How does Boston HVAC pay compare to the Massachusetts average?

Boston HVAC technicians earn $78,660/year, which is $10,260 above the Massachusetts state median of $68,400 (+15%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Boston?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Boston are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$87,160), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Boston, Massachusetts · HVAC Technician Salary

$78,660/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in Boston, Massachusetts?

The median HVAC technician salary in Boston, Massachusetts is $78,660 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $58,208 and $104,618 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Boston, Massachusetts, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $58,208 at the 25th percentile to $104,618 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$58,208

Median

$78,660

75th Percentile

$104,618

vs. State Median

+15%

Salary by Experience Level in Boston

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$55,062	$26/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$69,221	$33/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

$55,062

Junior Tech

2–5 yrs

EPA 608 Universal typically obtained

$69,221

Journeymanmedian

5–10 yrs

Median — baseline for this city

Live Job Market in Boston

No active HVAC listings in Boston right now.

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Certification Pay Premium in Boston

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$82,160/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$87,160/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$82,860/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

Salary by Specialization in Boston

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$78,660	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$89,672	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$92,819	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$103,831

How Boston Compares

vs. Massachusetts Median

State median: $68,400/yr

+15% (+$10,260)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

+45% (+$24,432)

Cambridge

Est. median: $80,712/yr

+$2,052

Worcester

Est. median: $67,032/yr

-$11,628

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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 Boston, Massachusetts Massachusetts salary overview

Other cities in Massachusetts:

Cambridge — $80,712 Worcester — $67,032 Springfield — $64,980 ← Massachusetts overview

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