Air Conditioning Technician Salary in the United States

How much does an Air Conditioning Technician make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Air Conditioning Technician in the United States is $62,273 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

However, an Air Conditioning Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $72,204
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55,578 to $67,471
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49,482
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View as table View as graph 25% $55,578 10% $49,482 90% $72,204 75% $67,471 $62,273 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Air Conditioning Technician Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $67,471 $5,623 $1,298 $32
Average $62,273 $5,189 $1,198 $30
25th Percentile $55,578 $4,631 $1,069 $27
Check out Air Conditioning Technician Job Openings in the United States
Residential HVAC Service Technician

Hauser Heating & Air Conditioning - Montgomery, OH

Residential HVAC Service Technician

Hauser Heating & Air Conditioning - Franklin, OH

HVAC Service Technician

Hauser Heating & Air Conditioning - Cincinnati, OH

HVAC Install Technician

McAfee Heating and Air Conditioning - Centerville, OH

Search More Air Conditioning Technician Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Air Conditioning Technician Salaries

An Air Conditioning Technician'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Air Conditioning Technicians

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:

  • San Jose: $78,545
  • San Francisco: $77,685
  • Oakland: $76,047

What Skills Can Increase an Air Conditioning Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.17% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Hydraulics (Mentioned in 2.99% Job Postings): Hydraulics is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids.
  • Preventive Maintenance (Mentioned in 1.56% Job Postings): Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 12.17%
Hydraulics 2.99%
Preventive Maintenance 1.56%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Air Conditioning Technician's salary.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Access Control: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Networking
$67,877
9%
Access Control
$66,632
7%
Alignment
$65,386
5%
Goal Oriented
$64,764
4%
Analysis
$64,141
3%
Decision Making
$64,141
3%
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Air Conditioning Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Air Conditioning Technician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 67% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Air Conditioning Technician positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Air Conditioning Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Air Conditioning Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$77,841$37.025%
Energy & Utilities$74,727$36.020%
Pharmaceuticals$73,482$35.018%
Insurance$68,500$33.010%
Healthcare$67,255$32.08%

How Education impacts an Air Conditioning Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Air Conditioning Technicians enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Air Conditioning Technician with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $60,083 and $64,138).

Air Conditioning Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Air Conditioning Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.4%
High School 62.2%
Associates 26.9%
Bachelors 6.7%
Masters 0.8%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Air Conditioning Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Air Conditioning Technician'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.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Air Conditioning Technician

Salaries for an Air Conditioning Technician can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $52,188 in 2023 to around $52,085 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Air Conditioning Technician salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Air Conditioning Technician Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$52,188
2024
$52,308
2025
$52,085
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $52,188
2024 $52,308
2025 $52,085
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Air Conditioning Technician

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Air Conditioning Technician

Here are companies hiring for Air Conditioning Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Air Conditioning Technician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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