National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
Compare a different job:
VS
QUICK ANSWER
Police Officers earn a national median of $72,280/year vs HVAC Technicians at $57,620/year. Police Officers earn 20% more nationally. The gap is $14,660 per year — or $1,222 per month.
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Police Officer
$72,280
national median/year
$6,023/mo • $35/hr
VS
HVAC Technician
$57,620
national median/year
$4,802/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$14,660
Police Officers earn 20% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $166,175.
Best states for HVAC Technicians
vs Police Officers
Maine+$-1,700
North Carolina+$-1,700
South Carolina+$-1,700
Virginia+$-1,700
West Virginia+$-1,700
Best states for Police Officers
vs HVAC Technicians
California+$34,700
New Jersey+$21,700
Connecticut+$19,700
Massachusetts+$17,700
Alaska+$15,700
Share Your Result
Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family
Police Officers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Police Officers is $72,280 versus $57,620 for HVAC Technicians — a difference of $14,660 per year or $1,222 per month.
The national median salary gap between Police Officers and HVAC Technicians is $14,660 per year. Police Officers earn 20% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $166,175.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Police Officers the highest median salary at $108,320 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 — Police Officers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 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, Police Officers earn approximately $35 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.
