Salaries › HVAC Technician › California
HVAC Technician Salary in California (2026)
$34.88 per hour · take-home ≈ $57,130/year ($4,761/month) for a single filer
HVAC Technician pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $46,950 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $58,280 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $72,560 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $90,780 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $109,060 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 35,130 HVAC Technician jobs in California (occupation code 49-9021, “Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median HVAC Technician salary of $72,560 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $57,130 — an effective tax rate of 21.3%.
| Gross (median) | $72,560 |
| Federal income tax | −$7,133 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$5,551 |
| California state income tax | −$2,746 |
| Take-home (annual) | $57,130 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,761 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a HVAC Technician make in California?
- The median HVAC Technician salary in California is $72,560 per year ($34.88 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $58,280 and $90,780.
- What is the take-home pay for a HVAC Technician in California?
- On the median salary of $72,560, a single filer in California takes home about $57,130 per year ($4,761 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 21.3%.
- How many HVAC Technician jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 35,130 HVAC Technician jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for HVAC Technicians
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.