HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician salary in Chicago
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The BLS May 2025 median for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $77,960 per year. Official BLS figures, released 2026-05-15. Public results. Request the PDF or saved report below.
Recruiter's read: what do the published figures mean for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago?
Real Estate Headhunters reads HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago through BLS occupation 49-9021, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, rather than treating the niche title as a separately surveyed job. The May 2025 annual median for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago is $77,960; its broader mapping means the occupation and its limits belong beside this offer budget.
HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago has a published middle-half band from $61,050 at the lower quartile to $96,790 at the upper quartile in May 2025. The $35,740 difference for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago is the width of that reported band, not a recommended automatic raise or a measure of candidate seniority.
HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago shows $47,460 at the tenth percentile and $117,940 at the ninetieth percentile. The lower-tail gap for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago is $13,590, versus $21,150 above the upper quartile; the upper published tail is wider, which describes dispersion but does not explain its cause.
The national annual median for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician is $61,010, against $77,960 in Chicago. Subtracting those published medians puts HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago $16,950 above national; the difference is not a cost-of-living adjustment or a relocation allowance.
For HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago, the two comparison metros are selected by Census metro center: Kankakee, IL reports $62,570; Niles, MI reports $58,130. Those May 2025 comparisons for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago use SOC 49-9021 on the same annual basis, without substituting a different job to obtain a convenient number.
The prior annual median for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago was $74,400 in May 2024, compared with $77,960 in May 2025. The new-minus-old difference for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago is $3,560; it compares two survey distributions, not the pay rise of a tracked worker or a forecast.
For HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago, the highest exact published national medians among the loaded real-estate, building-service and fund industry rows are Real Estate (NAICS 531000), $69,870; Real Estate (NAICS 531000), $69,870. These May 2025 industry figures for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago are national cuts, not an industry-pay ranking inside Chicago, because the loaded industry source does not cross-tabulate that local market.
HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago uses BLS straight-time gross wages, which include base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses but exclude discretionary or nonproduction bonuses. For an offer benchmarked to HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago, state overtime, on-call pay, relocation support and housing discounts separately because OEWS excludes them; the $77,960 median does not price those additions in Chicago.
NAA CAM means Certified Apartment Manager. Florida CAM is the community association manager license, an example of state licensing where required. In accounting titles, CAM means common area maintenance. These are not interchangeable.
What wages did BLS publish?
The BLS May 2025 median for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $77,960 per year. This is the mapped occupation, not a separate survey of HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician.
Broader occupationHVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician maps to Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (49-9021), a broader occupation. BLS does not publish this exact real estate title separately. The property's scope, equipment, supervision and required credentials can differ from the occupation as a whole.
SOC 49-9021 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
The published median is $77,960. The middle half of reported wages runs from $61,050 to $96,790.
| Published percentile | Wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $47,460 |
| 25th | $61,050 |
| Median | $77,960 |
| 75th | $96,790 |
| 90th | $117,940 |
Mean: $79,340. Employment: 7,210. Location quotient: 0.61.
The published median is $37.48. The middle half of reported wages runs from $29.35 to $46.53.
| Published percentile | Wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $22.82 |
| 25th | $29.35 |
| Median | $37.48 |
| 75th | $46.53 |
| 90th | $56.70 |
Mean: $38.14. Employment: 7,210. Location quotient: 0.61.
This wage is equal to or greater than $115.00 per hour or $239,200 per year. A cell marked “or more” is a threshold, not an exact value.
What BLS wages include and exclude
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay.
Included
- Base rates
- Commissions
- Cost-of-living allowances
- Deadheading pay
- Guaranteed pay
- Hazard pay
- Incentive pay
- Longevity pay
- Over-the-road pay (Mileage)
- Piece rates
- Portal-to-portal rates
- Production bonuses
- Tips
Excluded
- Attendance bonuses
- Back pay
- Clothing allowances
- Discounts
- Draw
- Holiday bonus
- Holiday premium pay
- Jury duty pay
- Meal allowances
- Nonproduction bonuses
- On-call pay
- Overtime pay
- Relocation allowances
- Severance pay
- Shift differentials
- Stock bonuses
- Tool/equipment allowances
- Tuition reimbursements
- Uniform allowances
- Weekend premium pay
BLS wage definitions. Benefits and discretionary bonus are not base wage benchmarks.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-9021 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Released 2026-05-15.
National comparison
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and National use the same SOC 49-9021. The metro annual median is $16,950 above the national median, by subtraction of the published figures.
The published median is $61,010. The middle half of reported wages runs from $48,360 to $77,060.
| Published percentile | Wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,050 |
| 25th | $48,360 |
| Median | $61,010 |
| 75th | $77,060 |
| 90th | $95,210 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-9021 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, National. Released 2026-05-15.
Markets where BLS publishes this occupation
| Metro | Median annual | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | $58,040 | $48,440 to $72,580 | 9140 | 1.23 |
| Orlando | $51,460 | $46,370 to $63,150 | 5140 | 1.38 |
| Tampa | $50,540 | $46,740 to $61,820 | 6090 | 1.6 |
| Chicago | $77,960 | $61,050 to $96,790 | 7210 | 0.61 |
| New York City | $77,990 | $61,350 to $93,340 | 21820 | 0.87 |
| Raleigh | $58,900 | $47,480 to $65,350 | 2550 | 1.3 |
| Dallas | $59,560 | $47,860 to $74,270 | 10910 | 1.02 |
| Northern New Jersey | $77,990 | $61,350 to $93,340 | 21820 | 0.87 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $73,830 | $58,220 to $83,490 | 10720 | 0.65 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $71,920 | $57,670 to $89,240 | 8730 | 1.06 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $64,580 | $52,000 to $79,030 | 8610 | 1.13 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $61,170 | $47,430 to $74,880 | 8070 | 1.29 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $58,940 | $47,040 to $73,900 | 7680 | 0.89 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $58,970 | $47,530 to $74,690 | 7060 | 0.93 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,530 | $61,740 to $97,270 | 6050 | 0.85 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $63,170 | $48,240 to $80,780 | 5740 | 1.14 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $64,300 | $51,970 to $78,320 | 4820 | 1.07 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $71,580 | $59,080 to $90,390 | 4360 | 1.03 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $78,490 | $61,930 to $101,870 | 3980 | 0.64 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $63,180 | $53,130 to $84,950 | 3960 | 1.11 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,100 | $62,360 to $101,190 | 3940 | 0.72 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $59,840 | $47,950 to $69,770 | 3860 | 1.08 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $60,270 | $48,480 to $71,330 | 3500 | 1.21 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $58,590 | $47,260 to $69,110 | 3340 | 1.65 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $74,880 | $58,330 to $91,690 | 3210 | 0.79 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $58,590 | $46,550 to $74,010 | 3160 | 1.07 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $60,240 | $48,020 to $76,590 | 3150 | 1.05 |
What changed since the last release
These are two published distributions, not a projection or a same-worker pay-rise measure. Changes in coverage, sampling or area boundaries can affect comparison.
| May 2024 | May 2025 | New minus old, arithmetic only |
|---|---|---|
| $74,400 | $77,960 | $3,560 |
Prior source: BLS OEWS May 2024, released 2025-04-02.
National pay by industry
Industry rows cover payroll employment classified in that industry, nationally. They do not isolate this niche title, and contractors may sit in another industry.
| Industry, exact BLS name | NAICS | P25 annual | Median annual | P75 annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction of Buildings | 236000 | $48,820 | $59,680 | $72,850 | 3120 |
| Residential Building Construction | 236100 | $42,630 | $57,610 | $64,430 | 1620 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | $54,650 | $63,290 | $79,000 | 1490 |
| Real Estate | 531000 | $52,130 | $69,870 | $88,130 | 3130 |
| Real Estate | 531000 | $52,130 | $69,870 | $88,130 | 3130 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 551000 | $60,890 | $75,720 | $82,090 | 2470 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 551100 | $60,890 | $75,720 | $82,090 | 2470 |
| Facilities Support Services | 561200 | $59,910 | $73,510 | $82,470 | 3840 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 561700 | $43,410 | $50,320 | $88,870 | 2130 |
The pay ladder
These related assignments use different SOC occupations. BLS does not turn a percentile into a seniority level.
- Maintenance Supervisor · SOC 49-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers Broader occupation
Maintenance Supervisor maps to First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers (49-1011), a broader occupation. BLS does not publish this exact real estate title separately. The property's scope, equipment, supervision and required credentials can differ from the occupation as a whole.
- Service Manager · SOC 49-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers Broader occupation
Service Manager maps to First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers (49-1011), a broader occupation. BLS does not publish this exact real estate title separately. The property's scope, equipment, supervision and required credentials can differ from the occupation as a whole.
- Assistant Maintenance Supervisor · SOC 49-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers Broader occupation
Assistant Maintenance Supervisor maps to First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers (49-1011), a broader occupation. BLS does not publish this exact real estate title separately. The property's scope, equipment, supervision and required credentials can differ from the occupation as a whole.
- Lead Maintenance Technician · SOC 49-9071 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Broader occupation
Lead Maintenance Technician maps to Maintenance and Repair Workers, General (49-9071), a broader occupation. BLS does not publish this exact real estate title separately. The property's scope, equipment, supervision and required credentials can differ from the occupation as a whole.
- Make-Ready and Turn Supervisor · SOC 49-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers Broader occupation
Make-Ready and Turn Supervisor maps to First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers (49-1011), a broader occupation. BLS does not publish this exact real estate title separately. The property's scope, equipment, supervision and required credentials can differ from the occupation as a whole.
- Regional Maintenance Supervisor · SOC 49-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers Broader occupation
Regional Maintenance Supervisor maps to First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers (49-1011), a broader occupation. BLS does not publish this exact real estate title separately. The property's scope, equipment, supervision and required credentials can differ from the occupation as a whole.
- Director of Maintenance · SOC 11-3013 Facilities Managers Broader occupation
Director of Maintenance maps to Facilities Managers (11-3013), a broader occupation. BLS does not publish this exact real estate title separately. The property's scope, equipment, supervision and required credentials can differ from the occupation as a whole.
- Vice President of Facilities, Residential · SOC 11-3013 Facilities Managers Broader occupation
Vice President of Facilities, Residential maps to Facilities Managers (11-3013), a broader occupation. BLS does not publish this exact real estate title separately. The property's scope, equipment, supervision and required credentials can differ from the occupation as a whole.
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Pick a timeOther covered markets
All BLS areas are available in the public tools. These links show this occupation's largest metro employment markets.
- Northern New Jersey
- Dallas
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Miami
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Tampa
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Orlando
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
- Jacksonville, FL
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
- San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
- Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV
Questions about these figures
What does the $77,960 median mean for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago?
For HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago, May 2025 reports that median for SOC 49-9021, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers. The broader mapping for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago is not a separately surveyed niche title in this area.
What band can we use to discuss an offer for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago?
The reported middle-half band for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago is $61,050 to $96,790 on an annual basis. Those two points for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago describe SOC 49-9021, not an instruction to pay a particular candidate either endpoint.
Can we claim an industry premium inside Chicago for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician?
The industry cuts used for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago are national, while the local comparison is cross-industry. That separation for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago means the $77,960 local median cannot establish an industry premium within this area.
Is the prior figure for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago a forecast?
The May 2024 comparison for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago is an earlier published survey cell, not a projection. The current May 2025 figure for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago is $77,960; both reference periods remain visible.
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What does the $77,960 median mean for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago?
For HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago, May 2025 reports that median for SOC 49-9021, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers. The broader mapping for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago is not a separately surveyed niche title in this area.
What band can we use to discuss an offer for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago?
The reported middle-half band for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago is $61,050 to $96,790 on an annual basis. Those two points for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago describe SOC 49-9021, not an instruction to pay a particular candidate either endpoint.
Can we claim an industry premium inside Chicago for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician?
The industry cuts used for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago are national, while the local comparison is cross-industry. That separation for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago means the $77,960 local median cannot establish an industry premium within this area.
Is the prior figure for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago a forecast?
The May 2024 comparison for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago is an earlier published survey cell, not a projection. The current May 2025 figure for HVAC-Certified Maintenance Technician in Chicago is $77,960; both reference periods remain visible.
Salary methodology. Official data retrieved 2026-10-07.
CAM has different meanings. NAA CAM is the Certified Apartment Manager credential. The Florida community association manager license is a separate license, cited here as an example of state licensing. In commercial budgets, CAM means common area maintenance. We check the credential or license relevant to the opening, where the state requires it.