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HVAC Tech Salary in Des Moines, IA

U.S. median $59,810/yr ($28.75/hr)

How much HVAC techs make in Des Moines, Iowa depends on your certifications, your sector, and the season. Below is a live look at local pay and the jobs hiring today.

Checking live local pay...

National benchmarks

Median$59,810/yr ($28.75/hr)
Hourly range$19 to $44/hr
Bottom 10%under $39,130/yr
Top 10%over $91,020/yr

Local pay in Des Moines moves with cost of living, union presence, and demand. The live figure above reflects what Des Moines employers are posting right now.

Pay by experience

Apprentice / Entry (year 1-2)Roughly $37,000 to $52,000 a year. First-year union apprentices often start near 40 to 50 percent of journeyman scale with a raise every year. The bottom 10 percent of the whole field earns under $39,130.$18 to $25/hr
Journeyman / Mid (3-5 years)About $54,000 to $73,000 a year. This is the national median zone ($59,810). With an EPA 608 and NATE cert you can push toward the top of this band and start bidding for commercial work.$26 to $35/hr
Experienced / Master (7+ years)About $79,000 to $120,000 a year in strong union and industrial markets. The top 10 percent of all HVAC techs earn over $91,020, and specialists clear that easily.$38 to $58/hr
Foreman / OwnerLead techs, service managers, and shop owners run past six figures. Owners keep the margin on every ticket, so earnings scale with the size of the crew and the book of business.$90,000 to $130,000+/yr

HVAC Tech jobs in Des Moines

See HVAC Tech jobs hiring in Des Moines with pay shown upfront.

HVAC Tech pay in nearby cities

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HVAC Tech pay in Des Moines: FAQs

How much do HVAC technicians make?

The median HVAC technician earns $59,810 a year, about $28.75 an hour, as of May 2024 (BLS). The bottom 10 percent make under $39,130 and the top 10 percent make over $91,020, so where you fall depends on experience, sector, and location.

Do HVAC techs make good money?

Yes. HVAC pay beats the median for all jobs, and you earn while you train instead of paying for a degree. With a certification or two, a move into commercial or industrial work, and some overtime, $70,000 to $90,000 is realistic within a few years.

What is the highest paying HVAC job?

Industrial refrigeration is the top of the trade, with techs earning $75,000 to $125,000 and leads topping $140,000. Union commercial mechanics, controls and data center specialists, and shop owners also clear six figures.

How much do HVAC techs make an hour?

The median is $28.75 an hour (May 2024, BLS). Entry helpers start around $18 to $25, experienced techs run $30 to $40, and union journeymen in big metros hit $38 to $58 an hour before overtime.

Can you make $100k as an HVAC technician?

Yes, and thousands do. The top 10 percent already earn over $91,020, and industrial refrigeration techs, union journeymen with overtime, controls specialists, and shop owners regularly pass $100,000.