HVAC Technician Salary: Austin, TX vs Seattle, WA
BLS reports this occupation as "Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers" (49-9021); every figure on this page is for that BLS occupation.
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for HVAC Technicians in Austin, TX and Seattle, WA, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Seattle, WA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $60,820 | $80,100▲ | -$19,280 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,070 | $62,360▲ | -$13,290 |
| 75th Percentile | $74,810 | $101,190▲ | -$26,380 |
| 90th Percentile | $92,180 | $129,390▲ | -$37,210 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 98.1 | 111.1 | -13.0 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $62,019 | $72,076▲ | -$10,057 |
| Total Employment | 3,140 | 3,940 | -800 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Seattle, WA pays $19,280 more (median: $60,820 vs $80,100). BEA's regional price parity is 98.1 in Austin, TX and 111.1 in Seattle, WA (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $62,019 and $72,076, so Seattle, WA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $19,280 gap between the two medians is a gap in dollars, not in what those dollars buy. Dividing each median by its area's regional price parity restates it at national-average prices: $62,019 for Austin and $72,076 for Seattle, a difference of $10,057.
The price levels come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which describes them this way: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” The figures used here are the all-items index for each whole metropolitan area (Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 3,140 HVAC Technician jobs in the Austin area and 3,940 in the Seattle area. For broader context, see our Texas overview and the full HVAC Technician city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HVAC Technician salary higher in Austin, TX or Seattle, WA?
Seattle, WA has the higher median wage for HVAC Technicians ($80,100 per year, against $60,820 in Austin, TX; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $62,019 in Austin, TX and $72,076 in Seattle, WA.
How do prices compare between Austin, TX and Seattle, WA?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 98.1 for the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metropolitan area and 111.1 for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 1.9% below the national level for Austin, TX and 11.1% above the national level for Seattle, WA.
Which city pays HVAC Technicians more once local prices are counted?
Seattle, WA: at national-average prices its median HVAC Technician wage is $72,076, against $62,019 for Austin, TX. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.