Richmond, Virginia · HVAC Technician Salary
Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Richmond, Virginia, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $42,520 at the 25th percentile to $76,420 at the 75th.
25th Percentile
$42,520
Median
$57,459
75th Percentile
$76,420
vs. State Median
+7%
| Level | Est. Annual |
|---|---|
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs | $40,221 |
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs | $50,564 |
Journeymanmedian 5–10 yrs | $57,459 |
Senior Tech 10–15 yrs | $66,078 |
Lead / Supervisor 15+ yrs | $73,548 |
Estimates apply BLS-observed seniority wage progression ratios to the Richmond median. Actual pay depends on employer, company size, and specialization.
Required for any refrigerant work; universal vs. type-specific adds ~$1K
With cert: ~$60,959/yr
Fewer than 10% of techs hold NATE — scarcity drives the premium
With cert: ~$65,959/yr
Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it
With cert: ~$61,659/yr
Opens commercial and government service contracts
With cert: ~$59,459/yr
Premiums are additive and reflect national averages adjusted to the Richmond wage level. Source: ACCA salary survey 2024.
| Specialization | Est. Median |
|---|---|
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area | $57,459 |
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity | $65,503 |
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium | $67,802 |
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin | $75,846 |
New Construction Install Steady work but lower wages than service-call roles | $54,011 |
vs. Virginia Median
State median: $53,700/yr
vs. National Median
National: $54,228/yr
Est. median: $61,755/yr
Est. median: $55,848/yr
Est. median: $54,774/yr
Anonymous. Takes 30 seconds. Kept confidential — only aggregated data is published.
Every listing on HVACJobs.IO shows the actual salary — no "competitive pay" guessing.
Other cities in Virginia:
Data source: BLS OEWS 2024, SOC 49-9021 · Metro-area adjustment applied · Last updated 2026