Rent Affordability for HVAC Technicians in the US
As of May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024. Rent: ZORI monthly.
National avg salary
$57,300/yr
Gross monthly
$4,775
Affordable rent (30% rule)
$1,433/mo
HVAC technician pay sits near the US median household income and rises sharply with certification and overtime. At the national-average HVAC salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,433 a month in rent.
Where rent is most affordable: states with the highest hvac technician pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $71,625/yr | $1,791/mo | View cities › |
| California | $67,614/yr | $1,690/mo | View cities › |
| Massachusetts | $66,468/yr | $1,662/mo | View cities › |
| New York | $65,322/yr | $1,633/mo | View cities › |
| Alaska | $64,176/yr | $1,604/mo | View cities › |
| New Jersey | $64,176/yr | $1,604/mo | View cities › |
| Washington | $64,176/yr | $1,604/mo | View cities › |
| Connecticut | $63,030/yr | $1,576/mo | View cities › |
| Hawaii | $61,884/yr | $1,547/mo | View cities › |
| Maryland | $61,884/yr | $1,547/mo | View cities › |
Where rent stretches the salary furthest: states with the lowest hvac technician pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $46,413/yr | $1,160/mo | View cities › |
| Arkansas | $47,559/yr | $1,189/mo | View cities › |
| West Virginia | $48,705/yr | $1,218/mo | View cities › |
| Alabama | $49,278/yr | $1,232/mo | View cities › |
| Louisiana | $49,851/yr | $1,246/mo | View cities › |
| South Dakota | $50,424/yr | $1,261/mo | View cities › |
| South Carolina | $50,424/yr | $1,261/mo | View cities › |
| Oklahoma | $50,424/yr | $1,261/mo | View cities › |
| Montana | $50,424/yr | $1,261/mo | View cities › |
| Kentucky | $50,424/yr | $1,261/mo | View cities › |
All states
District of ColumbiaCaliforniaMassachusettsNew YorkAlaskaNew JerseyWashingtonConnecticutHawaiiMarylandColoradoMinnesotaOregonRhode IslandNew HampshireDelawareIllinoisVirginiaPennsylvaniaTexasArizonaNevadaNorth DakotaVermontMichiganUtahGeorgiaWisconsinNorth CarolinaOhioWyomingFloridaMaineNebraskaIndianaIowaMissouriTennesseeKansasNew MexicoIdahoKentuckyMontanaOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaLouisianaAlabamaWest VirginiaArkansasMississippi
Frequently asked questions
Can an HVAC technician afford rent in most US cities?
In most lower- and mid-cost US metros, yes, especially with overtime. High-cost coastal markets typically push the math above the 30% threshold.
What rent can an HVAC tech afford?
At the BLS national mean of $57,300, the 30% rule supports about $1,433 a month in rent.