What is the average HVAC salary in Salem, Oregon?

The median HVAC technician salary in Salem, Oregon is $58,588 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $43,355 and $77,922 annually.

How does Salem HVAC pay compare to the Oregon average?

Salem HVAC technicians earn $58,588/year, which is $1,812 below the Oregon state median of $60,400 (-3%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Salem?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Salem are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$67,088), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Salem, Oregon · HVAC Technician Salary

$58,588/year

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Salem, Oregon, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $43,355 at the 25th percentile to $77,922 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$43,355

Median

$58,588

75th Percentile

$77,922

vs. State Median

-3%

Salary by Experience Level in Salem

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$41,012	$20/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$51,557	$25/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

$41,012

Junior Tech

2–5 yrs

EPA 608 Universal typically obtained

$51,557

Journeymanmedian

5–10 yrs

Median — baseline for this city

Live Job Market in Salem

No active HVAC listings in Salem right now.

See all Oregon HVAC jobs

Certification Pay Premium in Salem

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$62,088/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$67,088/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$62,788/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

Salary by Specialization in Salem

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$58,588	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$66,790	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$69,134	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$77,336

How Salem Compares

vs. Oregon Median

State median: $60,400/yr

-3% (-$1,812)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

+8% (+$4,360)

Portland

Est. median: $67,648/yr

+$9,060

Bend

Est. median: $63,420/yr

+$4,832

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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 Salem, Oregon Oregon salary overview

Other cities in Oregon:

Portland — $67,648 Bend — $63,420 Eugene — $59,796 ← Oregon overview

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