How does Grand Forks HVAC pay compare to the North Dakota average?

Grand Forks HVAC technicians earn $52,038/year, which is $1,062 below the North Dakota state median of $53,100 (-2%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Grand Forks?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Grand Forks are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$60,538), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Grand Forks, North Dakota · HVAC Technician Salary

$52,038/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in Grand Forks, North Dakota?

The median HVAC technician salary in Grand Forks, North Dakota is $52,038 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $38,508 and $69,211 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Grand Forks, North Dakota, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $38,508 at the 25th percentile to $69,211 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$38,508

Median

$52,038

75th Percentile

$69,211

vs. State Median

-2%

Salary by Experience Level in Grand Forks

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$36,427	$18/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$45,793	$22/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

$36,427

Junior Tech

2–5 yrs

EPA 608 Universal typically obtained

$45,793

Journeymanmedian

5–10 yrs

Median — baseline for this city

Live Job Market in Grand Forks

No active HVAC listings in Grand Forks right now.

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Certification Pay Premium in Grand Forks

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$55,538/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$60,538/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$56,238/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

Salary by Specialization in Grand Forks

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$52,038	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$59,323	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$61,405	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$68,690

How Grand Forks Compares

vs. North Dakota Median

State median: $53,100/yr

-2% (-$1,062)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

-4% (-$2,190)

Fargo

Est. median: $56,286/yr

+$4,248

Minot

Est. median: $55,224/yr

+$3,186

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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 Grand Forks, North Dakota North Dakota salary overview

Other cities in North Dakota:

Fargo — $56,286 Minot — $55,224 Bismarck — $54,693 ← North Dakota overview

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