National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Accountants earn a national median of $79,880/year vs HVAC Technicians at $57,620/year. Accountants earn 28% more nationally. The gap is $22,260 per year — or $1,855 per month.
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Accountant
$79,880
national median/year
$6,657/mo • $38/hr
VS
HVAC Technician
$57,620
national median/year
$4,802/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$22,260
Accountants earn 28% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $252,324.
Best states for HVAC Technicians
vs Accountants
Hawaii+$300
Alaska+$-5,700
Maine+$-11,700
Nevada+$-11,700
Oregon+$-11,700
Best states for Accountants
vs HVAC Technicians
California+$24,700
Connecticut+$23,700
New York+$23,700
Texas+$23,700
Florida+$21,700
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Accountants earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Accountants is $79,880 versus $57,620 for HVAC Technicians — a difference of $22,260 per year or $1,855 per month.
The national median salary gap between Accountants and HVAC Technicians is $22,260 per year. Accountants earn 28% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $252,324.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Accountants the highest median salary at $98,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Hawaii pays HVAC Technicians the highest median salary at $74,620 per year.
Salary is one factor — Accountants earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Accountants and Auditors and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Accountants earn approximately $38 per hour nationally and HVAC Technicians earn approximately $28 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
