AC Technician Salary

AC technicians are paid to keep the air conditioning working in the summer.

Air conditioning technicians can be everyone's best friend when the AC goes out and the air needs to be fixed quickly. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 224,320 individuals employed as AC technicians in the United States in 2010. The salaries earned by these AC technicians tend to vary by location and employer.

Pay Scale

The average salary of AC technicians was $44,860 per year, as of May 2010, according to the BLS. The median salary for those in this field was $42,530, with the middle 50 percent earning salaries between $33,230 and $55,100 per year. At the high end of the pay scale were those technicians who made salaries of about $66,930, while the lowest paid technicians made about $26,490.

Employers

Who the AC technician works for provides an indication of how much he can expect to make. The BLS indicates that the largest number of AC technicians worked for building equipment contractors, earning an average salary of $43,600 per year. The highest paid AC technicians worked in the motor vehicle manufacturing field, earning an average of $66,180 per year. Those who worked for direct-selling establishments earned an average of $46,170 per year, while those in the commercial and industrial machinery equipment field made $46,170.

Location

Geographic location also provides some indication of what the AC technician can expect to make. According to the BLS, the largest number of technicians worked in Texas, earning an average salary of $39,570 per year. Those who worked in Florida earned an average salary of $39,320, while those employed in California made $50,720. Technicians in New York made $52,210 annually, while those in Pennsylvania brought home $43,570 per year.

Job Outlook

According to the BLS, the number of jobs for air conditioning technicians is expected to grow by about 28 percent from 2008 to 2018. The jobs in this field will increase in number as the populations continues to grow and residential buildings and homes are built to accommodate the population. The general 10- to 15-year time frame in which many AC units typically need major repair or replacement will fall within this 10-year span of time, creating more jobs for technicians.

References

• BLS: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition -- Heating, Air-conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
• BLS; Occupational Employment and Wages -- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers; May 2010