consumption. That makes HVAC efficiency, equipment selection, controls, maintenance, heat pumps, refrigerants, and load sizing economically important—not just comfort decisions.
Pay context
HVAC wages sit above the all-occupation median
| Measure | HVAC technicians | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| May 2025 mean annual wage | $64,780 | Current OEWS mean |
| May 2025 median hourly wage | $29.33 | Current OEWS median |
| May 2024 median annual wage | $59,810 | $49,500 all occupations |
| Top 10% annual earnings, May 2024 | >$91,020 | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
Methodology & sources
About these figures
This page keeps current wage estimates, employment projections, and building-energy benchmarks separate. May 2025 employment and wage figures come from BLS OEWS. The 2024–2034 outlook and employer shares come from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Building-energy context comes from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Workforce source: BLS May 2025 OEWS · Outlook source: BLS HVAC Occupational Outlook · Energy source: U.S. Department of Energy.
CalculateMeasure refresh: Aug. 22, 2026 · Review cadence: Annual, with BLS OEWS and Employment Projections releases and material DOE benchmark updates.
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