How does Madison HVAC pay compare to the Wisconsin average?

Madison HVAC technicians earn $60,822/year, which is $5,022 above the Wisconsin state median of $55,800 (+9%).

What certifications increase HVAC pay in Madison?

The highest-value certifications for HVAC technicians in Madison are: NATE Certified (+$8,500/yr, raising pay to ~$69,322), State Journeyman License (+$4,200/yr), EPA 608 Universal (+$3,500/yr), and OSHA 30 (+$2,000/yr for commercial contract access).

Madison, Wisconsin · HVAC Technician Salary

$60,822/year

Q: What is the average HVAC salary in Madison, Wisconsin?

The median HVAC technician salary in Madison, Wisconsin is $60,822 per year, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). The middle 50% of technicians in the area earn between $45,008 and $80,893 annually.

Median annual salary for HVAC mechanics and installers in Madison, Wisconsin, estimated from BLS OEWS 2024 metro-area data (SOC 49-9021). Salaries range from $45,008 at the 25th percentile to $80,893 at the 75th.

25th Percentile

$45,008

Median

$60,822

75th Percentile

$80,893

vs. State Median

+9%

Salary by Experience Level in Madison

Level	Experience	Est. Annual	Est. Hourly
Apprentice / Helper 0–2 yrs Will train; EPA 608 not yet required	0–2 yrs	$42,575	$20/hr
Junior Tech 2–5 yrs EPA 608 Universal typically obtained	2–5 yrs	$53,523	$26/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

$42,575

Junior Tech

2–5 yrs

EPA 608 Universal typically obtained

$53,523

Journeymanmedian

5–10 yrs

Median — baseline for this city

Live Job Market in Madison

No active HVAC listings in Madison right now.

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Certification Pay Premium in Madison

EPA 608 Universal+$3,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$64,322/yr

NATE Certified+$8,500/yr

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

With cert: ~$69,322/yr

State Journeyman License+$4,200/yr

Required in ~30 states; often the ceiling without it

With cert: ~$65,022/yr

OSHA 30+$2,000/yr

Opens commercial and government service contracts

Salary by Specialization in Madison

Specialization	Est. Median	vs. Residential
Residential Service Baseline — most common role in the area	$60,822	baseline
Commercial HVAC RTUs, chillers, AHUs — more system complexity	$69,337	+14%
Refrigeration Supermarket and cold-chain specialists command a consistent premium	$71,770	+18%
Controls / BMS Building automation is the highest-paying specialty by a wide margin	$80,285

How Madison Compares

vs. Wisconsin Median

State median: $55,800/yr

+9% (+$5,022)

vs. National Median

National: $54,228/yr

+12% (+$6,594)

Milwaukee

Est. median: $59,148/yr

-$1,674

Kenosha

Est. median: $57,474/yr

-$3,348

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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 Madison, Wisconsin Wisconsin salary overview

Other cities in Wisconsin:

Milwaukee — $59,148 Kenosha — $57,474 Green Bay — $54,684 ← Wisconsin overview

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