HVAC Technician Salary: San Francisco, CA vs Denver, CO
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 San Francisco, CA and Denver, CO, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Denver, CO | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $78,490▲ | $71,580 | +$6,910 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,930▲ | $59,080 | +$2,850 |
| 75th Percentile | $101,870▲ | $90,390 | +$11,480 |
| 90th Percentile | $129,380▲ | $104,880 | +$24,500 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 115.6 | 105.8 | +9.8 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $67,890▲ | $67,667 | +$223 |
| Total Employment | 3,980 | 4,360 | -380 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $6,910 more (median: $78,490 vs $71,580). BEA's regional price parity is 115.6 in San Francisco, CA and 105.8 in Denver, CO (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $67,890 and $67,667, so San Francisco, CA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $6,910 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: $67,890 for San Francisco and $67,667 for Denver, a difference of $223.
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 (San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 3,980 HVAC Technician jobs in the San Francisco area and 4,360 in the Denver area. For broader context, see our California overview and the full HVAC Technician city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HVAC Technician salary higher in San Francisco, CA or Denver, CO?
San Francisco, CA has the higher median wage for HVAC Technicians ($78,490 per year, against $71,580 in Denver, CO; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $67,890 in San Francisco, CA and $67,667 in Denver, CO.
How do prices compare between San Francisco, CA and Denver, CO?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 115.6 for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan area and 105.8 for the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 15.6% above the national level for San Francisco, CA and 5.8% above the national level for Denver, CO.
Which city pays HVAC Technicians more once local prices are counted?
San Francisco, CA: at national-average prices its median HVAC Technician wage is $67,890, against $67,667 for Denver, CO. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.