How does St. Louis HVAC pay compare to the Missouri average?

St. Louis HVAC technicians earn $55,220/year, which is $5,020 above the Missouri state median of $50,200 (+10%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in St. Louis?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in St. Louis are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$63,720), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

St. Louis, Missouri · HVAC Technician Salary

$55,220/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in St. Louis, Missouri?

The median HVAC technician salary in St. Louis, Missouri is $55,220 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $40,863 and $73,443 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in St. Louis, Missouri, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $40,863 at the 25th percentile to $73,443 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$40,863

Median

$55,220

75th Percentile

$73,443

vs. State Median

+10%

Salary by Experience Level in St. Louis

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$38,654	$19/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$48,594	$23/hr
Journeymanmedian 5–10 yrs Median — baseline for this city	5–10 yrs	$55,220	$27/hr
Senior Tech 10–15 yrs NATE certification often present	10–15 yrs	$63,503	$31/hr
Lead / Supervisor 15+ yrs Manages crew or service fleet	15+ yrs	$70,682	$34/hr

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

Certification Pay Premium in St. Louis

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$58,720/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$63,720/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$59,420/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

With cert: ~$57,220/yr

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

Salary by Specialization in St. Louis

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$55,220	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$62,951	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$65,160	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$72,890	+32%
New Construction Install Steady work but lower wages than service-call roles	$51,907	-6%

How St. Louis Compares

vs. Missouri Median

State median: $50,200/yr

+10% (+$5,020)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

+2% (+$992)

Kansas City

Est. median: $54,216/yr

-$1,004

Springfield

Est. median: $47,690/yr

-$7,530

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Other cities in Missouri:

Kansas City — $54,216 Springfield — $47,690 ← Missouri overview

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