How does Rochester HVAC pay compare to the Minnesota average?

Rochester HVAC technicians earn $65,611/year, which is $1,911 above the Minnesota state median of $63,700 (+3%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Rochester?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Rochester are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$74,111), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Rochester, Minnesota · HVAC Technician Salary

$65,611/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in Rochester, Minnesota?

The median HVAC technician salary in Rochester, Minnesota is $65,611 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $48,552 and $87,263 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Rochester, Minnesota, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $48,552 at the 25th percentile to $87,263 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$48,552

Median

$65,611

75th Percentile

$87,263

vs. State Median

+3%

Salary by Experience Level in Rochester

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$45,928	$22/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$57,738	$28/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

$45,928

Junior Tech

2–5 yrs

EPA 608 Universal typically obtained

$57,738

Journeymanmedian

5–10 yrs

Median — baseline for this city

Live Job Market in Rochester

No active HVAC listings in Rochester right now.

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Certification Pay Premium in Rochester

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$69,111/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$74,111/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$69,811/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

Salary by Specialization in Rochester

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$65,611	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$74,797	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$77,421	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$86,607

How Rochester Compares

vs. Minnesota Median

State median: $63,700/yr

+3% (+$1,911)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

+21% (+$11,383)

Minneapolis

Est. median: $70,070/yr

+$4,459

St. Paul

Est. median: $68,796/yr

+$3,185

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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 Rochester, Minnesota Minnesota salary overview

Other cities in Minnesota:

Minneapolis — $70,070 St. Paul — $68,796 Duluth — $60,515 ← Minnesota overview

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