Air conditioning is always in high demand in Michigan. I imagine that any state with our climate has the same needs for competent technicians. Home Gnome ranked the best metropolitan areas of 2025 for heating, ventilation and air conditioning system technicians, to mark February as national indoor air care month. We compared 380 of the largest cities in the U.S.
UU. More specifically, we looked at the average hourly wages of HVAC technicians, projected industry growth, and HVAC jobs per 1000 total jobs, across 9 total metrics. For each of the 380 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. In the US, we collect data on each factor from the sources listed below the table.
Finally, we calculated the scores (over 100 points) for each meter to determine its position in each factor, in each category and in general. The overall score of a meter is the average of your scores across all factors and categories. The highest overall score was rated “Best” (No. The air conditioning industry is expected to grow by 9% until 2033, but it continues to face a severe shortage of personnel, with 110,000 vacant positions, leaving the sector 38% below the necessary workforce. With thousands of technicians retiring each year, this shortage is expected to reach 225,000 in 5 years.
Despite these challenges, the industry is growing rapidly. Approximately 42,500 job openings in HVAC are expected each year, driven largely by retirement and career transitions. New regulations are already reshaping the industry. As of January 1, 2025, the EPA banned the manufacture, import and sale of air conditioning and refrigeration systems that use high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
This change is increasing the demand for qualified technicians to install and maintain improved systems. Extreme weather continues to put pressure on air conditioning systems. In response, homeowners are investing in energy efficiency improvements, and 61% of buyers consider energy efficiency to be one of the three main decision factors when buying a home. The state has a booming construction industry and a growing demand for energy efficient systems.
Air conditioning services are in high demand both in homes and in businesses. In addition, the higher cost of living in Washington helps increase the salaries of skilled workers in this field. Working overtime is an easy way to increase your income. During busy times, such as summer and winter, the demand for air conditioning services increases.
Companies usually pay 1.5 times the usual overtime rate, which can increase your annual revenue by 15 to 25%.Unionized jobs often provide HVAC installers with a higher wage and better benefits compared to non-union positions. Unionized workers often enjoy greater job security, standardized salaries, and access to health and retirement plans. On average, unionized HVAC technicians earn 10.2% more than non-union workers. Yes, unionized HVAC jobs typically pay 10.2% more than positions non-union jobs also come with better benefits, job security, and access to paid training programs.
The following states were identified as the worst places to establish an HVAC business because they all had some of the lowest average salaries of HVAC technicians. Fewer professionals in remote areas mean stable job opportunities in the HVAC labor market, especially in regions with extreme weather conditions that require frequent HVAC maintenance. Experienced HVAC installers can move up to supervisory positions, become project managers, or even start their own HVAC business.
