How does Fort Wayne HVAC pay compare to the Indiana average?

Fort Wayne HVAC technicians earn $49,664/year, which is $1,536 below the Indiana state median of $51,200 (-3%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Fort Wayne?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Fort Wayne are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$58,164), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Fort Wayne, Indiana · HVAC Technician Salary

$49,664/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in Fort Wayne, Indiana?

The median HVAC technician salary in Fort Wayne, Indiana is $49,664 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $36,751 and $66,053 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Fort Wayne, Indiana, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $36,751 at the 25th percentile to $66,053 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$36,751

Median

$49,664

75th Percentile

$66,053

vs. State Median

-3%

Salary by Experience Level in Fort Wayne

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$34,765	$17/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$43,704	$21/hr
Journeymanmedian 5–10 yrs Median — baseline for this city	5–10 yrs	$49,664	$24/hr
Senior Tech 10–15 yrs NATE certification often present	10–15 yrs	$57,114	$27/hr
Lead / Supervisor 15+ yrs Manages crew or service fleet	15+ yrs	$63,570	$31/hr

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

Certification Pay Premium in Fort Wayne

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$53,164/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$58,164/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$53,864/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

With cert: ~$51,664/yr

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

Salary by Specialization in Fort Wayne

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$49,664	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$56,617	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$58,604	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$65,556	+32%
New Construction Install Steady work but lower wages than service-call roles	$46,684	-6%

How Fort Wayne Compares

vs. Indiana Median

State median: $51,200/yr

-3% (-$1,536)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

-8% (-$4,564)

Indianapolis

Est. median: $54,784/yr

+$5,120

Evansville

Est. median: $49,152/yr

-$512

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Other cities in Indiana:

Indianapolis — $54,784 Evansville — $49,152 ← Indiana overview

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