Program pages that show real salary outcomes get more inquiries than pages that don't. That's not a hypothesis — it's the consistent pattern from institutions that have tested it. The problem is that salary data goes stale fast, and maintaining current numbers on a static web page requires someone to actually remember to do it every year when BLS publishes new data.
Most HVAC program pages have salary copy that was last updated sometime around 2022.
Here's a free tool that solves this automatically.
What the Widget Shows
The HVACJobs.IO salary widget pulls from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (SOC 49-9021). The May 2024 data — the current federal baseline — shows:
- Median annual salary: $59,810 ($28.75/hr)
- 25th percentile: $39,130 (entry-level, 0–2 years)
- 75th percentile: $91,020 (experienced techs, 4+ years)
The widget displays these figures in a clean format with the BLS source attribution visible. When BLS publishes new OEWS data, the widget updates automatically — you don't have to do anything.
You can also scope the data to a specific state or metro area. A prospective student in Houston is more interested in Harris County wages than the national median. The widget lets you show them exactly what the local market pays.
How to Embed It
The configurator lives at hvacjobs.io/tools/salary-widget. No account required.
Step 1: Go to the configurator
Navigate to hvacjobs.io/tools/salary-widget. You'll see a preview of the widget alongside the configuration options.
Step 2: Select your state
Choose the state where your graduates are most likely to work. If you have campuses in multiple states or draw students from a regional pool, use the national data — it's the most defensible number and it applies everywhere.
Step 3: Optionally select a metro area
If you're in a major market where local wages differ significantly from the state median, you can filter to a city. Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix — any metro with enough OEWS sample size to produce reliable estimates is available.
Step 4: Choose a theme
Light theme works on most program pages. Dark theme is available if your site uses a dark design or you're embedding in a dark-background section.
Step 5: Copy the script tag and paste it into your page
The configurator generates a single line of HTML. Paste it wherever you want the widget to appear — no JavaScript knowledge required beyond knowing how to drop a <script> tag into a page.
The embed code for a Texas program looks like this:
<script async src="https://hvacjobs.io/salary-widget.js" data-state="texas"></script>
For a program targeting Houston specifically, with a dark theme:
<script async src="https://hvacjobs.io/salary-widget.js" data-state="texas" data-city="houston" data-theme="dark"></script>
That's the entire implementation. One tag, no API key, no login.
Why This Matters for Enrollment
Prospective students do research before choosing a training program. They're asking whether the time and tuition are worth it. The salary outcome is one of the first questions they're trying to answer.
Two types of programs answer that question differently:
The first type says something like "HVAC technicians can earn up to $80,000!" That's technically true — the 75th percentile for experienced techs in high-cost markets hits that range — but prospects have gotten good at recognizing when a number is cherry-picked. The word "up to" is a tell.
The second type says "The median annual salary for HVAC technicians in Texas was $58,430 as of May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Starting pay for graduates is typically in the $39,000–$45,000 range, rising with certifications and experience." That's specific, sourced, and credible. It also makes a case without feeling like a sales pitch, which is exactly what skeptical prospects respond to.
The BLS source attribution matters here. Prospects who are comparison-shopping across programs can verify the number independently. That transparency builds credibility. "Our graduates earn $X" is a claim. "BLS data for your state says $X" is a fact the student can check.
Program pages that show this kind of data — with a visible, reputable source — tend to have better conversion rates on inquiry forms. The data answers a question the prospect was going to ask anyway, before they have to pick up the phone or fill out a form.
Technical Details
No account or API key needed. The widget is public infrastructure. You paste the script tag and it works.
Loads asynchronously. The async attribute on the script tag means the widget loads in parallel with the rest of your page content — it doesn't block rendering or slow down your page load time.
Responsive by default. The widget scales to any container width. It works on mobile, tablet, and desktop without configuration.
Two color themes. Light and dark. Both meet WCAG contrast requirements.
Automatic data refresh. BLS publishes updated OEWS data annually, typically in the spring. When new data is available, the widget updates without any action on your end. Your program page will reflect current numbers without you having to remember to update them.
No user tracking. The widget doesn't set cookies or collect information about visitors to your page.
A Note on State-Level Data
State and metro-level OEWS estimates have larger margins of error than the national figures because they're based on smaller sample sizes. For states with fewer HVAC workers in the BLS survey, the estimates can swing 5–10% year over year even when the actual market hasn't changed much.
If your state shows an outlier number that doesn't match what your graduates are actually earning, the national median is a more defensible figure to display. The configurator lets you toggle between national, state, and metro data — use your judgment about which number is most accurate for your context.
The BLS data underlying this widget covers SOC code 49-9021 (Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers). It doesn't break out subsets like refrigeration-only or residential-only technicians. If your program specializes in a narrower specialty, note that context alongside the widget so prospective students understand what the figures represent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the salary widget actually free?
Yes. No account, no credit card, no trial period. The widget is offered free to trade schools, training programs, and any site that wants to display current HVAC salary data.
How often is the salary data updated?
BLS OEWS data is published annually, typically in May. The widget pulls updated figures automatically when new data becomes available — you don't need to change your embed code or touch your page.
Can I show salary data for a specific city instead of the whole state?
Yes. The configurator includes metro-area options for markets where BLS has sufficient sample data to produce reliable estimates. Select the city from the dropdown, and the widget will display metro-specific figures.
Do I need technical staff to install this?
If your site uses a CMS like WordPress, Squarespace, or similar, you just need to be able to add a custom HTML block or edit a page's code section. If you're not comfortable with that, your web developer can paste the one-line script tag in a few minutes.
What if our website doesn't allow third-party scripts?
Some institutional websites have content security policies that restrict external scripts. In that case, contact the HVACJobs.IO team — there's a static embed option that doesn't require a third-party script, using a data snapshot updated on our publish cycle.
Does the widget work on mobile?
Yes. The widget is responsive and scales to any container width. It's been tested on iOS Safari, Chrome for Android, and the major mobile browsers.
Which BLS dataset does the widget use?
The widget uses BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), specifically the May 2024 national and state estimates for SOC 49-9021 (Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers). It will update to May 2025 data when that release becomes available.
Can I customize the widget's appearance beyond light and dark themes?
Not currently. The widget has a fixed layout designed to display cleanly across a range of site designs. If you have specific customization needs, reach out to us.
The configurator is at hvacjobs.io/tools/salary-widget. Takes about two minutes to set up, and once it's on your page, you don't have to touch it again. The data stays current on its own.