How does Helena HVAC pay compare to the Montana average?

Helena HVAC technicians earn $50,298/year, which is $498 above the Montana state median of $49,800 (+1%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Helena?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Helena are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$58,798), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Helena, Montana · HVAC Technician Salary

$50,298/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in Helena, Montana?

The median HVAC technician salary in Helena, Montana is $50,298 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $37,221 and $66,896 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Helena, Montana, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $37,221 at the 25th percentile to $66,896 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$37,221

Median

$50,298

75th Percentile

$66,896

vs. State Median

+1%

Salary by Experience Level in Helena

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$35,209	$17/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$44,262	$21/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

$35,209

Junior Tech

2–5 yrs

EPA 608 Universal typically obtained

$44,262

Journeymanmedian

5–10 yrs

Median — baseline for this city

Live Job Market in Helena

No active HVAC listings in Helena right now.

See all Montana HVAC jobs

Certification Pay Premium in Helena

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$53,798/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$58,798/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$54,498/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

Salary by Specialization in Helena

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$50,298	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$57,340	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$59,352	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$66,393

How Helena Compares

vs. Montana Median

State median: $49,800/yr

+1% (+$498)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

-7% (-$3,930)

Billings

Est. median: $52,290/yr

+$1,992

Missoula

Est. median: $51,294/yr

+$996

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 Helena, Montana?

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

Browse HVAC Jobs in Helena, Montana Montana salary overview

Other cities in Montana:

Billings — $52,290 Missoula — $51,294 Great Falls — $48,306 ← Montana overview

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