How does Brookings HVAC pay compare to the South Dakota average?

Brookings HVAC technicians earn $49,098/year, which is $1,002 below the South Dakota state median of $50,100 (-2%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Brookings?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Brookings are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$57,598), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Brookings, South Dakota · HVAC Technician Salary

$49,098/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in Brookings, South Dakota?

The median HVAC technician salary in Brookings, South Dakota is $49,098 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $36,333 and $65,300 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Brookings, South Dakota, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $36,333 at the 25th percentile to $65,300 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$36,333

Median

$49,098

75th Percentile

$65,300

vs. State Median

-2%

Salary by Experience Level in Brookings

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$34,369	$17/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$43,206	$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

$34,369

Junior Tech

2–5 yrs

EPA 608 Universal typically obtained

$43,206

Journeymanmedian

5–10 yrs

Median — baseline for this city

Live Job Market in Brookings

No active HVAC listings in Brookings right now.

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Certification Pay Premium in Brookings

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$52,598/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$57,598/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$53,298/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

Salary by Specialization in Brookings

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$49,098	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$55,972	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$57,936	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$64,809

How Brookings Compares

vs. South Dakota Median

State median: $50,100/yr

-2% (-$1,002)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

-9% (-$5,130)

Sioux Falls

Est. median: $53,106/yr

+$4,008

Rapid City

Est. median: $51,102/yr

+$2,004

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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 Brookings, South Dakota South Dakota salary overview

Other cities in South Dakota:

Sioux Falls — $53,106 Rapid City — $51,102 Aberdeen — $48,096 ← South Dakota overview

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