Side-by-side distribution
HVAC Technician
$74,880
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 45%
- Live roles
- 322
Plumber
$100,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 59.8%
- Live roles
- 107
Highest-paying jobs
HVAC Selling Technician
HVAC Service Technician
Lead HVAC Service Technician
HVAC Senior Service 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
Highest-paying jobs
1099 Master Plumber
Residential Plumber
1099 Master Plumber
1099 Master Plumber
1099 Master Plumber
1099 Master Plumber
Residential Service Plumber
Journeyman Plumber
Plumber
Residential Service Plumber
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
CaptiveAire
|
$72,500 | 25 |
| SI Sila | $72,800 | 21 |
EquipmentShare
|
$51,740 | 16 |
TechFlow, Inc.
|
$114,869 | 8 |
|
Superior Contracting & Maintenance
|
$156,000 | 7 |
| CL CloudKitchens | $72,930 | 6 |
MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions
|
$98,800 | 5 |
G.E. Mechanical
|
$106,839 | 4 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Renuity
|
$105,000 | 16 |
| SI Sila | $83,200 | 9 |
|
Superior Contracting & Maintenance
|
$117,000 | 5 |
Cogentanalytics
|
$100,000 | 4 |
Jacuzzi Group
|
$135,200 | 3 |
| MC Michels Corporation | $101,962 | 3 |
|
MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions
|
$98,800 | 2 |
|
G.E. Mechanical
|
$72,800 | 2 |
HVAC Technician salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $83,200 | 5 |
| San Francisco | $80,080 | 3 |
| Austin | $72,500 | 3 |
HVAC Technician vs Plumber: which pays more?
The median for HVAC Technician is $74,880 per year (typically $60,320–$100,544), versus $100,000 for Plumber ($69,680–$112,320). That puts Plumber about 34% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so HVAC Technician and Plumber 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.