How does San Jose HVAC pay compare to the California average?

San Jose HVAC technicians earn $72,334/year, which is $11,034 above the California state median of $61,300 (+18%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in San Jose?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in San Jose are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$80,834), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

San Jose, California · HVAC Technician Salary

$72,334/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in San Jose, California?

The median HVAC technician salary in San Jose, California is $72,334 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $53,527 and $96,204 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in San Jose, California, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $53,527 at the 25th percentile to $96,204 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$53,527

Median

$72,334

75th Percentile

$96,204

vs. State Median

+18%

Salary by Experience Level in San Jose

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$50,634	$24/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$63,654	$31/hr
Journeymanmedian 5–10 yrs Median — baseline for this city	5–10 yrs	$72,334	$35/hr
Senior Tech 10–15 yrs NATE certification often present	10–15 yrs	$83,184	$40/hr
Lead / Supervisor 15+ yrs Manages crew or service fleet	15+ yrs	$92,588	$45/hr

Estimates apply BLS-observed seniority wage progression ratios to the San Jose median. Actual pay depends on employer, company size, and specialization.

Certification Pay Premium in San Jose

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$75,834/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$80,834/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$76,534/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

With cert: ~$74,334/yr

Premiums are additive and reflect national averages adjusted to the San Jose wage level. Source: ACCA salary survey 2024.

Salary by Specialization in San Jose

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$72,334	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$82,461	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$85,354	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$95,481	+32%
New Construction Install Steady work but lower wages than service-call roles	$67,994	-6%

How San Jose Compares

vs. California Median

State median: $61,300/yr

+18% (+$11,034)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

+33% (+$18,106)

San Francisco

Est. median: $74,786/yr

+$2,452

Los Angeles

Est. median: $68,656/yr

-$3,678

San Diego

Est. median: $66,204/yr

-$6,130

Sacramento

Est. median: $63,752/yr

-$8,582

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Other cities in California:

San Francisco — $74,786 Los Angeles — $68,656 San Diego — $66,204 Sacramento — $63,752 ← California overview

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