Side-by-side distribution
Carpenter
$27.75/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 40%
- Live roles
- 305
HVAC Technician
$33.50/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 50.1%
- Live roles
- 1,067
Highest-paying jobs
Window Installer / Carpenter
Window Installer / Carpenter
Window Installer / Carpenter
Field Carpenter-FAA (100% Travel)
General Service Technician II -Carpenter (Mon-Fri 6:30AM-3PM)
Apprentice / Journeyperson Carpenter
Apprentice Carpenter
Union Carpenter – GE Aerospace Research
Residential Carpenter
Foreman (Carpenter)
Highest-paying jobs
HVAC Selling Technician
HVAC Service Technician
HVAC Service Technician $2k Sign on Bonus
HVAC - Mechanical 1099 Contractor - Maintenance Technician
HVAC - Mechanical 1099 Contractor - Maintenance Technician
HVAC - Mechanical 1099 Contractor - Maintenance Technician
HVAC - Mechanical 1099 Contractor - Maintenance Technician
HVAC - Mechanical 1099 Contractor - Maintenance Technician
HVAC - Mechanical 1099 Contractor - Maintenance Technician
HVAC - Mechanical 1099 Contractor - Maintenance Technician
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Sunbelt Rentals
|
$44,439 | 26 |
Clarion Housing Group
|
$52,080 | 6 |
| UL US LBM | $52,000 | 6 |
Swinerton
|
$70,845 | 5 |
Clark Construction Group
|
$58,240 | 5 |
Consigli Construction
|
$60,840 | 4 |
Mears Group
|
$48,915 | 4 |
|
Rbanw
|
$110,000 | 3 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| DA Daikin Applied | $78,676 | 62 |
|
Sunbelt Rentals
|
$57,918 | 60 |
| JC Johnson Controls | $71,282 | 40 |
| SI Sila | $72,800 | 27 |
Carrier
|
$118,560 | 25 |
Comfort Systems USA
|
$75,920 | 20 |
Ace Hardware
|
$62,400 | 20 |
Cushman & Wakefield
|
$76,960 | 19 |
HVAC Technician salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $99,892 | 4 |
| Chicago | $93,600 | 3 |
| San Francisco | $78,520 | 4 |
| Boston | $77,922 | 8 |
| Denver | $76,960 | 5 |
| Atlanta | $74,766 | 14 |
| Los Angeles | $73,320 | 4 |
| Austin | $56,160 | 7 |
Carpenter vs HVAC Technician: which pays more?
The median for Carpenter is $27.75/hr per year (typically $23.39/hr–$34.06/hr), versus $33.50/hr for HVAC Technician ($28.00/hr–$40.00/hr). That puts HVAC Technician about 21% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Carpenter and HVAC Technician are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.