Electrician vs HVAC Tech
Side-by-side salary, job growth, and training comparison for 2026
Electrician
$62,350
National Median Salary
Total Jobs818,700
Annual Openings79,900
Training4-5 yr apprenticeship
HVAC Tech
$57,300
National Median Salary
Total Jobs422,300
Annual Openings40,100
Training6 mo - 2 yr certificate
Metric
Electrician
HVAC Tech
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $62,350* | $57,300 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 818,700* | 422,300 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 79,900* | 40,100 |
Training Time | 4-5 yr apprenticeship | 6 mo - 2 yr certificate |
* indicates higher/better value. Source: BLS OES 2023.
Top States for Electricians
Illinois$95,340
New York$91,870
Hawaii$87,530
Oregon$84,210
Alaska$82,990
Top States for HVAC Techs
Alaska$84,670
Hawaii$79,320
Washington$76,540
Connecticut$75,890
Massachusetts$74,210