Side-by-side distribution
HVAC Technician
$33.50/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 50.1%
- Live roles
- 1,067
Plumber
$34.19/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 49%
- Live roles
- 343
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
Highest-paying jobs
1099 Master Plumber
1099 Master Plumber
Residential Plumber
1099 Master Plumber
1099 Master Plumber
1099 Master Plumber
Residential Service Plumber
Residential Service Plumber
Legacy - Licensed Residential Plumber
Service Plumber
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 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Renuity
|
$135,200 | 13 |
Mears Group
|
$50,674 | 10 |
| SI Sila | $72,800 | 9 |
Amentum
|
$65,520 | 7 |
|
Superior Contracting & Maintenance
|
$117,000 | 5 |
|
Ace Hardware
|
$80,080 | 5 |
| GV GE Vernova | $60,570 | 5 |
| SO State of North Carolina | $53,962 | 5 |
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 |
Plumber salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $83,606 | 5 |
| London | $52,597 | 4 |
HVAC Technician vs Plumber: which pays more?
The median for HVAC Technician is $33.50/hr per year (typically $28.00/hr–$40.00/hr), versus $34.19/hr for Plumber ($27.78/hr–$40.75/hr). That puts Plumber about 2% 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.