How does Fort Smith HVAC pay compare to the Arkansas average?

Fort Smith HVAC technicians earn $43,456/year, which is $1,344 below the Arkansas state median of $44,800 (-3%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Fort Smith?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Fort Smith are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$51,956), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Fort Smith, Arkansas · HVAC Technician Salary

$43,456/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

The median HVAC technician salary in Fort Smith, Arkansas is $43,456 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $32,157 and $57,796 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Fort Smith, Arkansas, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $32,157 at the 25th percentile to $57,796 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$32,157

Median

$43,456

75th Percentile

$57,796

vs. State Median

-3%

Salary by Experience Level in Fort Smith

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$30,419	$15/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$38,241	$18/hr
Journeymanmedian 5–10 yrs Median — baseline for this city	5–10 yrs

Level

Est. Annual

Apprentice / Helper

0–2 yrs

Will train; EPA 608 not yet required

$30,419

Junior Tech

2–5 yrs

EPA 608 Universal typically obtained

$38,241

Journeymanmedian

5–10 yrs

Median — baseline for this city

Live Job Market in Fort Smith

No active HVAC listings in Fort Smith right now.

See all Arkansas HVAC jobs

Certification Pay Premium in Fort Smith

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

Required for any refrigerant work; universal vs. type-specific adds ~$1K

With cert: ~$46,956/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

Fewer than 10% of techs hold NATE — scarcity drives the premium

With cert: ~$51,956/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$47,656/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

Salary by Specialization in Fort Smith

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$43,456	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$49,540	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$51,278	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$57,362

How Fort Smith Compares

vs. Arkansas Median

State median: $44,800/yr

-3% (-$1,344)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

-20% (-$10,772)

Little Rock

Est. median: $47,488/yr

+$4,032

Fayetteville

Est. median: $46,592/yr

+$3,136

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Data Sources

City salary estimate derived from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021) with metro-area wage adjustment factors. Certification premiums from ACCA contractor salary survey 2024. Live listing data from HVACJobs.IO employer-posted positions with verified salary ranges.

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Browse HVAC Jobs in Fort Smith, Arkansas Arkansas salary overview

Other cities in Arkansas:

Little Rock — $47,488 Fayetteville — $46,592 Jonesboro — $43,008 ← Arkansas overview

Data source: BLS OEWS 2024, SOC 49-9021 · Metro-area adjustment applied · Last updated 2026