Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an HVAC Design Engineer in California is $70,237 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.
However, an HVAC Design Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
Smart Recruiting
HVAC Design Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $75,044 | $6,254 | $1,443 | $36 |
| Average | $70,237 | $5,853 | $1,351 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,317 | $5,276 | $1,218 | $30 |
Pacific Rim Mechanical - San Diego, CA
CBRE - San Jose, CA
Metriport - San Francisco, CA
Sandis - Campbell, CA
An HVAC Design Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract HVAC Design Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
For HVAC Design Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, HVAC Design Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view HVAC Design Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $87,796 | $42.0 | 25% |
| Financial Services | $84,284 | $41.0 | 20% |
| Biotechnology | $80,772 | $39.0 | 15% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $80,772 | $39.0 | 15% |
| Chemicals | $77,260 | $37.0 | 10% |
Understanding how an HVAC Design Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $75,044 | $6,254 | $1,443 | $36 |
| Average | $70,237 | $5,853 | $1,351 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,317 | $5,276 | $1,218 | $30 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current HVAC Design Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Higher Talent Group LLC
Irvine, CA
Higher Talent Group LLC | Irvine, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Design Engineer – Irvine, California. . . About our Client. Our Client is a global provider within a wide range of areas,... more
2 Days Ago
Sandis
Roseville, CA
Sandis | Roseville, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Sandis is currently looking for a Design Engineer to join our growing team in Roseville, CA. Our ideal candidate has expe... more
3 Days Ago
Career Renew
San Francisco, CA
Career Renew | San Francisco, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Career Renew is recruiting for one of its clients a Design Engineer - this is an onsite role in San Francisco. Salary ran... more
3 Days Ago
Acceler8 Talent
Berkeley, CA
Acceler8 Talent | Berkeley, CA
Hiring: Digital IC Design Engineer. Location. Berkeley, California. Working model. Onsite, five days per week. Compensation. From $180,000 base salary, plu... more
4 Days Ago
IC Resources
Irvine, CA
IC Resources | Irvine, CA
We're hiring: Design Engineer. Join an elite team working at the cutting edge of wireless communications technology, developing IP, system, and board solut... more
4 Days Ago
Trimark Associates
El Dorado Hills, CA
Trimark Associates | El Dorado Hills, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Join our Engineering and Design team as a Project Design Engineer with an emphasis on SCADA to work on exciting renewable... more
4 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
