National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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HVAC Technicians earn a national median of $57,620/year vs Pilots at $203,010/year. Pilots earn 252% more nationally. The gap is $145,390 per year — or $12,116 per month.
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HVAC Technician
$57,620
national median/year
$4,802/mo • $28/hr
VS
Pilot
$203,010
national median/year
$16,918/mo • $98/hr
Annual salary gap
$145,390
Pilots earn 252% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,648,038.
Best states for Pilots
vs HVAC Technicians
California+$164,390
Virginia+$155,390
Maryland+$153,390
New York+$153,390
Washington+$153,390
Best states for HVAC Technicians
vs Pilots
West Virginia+$-103,390
Arkansas+$-107,390
Mississippi+$-107,390
North Dakota+$-109,390
South Dakota+$-111,390
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Pilots earn more nationally. The median annual salary for HVAC Technicians is $57,620 versus $203,010 for Pilots — a difference of $145,390 per year or $12,116 per month.
The national median salary gap between HVAC Technicians and Pilots is $145,390 per year. Pilots earn 252% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,648,038.
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 Pilots the highest median salary at $238,010 per year.
Salary is one factor — Pilots 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 Airline and Commercial Pilots 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 Pilots earn approximately $98 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.
