How does Columbia HVAC pay compare to the Maryland average?

Columbia HVAC technicians earn $61,268/year, which is $3,468 above the Maryland state median of $57,800 (+6%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Columbia?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Columbia are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$69,768), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Columbia, Maryland · HVAC Technician Salary

$61,268/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in Columbia, Maryland?

The median HVAC technician salary in Columbia, Maryland is $61,268 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $45,338 and $81,486 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Columbia, Maryland, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $45,338 at the 25th percentile to $81,486 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$45,338

Median

$61,268

75th Percentile

$81,486

vs. State Median

+6%

Salary by Experience Level in Columbia

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$42,888	$21/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$53,916	$26/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

$42,888

Junior Tech

2–5 yrs

EPA 608 Universal typically obtained

$53,916

Journeymanmedian

5–10 yrs

Median — baseline for this city

Live Job Market in Columbia

No active HVAC listings in Columbia right now.

See all Maryland HVAC jobs

Certification Pay Premium in Columbia

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$64,768/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$69,768/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$65,468/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

Salary by Specialization in Columbia

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$61,268	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$69,846	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$72,296	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$80,874

How Columbia Compares

vs. Maryland Median

State median: $57,800/yr

+6% (+$3,468)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

+13% (+$7,040)

Bethesda

Est. median: $68,204/yr

+$6,936

Baltimore

Est. median: $62,424/yr

+$1,156

Share your salary — help other techs

Anonymous. Takes 30 seconds. Kept confidential — only aggregated data is published.

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.

Ready to find HVAC jobs in Columbia, Maryland?

Every listing on HVACJobs.IO shows the actual salary — no "competitive pay" guessing.

Browse HVAC Jobs in Columbia, Maryland Maryland salary overview

Other cities in Maryland:

Bethesda — $68,204 Baltimore — $62,424 Frederick — $59,534 ← Maryland overview

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