HVAC technician salary in Tennessee: what HVAC technicians earn in 2026
HVAC technicians in Tennessee earn a median of $55,490 a year — $5,520 below the national median. State wage and employment data from the BLS, plus what it means if you're hiring.
By Westie · Chief Culture Officer, HireAligned ·
What does an HVAC technician make in Tennessee?
The median wage for HVAC technicians in Tennessee is $55,490 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. That is $5,520 below the national median of $61,010, putting Tennessee 45th of 51 jurisdictions on HVAC technician pay. About 9,740 HVAC technicians work in the state.
| Measure | Tennessee | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $55,490 | $61,010 |
| HVAC technicians employed | 9,740 | 409,670 |
| Rank on pay | 45th of 51 | — |
| Rank on workforce size | 14th of 51 | — |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 49-9021 (Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers).
What that number means if you're hiring in Tennessee
Tennessee pays HVAC technicians below the national median. That reads as an advantage on paper, but your competition for these HVAC technicians is local — you are bidding against the shop down the road, not against the national average. Tennessee sits 14th in the country by workforce size — a mid-sized pool, deep enough to hire from consistently but not so deep that a slow process goes unpunished.
Two caveats worth holding onto. The state median is a lagging figure — OEWS data reflects May 2025, and in a market where trades wages have been climbing, a year-old median can already sit under the live rate. And within-state variation between a major metro and a rural county is routinely wider than the gap between two states, so benchmark to the metro you actually hire in and treat $55,490 as your floor.
How Tennessee compares on HVAC technician pay
The states closest to Tennessee on median HVAC technician pay:
- HVAC technician salary in Georgia — $56,390 (12,290 HVAC technicians)
- HVAC technician salary in Idaho — $56,240 (4,550 HVAC technicians)
- HVAC technician salary in Wyoming — $54,700 (690 HVAC technicians)
- HVAC technician salary in New Mexico — $50,270 (1,950 HVAC technicians)
For the full ranking of all 51 jurisdictions, see HVAC technician salary by state. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers covers the demand side.
Filling the seat, not just pricing it
Knowing your state's number keeps you from underbidding the market and losing candidates you never heard from. It will not, on its own, fill the truck. The shops that hire fastest in Tennessee are the ones already talking to HVAC technicians before a seat opens, so the job starts with a shortlist instead of a blank post and a six-week wait.
That is the always-on approach we run for plumbing and HVAC businesses. See how done-for-you hiring works, or build the pipeline yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average HVAC technician salary in Tennessee?+
The median wage for HVAC technicians in Tennessee is $55,490 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. That is $5,520 below the national median of $61,010. Half of HVAC technicians in Tennessee earn more than that figure and half earn less.
How many HVAC technicians work in Tennessee?+
Tennessee employs about 9,740 HVAC technicians, out of roughly 409,670 nationally — a mid-sized workforce by national standards, ranking 14th of 51 jurisdictions by workforce size. Pool depth matters more than the headline wage when you are deciding how hard a role will be to fill.
Is $55,490 enough to hire an HVAC technician in Tennessee?+
Treat it as a floor rather than a target. The state median is a lagging, statewide figure, and within-state variation between a major metro and a rural county is routinely larger than the gap between two states. Benchmark to the metro you actually hire in, and check your response time before assuming a wage problem — a qualified HVAC technician who waits three days for a callback has usually taken another offer.