2025’s Best Metro Areas for HVAC Technicians

The HVAC industry is turning up the heat, with job opportunities growing faster than the national average. But while demand for skilled technicians soars, a labor shortage is leaving some areas out in the cold.

So, where can HVAC pros find the hottest career prospects?

Home Gnome ranked 2025’s Best Metro Areas for HVAC Technicians to mark February as National Care About Your Indoor Air Month.

We compared 380 of the biggest U.S. metros based on 3 categories. More specifically, we looked at average hourly wages for HVAC technicians, projected industry growth, and HVAC jobs per 1,000 total jobs, among 9 total metrics.

Check out our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the metros, see our methodology.

Quick Stats

HVAC Hotspots: The top 10 metros for HVAC technicians span diverse climates but share strong industry demand — 3 are in Utah, while major metro areas like Chicago (No. 1), New York (No. 4), and Dallas-Fort Worth (No. 7) lead the way in workforce opportunities.

Island vs. Ice: Hawaii boasts some of the highest HVAC wages but falls toward the bottom of the ranking, with Honolulu (No. 285) and Kahului (No. 353) offering around $36 per hour. Meanwhile, Alaska’s Anchorage (No. 20) offers $37.55 per hour on average, and Fairbanks (No. 15) provides around $34.71 per hour, falling near the top of the ranking.

Florida’s HVAC Boom: With industry growth projected at nearly 17% through 2032, the Sunshine State is a hotbed for HVAC opportunities. Miami (No. 24) and Jacksonville (No. 68) rank among the top metros, while Naples (No. 31) boasts the second-highest concentration of HVAC jobs.

The Leaderboard

See how each metro fared in our ranking:

The Best Metro Areas for HVAC Technicians

Chicago skyline lit up at night — **No. 1:** Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | **Overall Score:** 38.4

**Number of Local HVAC Training Programs:** 86 | **Rank:** 1
**Number of HVAC Employers:** 3,093 | Rank: 3
**Average Hourly Wage for HVAC Technicians:** $34.16 | Rank: 16
**Projected Industry Growth:** 8.9% **| Rank:** 233

Photo Credit: Eray Altay | Pexels | License

Aerial view of downtown Ogden, Utah — **No. 2:** Ogden-Clearfield, UT| **Overall Score:** 38.09

**Projected Industry Growth in State (2022-2032):** 34.3% **| Rank:** 1
**HVAC Technicians per 10,000 Households:** 61.99 | Rank: 3
**HVAC Jobs per 1,000 Total Jobs:** 4.76 | Rank: 21
**Number of HVAC Employers:** 284 | Rank: 66

Photo Credit: Weberstate | Wikimedia Commons | License

Aerial view of Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by snowy mountains — **No. 3:** Salt Lake City, UT | **Overall Score:** 36.57

**Projected Industry Growth:** 34.3% **| Rank:** 1
**HVAC Technicians per 10,000 Households:** 54.49 | Rank: 7
**Number of HVAC Employers:** 503 | Rank: 40
**Number of Local HVAC Training Programs:** 5 | **Rank:** 102

Photo Credit: Samuel Sweet | Pexels | License

Brooklyn Bridge in New York City at night — **No. 4:** New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | **Overall Score:** 36.21

**Number of HVAC Employers:** 7,675 | Rank: 1
**Average Hourly Wage for HVAC Technicians:** $34.39 | Rank: 15
**Number of Local HVAC Training Programs:** 22 | **Rank:** 16
**Projected Industry Growth:** 6.5% **| Rank:** 291

Photo Credit: Michał Ludwiczak | Pexels | License

Aerial view of Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington — **No. 5:** Kennewick-Richland, WA | **Overall Score:** 35.15

**HVAC Technicians per 10,000 Households:** 60.56 | Rank: 5
**HVAC Jobs per 1,000 Total Jobs:** 5.41 | Rank: 9
**Average Hourly Wage for HVAC Technicians:** $32.98 | Rank: 21
**Projected Industry Growth:** 11% **| Rank:** 176

Photo Credit: formulanone | Wikimedia Commons | License

Rocky Mountain Momentum: Utah, Idaho, and Montana are heating up with the highest projected industry growth, between 26% and 34% for the 3 states. Ogden-Clearfield, UT, lands at No. 2 overall, with Salt Lake City, UT, (No. 3), and Boise, ID, (No. 13) also securing top spots.

Scorching Demand: Several metros stand out for their high concentration of HVAC jobs, with Clarksville, TN-KY, (No. 9), Kennewick-Richland, WA, (No. 5), and Coeur d'Alene, ID, (No. 16) ranking among the best overall. Pennsylvania also shines with Lancaster (No. 62) and State College (No. 150) offering solid opportunities in the Keystone State.

Training Ground: Major metros provide ample opportunities for aspiring HVAC technicians through numerous local training programs. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI, (No. 1) leads the way, followed by Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX, (No. 8), Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, (No. 7), and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, (No. 24).

The Worst Metro Areas for HVAC Technicians

Southern Struggles: West Virginia dominates the bottom of the ranking, with 10 of its metros — including Parkersburg-Vienna (No. 380) and Beckley (No. 379) — landing in the lower half. Tennessee contributes 7 metros, and Alabama adds another 11 to the bottom half of the ranking.
Cold Comfort: Despite having climates that demand heating solutions, Maine and Michigan metros are projected to see sluggish industry growth through 2032. Portland-South Portland, ME, (No. 232) and Bangor, ME, (No. 323) are among the worst for industry expansion, with projected declines of -1.4%, while Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, (No. 198) and Lansing-East Lansing, MI, (No. 258) don’t break 5%.
Tough Markets: HVAC technicians in some metros face lower wages despite industry demand. Metros like Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, (No. 364), Albany, GA, (No. 337), and Gadsden, AL, (No. 373) rank among the worst, with the bottom 10 metros averaging just $20.82 per hour. Even Clarksville, TN-KY, (No. 9), which leads in HVAC job concentration, struggles with low wages.

Behind the Ranking

First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Best Metro Areas for HVAC Technicians. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into 3 categories:

Workforce and Industry

Climate

Public Interest

The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.

For each of the 380 biggest U.S. metros, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table.

Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each metro to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A metro’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Best” (No. 1) and the lowest “Worst” (No. 380).

Note: The “Worst” among individual factors may not be No. 380 due to ties.

Sources: CareerOneStop, Census Business Builder, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Projections Central, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Google

HVAC Industry Outlook

The HVAC industry is expected to grow 9% through 2033 but continues to face a critical workforce shortage, with 110,000 unfilled positions — leaving the industry 38% short of the needed workforce. With thousands of technicians exiting annually, this shortage is expected to reach 225,000 within 5 years.

Despite these challenges, the industry is growing rapidly. Approximately 42,500 HVAC job openings are expected each year, largely driven by retirement and career transitions.

New regulations are already reshaping the industry. As of January 1, 2025, the EPA has prohibited the manufacture, import, and sale of air conditioning and refrigeration systems that use high-global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). This shift is increasing the demand for skilled technicians to install and maintain upgraded systems.

Extreme weather continues to strain HVAC systems. In response, homeowners are investing in energy-efficient upgrades, with 61% of buyers ranking energy efficiency among their top 3 decision factors when purchasing a home.

To close the workforce gap, trade programs and apprenticeships are expanding. Vocational schools saw a second year of growth, 13.6%, in Fall 2024. Emerging technologies — such as virtual reality training — are also helping prepare the next generation of HVAC professionals.

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Media Resources

Quotes from Home Gnome Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Herman

25 states have metro areas with projected HVAC industry growth below the national average of 9%, with many concentrated in the Northeast, Midwest, and South.

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI, (No. 1) stands out among 11 other Illinois metros that land at the bottom thanks to its high number of HVAC employers, strong wages, and the most training programs in our ranking.

Lawton, OK, (No. 141) leads in Google search interest for HVAC services, while Indiana shows strong demand with 2 metros — Bloomington (No. 58) and Columbus (No. 184) — ranking in the top 5 for search interest.

Fairbanks, AK, (No. 15) leads the way in extremely cold days, making it a prime market for HVAC services. Other frigid metros include Bismarck, ND, (No. 55), Grand Forks, ND-MN, (No. 129), and Duluth, MN-WI (No. 185).

Yuma, AZ, (No. 53) experiences the most extremely hot days, followed closely by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ, (No. 6), Prescott (No. 63), and Tucson (No. 33). Texas also sees intense heat, with San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX, (No. 122), Austin-Round Rock, TX, (No. 59), and Killeen-Temple, TX, (No. 212) ranking among the hottest metros.

Main Photo Credit: Eakrin | Adobe Stock | License

Kimberly Magerl

Kimberly Magerl is a writer and editor specializing in home improvements, lawn care, landscaping, and gardening. She enjoys growing orchids, tending to fruits and vegetables in her garden, and cooking with her home-grown herbs.

Posts by Kimberly Magerl