National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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HVAC Technicians earn a national median of $57,620/year vs Paralegals at $59,200/year. Paralegals earn 3% more nationally. The gap is $1,580 per year — or $132 per month.
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HVAC Technician
$57,620
national median/year
$4,802/mo • $28/hr
VS
Paralegal
$59,200
national median/year
$4,933/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$1,580
Paralegals earn 3% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $17,910.
Best states for Paralegals
vs HVAC Technicians
Florida+$3,580
Georgia+$3,580
Maryland+$3,580
California+$2,580
Colorado+$1,580
Best states for HVAC Technicians
vs Paralegals
Alaska+$16,420
Hawaii+$12,420
West Virginia+$8,420
Wyoming+$8,420
North Dakota+$6,420
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Paralegals earn more nationally. The median annual salary for HVAC Technicians is $57,620 versus $59,200 for Paralegals — a difference of $1,580 per year or $132 per month.
The national median salary gap between HVAC Technicians and Paralegals is $1,580 per year. Paralegals earn 3% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $17,910.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Hawaii pays HVAC Technicians the highest median salary at $74,620 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Paralegals the highest median salary at $76,200 per year.
Salary is one factor — Paralegals earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Paralegals and Legal Assistants 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, HVAC Technicians earn approximately $28 per hour nationally and Paralegals 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.
