HVAC Technician Salary - Mountain West
Smaller markets with growing residential and commercial demand
The federal wage data on this page covers heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers, work that is largely service, maintenance, and residential installation. The union scale shown is journeyman pipefitter, which covers refrigerant, chilled water, and hydronic piping on commercial construction and falls under a different federal occupation code than the wage data above. Duct fabrication and installation is sheet metal work, represented by a separate union called SMART (the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers), and is not reflected in either figure.
Wage figures on this page reflect all HVAC technicians counted by the BLS, across union and non-union work, residential and commercial, apprentice through master. The BLS does not publish a separate journey-level tier. State figures are medians: half of workers earn more, half earn less.
The Mountain West is a growing market for HVAC technicians with wages near or above the national median. Colorado carries a median of $65,200, and Nevada carries a median of $60,510, close to the national median of $61,010. Rapid population growth across Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada is driving construction demand that is beginning to push wages upward in major metro markets.
UA and Sheet Metal Workers union density in the Mountain West is moderate and concentrated in major metros. Denver's HVAC locals cover a commercial market. Las Vegas has union presence driven by casino and resort HVAC work: large complex systems requiring skilled commercial mechanics. Salt Lake City has a growing UA presence. Idaho and Montana are primarily non-union markets. Controls and BAS work is increasingly in demand across the region.
Cost of living in the Mountain West has risen with population growth. Colorado at 101.8 and Nevada at 100.7 are near the national average. Idaho at 101.7 has appreciated significantly. Montana at 105.9 reflects resort market appreciation. Utah at 100.6 is near average. Wyoming sits at 93.7.
- →Rapid residential and commercial construction across Denver, Salt Lake City, Boise, and Las Vegas metros
- →Casino and resort HVAC infrastructure in Las Vegas: complex large-scale systems
- →Data center HVAC and cooling systems expanding into Nevada and Colorado
- →Semiconductor and advanced manufacturing facility HVAC in Idaho and Colorado
- →Building automation and energy efficiency upgrades across the region's commercial building stock
Las Vegas is a destination for traveling HVAC journeymen in the Mountain West. Casino and resort HVAC work runs year-round and UA locals regularly recruit travelers for major projects. Denver is active on commercial construction. Controls specialists are in demand across the region. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro for current Las Vegas and Denver openings.
Effective wage adjusts the BLS median for cost of living: what a paycheck buys relative to the national median.
| State | Median Annual | COL Index | Effective Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $65,200 +$4,190 vs. national | 101.8 | $64,047 +$3,037 vs. national |
| Montana | $60,850 -$160 vs. national | 105.9 | $57,460 -$3,550 vs. national |
| Nevada | $60,510 -$500 vs. national | 100.7 | $60,089 -$921 vs. national |
| Utah | $58,730 -$2,280 vs. national | 100.6 | $58,380 -$2,630 vs. national |
| Idaho | $56,240 -$4,770 vs. national | 101.7 | $55,300 -$5,710 vs. national |
| Wyoming | $54,700 -$6,310 vs. national | 93.7 | $58,378 -$2,632 vs. national |
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 - HVAC Technicians - Cross-Industry, All Ownership
Cost of living data provided by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). The data has been modified for use from its original source, which is the State of Missouri. THE STATE OF MISSOURI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTY AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF ANY DATA MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE. THE STATE OF MISSOURI EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Data is subject to change as modifications and updates are complete. Use at your own risk.