How does Princeton HVAC pay compare to the New Jersey average?

Princeton HVAC technicians earn $71,720/year, which is $6,520 above the New Jersey state median of $65,200 (+10%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Princeton?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Princeton are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$80,220), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Princeton, New Jersey · HVAC Technician Salary

$71,720/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in Princeton, New Jersey?

The median HVAC technician salary in Princeton, New Jersey is $71,720 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $53,073 and $95,388 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Princeton, New Jersey, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $53,073 at the 25th percentile to $95,388 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$53,073

Median

$71,720

75th Percentile

$95,388

vs. State Median

+10%

Salary by Experience Level in Princeton

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$50,204	$24/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$63,114	$30/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

$50,204

Junior Tech

2–5 yrs

EPA 608 Universal typically obtained

$63,114

Journeymanmedian

5–10 yrs

Median — baseline for this city

Live Job Market in Princeton

No active HVAC listings in Princeton right now.

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Certification Pay Premium in Princeton

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$75,220/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$80,220/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$75,920/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

Salary by Specialization in Princeton

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$71,720	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$81,761	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$84,630	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$94,670

How Princeton Compares

vs. New Jersey Median

State median: $65,200/yr

+10% (+$6,520)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

+32% (+$17,492)

Jersey City

Est. median: $75,632/yr

+$3,912

Newark

Est. median: $74,328/yr

+$2,608

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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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Other cities in New Jersey:

Jersey City — $75,632 Newark — $74,328 Trenton — $69,112 ← New Jersey overview

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