National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
Compare a different job:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Electricians earn a national median of $61,590/year vs HVAC Technicians at $57,620/year. Electricians earn 6% more nationally. The gap is $3,970 per year — or $331 per month.
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Electrician
$61,590
national median/year
$5,133/mo • $30/hr
VS
HVAC Technician
$57,620
national median/year
$4,802/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$3,970
Electricians earn 6% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $45,001.
Best states for HVAC Technicians
vs Electricians
Virginia+$2,300
North Carolina+$300
South Carolina+$300
Arizona+$-1,700
Idaho+$-1,700
Best states for Electricians
vs HVAC Technicians
North Dakota+$13,700
Alaska+$11,700
Hawaii+$9,700
Illinois+$9,700
Missouri+$9,700
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Electricians earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Electricians is $61,590 versus $57,620 for HVAC Technicians — a difference of $3,970 per year or $331 per month.
The national median salary gap between Electricians and HVAC Technicians is $3,970 per year. Electricians earn 6% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $45,001.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Alaska pays Electricians the highest median salary at $84,320 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 — Electricians earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Electricians 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, Electricians earn approximately $30 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.
