How does Rochester HVAC pay compare to the New York average?

Rochester HVAC technicians earn $64,224/year, which is $2,676 below the New York state median of $66,900 (-4%).

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 ~$72,724), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Rochester, New York · HVAC Technician Salary

$64,224/year

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

The median HVAC technician salary in Rochester, New York is $64,224 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $47,526 and $85,418 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Rochester, New York, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $47,526 at the 25th percentile to $85,418 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$47,526

Median

$64,224

75th Percentile

$85,418

vs. State Median

-4%

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	$44,957	$22/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$56,517	$27/hr
Journeymanmedian 5–10 yrs Median — baseline for this city	5–10 yrs	$64,224	$31/hr
Senior Tech 10–15 yrs NATE certification often present	10–15 yrs	$73,858	$36/hr
Lead / Supervisor 15+ yrs Manages crew or service fleet	15+ yrs	$82,207	$40/hr

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

Certification Pay Premium in Rochester

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$67,724/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$72,724/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$68,424/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

With cert: ~$66,224/yr

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

Salary by Specialization in Rochester

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$64,224	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$73,215	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$75,784	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$84,776	+32%
New Construction Install Steady work but lower wages than service-call roles	$60,371	-6%

How Rochester Compares

vs. New York Median

State median: $66,900/yr

-4% (-$2,676)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

+18% (+$9,996)

New York City

Est. median: $85,632/yr

+$21,408

Albany

Est. median: $68,907/yr

+$4,683

Buffalo

Est. median: $62,886/yr

-$1,338

Share your salary — help other techs

Anonymous. Takes 30 seconds. Kept confidential — only aggregated data is published.

Ready to find HVAC jobs in Rochester, New York?

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

Browse HVAC Jobs in Rochester, New York New York salary overview

Other cities in New York:

New York City — $85,632 Albany — $68,907 Buffalo — $62,886 ← New York overview

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