How does Arlington HVAC pay compare to the Virginia average?

Arlington HVAC technicians earn $61,755/year, which is $8,055 above the Virginia state median of $53,700 (+15%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Arlington?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Arlington are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$70,255), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Arlington, Virginia · HVAC Technician Salary

$61,755/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in Arlington, Virginia?

The median HVAC technician salary in Arlington, Virginia is $61,755 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $45,699 and $82,134 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Arlington, Virginia, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $45,699 at the 25th percentile to $82,134 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$45,699

Median

$61,755

75th Percentile

$82,134

vs. State Median

+15%

Salary by Experience Level in Arlington

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$43,229	$21/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$54,344	$26/hr
Journeymanmedian 5–10 yrs Median — baseline for this city	5–10 yrs	$61,755	$30/hr
Senior Tech 10–15 yrs NATE certification often present	10–15 yrs	$71,018	$34/hr
Lead / Supervisor 15+ yrs Manages crew or service fleet	15+ yrs	$79,046	$38/hr

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

Certification Pay Premium in Arlington

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$65,255/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$70,255/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$65,955/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

With cert: ~$63,755/yr

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

Salary by Specialization in Arlington

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$61,755	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$70,401	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$72,871	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$81,517	+32%
New Construction Install Steady work but lower wages than service-call roles	$58,050	-6%

How Arlington Compares

vs. Virginia Median

State median: $53,700/yr

+15% (+$8,055)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

+14% (+$7,527)

Richmond

Est. median: $57,459/yr

-$4,296

Virginia Beach

Est. median: $55,848/yr

-$5,907

Norfolk

Est. median: $54,774/yr

-$6,981

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Other cities in Virginia:

Richmond — $57,459 Virginia Beach — $55,848 Norfolk — $54,774 ← Virginia overview

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