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HVAC technician salary in Australia: how it compares to the national average

The median full-time HVAC technician (airconditioning and refrigeration mechanic) earns about $2,100 a week before tax, slightly above the national full-time average of $2,083.70.

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

HVAC technician salary in Australia

If you are an HVAC technician—formally classified as an airconditioning and refrigeration mechanic—your pay sits close to the national full-time average. The most current public figure comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), reported by Jobs and Skills Australia: a median full-time weekly earnings of $2,100 before tax. That is about $109,200 a year if you work 52 weeks.

How it compares with the national line

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). That is the line this site uses. The HVAC technician median is $2,100, which is $16.30 a week higher. But remember: the national figure is an average of all full-time adults, while the HVAC figure is a median for one occupation. Medians are less affected by very high or low earners, so they often give a better sense of what a typical worker earns.

Also, HVAC technicians tend to work longer hours. The average full-time hours for this occupation is 43 hours per week, compared to the 38-hour week used for the national average. The median hourly rate is $51 (ABS data). If you worked 38 hours at that rate, you would earn about $1,938 a week, which is below the national average. But because most HVAC technicians work more than 38 hours, their weekly pay is higher.

A resident take-home sketch

Using the 2026–27 tax rates and the 2% Medicare levy, a single resident earning the median $109,200 a year would pay:

  • Tax: about $24,700 (using the progressive brackets)
  • Medicare levy: about $2,184
  • Take-home: about $82,316 a year or $1,583 a week

This is a rough estimate. Your actual tax depends on deductions, offsets, and whether you have a spouse or children. If you earn more or less, the take-home changes. You can place your own salary on the line to see how it compares.

Award coverage and minimum rates

Most HVAC technicians are covered by the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Award or a similar modern award. From 1 July 2026, award minimum rates rose by 4.75% following the Annual Wage Review. The national minimum wage is now $26.44 an hour ($1,004.90 a week on 38 hours). Award rates are higher than the national minimum, but the exact classification rate for an HVAC technician is not published in the search results. You can check the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database for the precise figure. The median of $2,100 is well above any award minimum.

State differences

Your pay also depends on where you work. The national full-time average varies by state:

  • New South Wales: $109,658
  • Victoria: $106,137
  • Queensland: $106,064
  • South Australia: $102,450
  • Western Australia: $115,825
  • Tasmania: $96,008
  • Northern Territory: $103,173
  • Australian Capital Territory: $119,090

HVAC technician pay may follow similar patterns, but state-level medians are not available. If you work in Western Australia or the ACT, you might earn more than the national median. See the states and territories page for more detail.

How the figures are set

The national average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, released twice a year (May and November). The HVAC median comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, which is published less frequently. Both are reliable sources. The minimum wage and award rates are set by Fair Work after the Annual Wage Review. For more on methodology, see how the figures are set.

Other occupations

If you want to compare HVAC technician pay with other trades or professions, the job medians page lists median earnings for many occupations. You can also see industry medians to understand how different sectors pay.

Summary

The median HVAC technician salary of $2,100 a week is just above the national full-time average of $2,083.70. After tax, a single resident takes home about $1,583 a week. Your actual pay may vary by state, employer, and experience. Use the tools on this site to see where your salary sits on the line.

Questions

What is the average HVAC technician salary in Australia?

The most reliable public figure is the median full-time weekly earnings for airconditioning and refrigeration mechanics: $2,100 per week, according to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) as reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. That works out to about $109,200 a year before tax if you work 52 weeks. Note that this is a median, not an average, and it applies to full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate.

How does an HVAC technician's pay compare with the national average?

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). The HVAC technician median of $2,100 is slightly above that line. However, the average includes all full-time adults, while the HVAC figure is a median for a specific occupation. Also, HVAC technicians typically work 43 hours a week on average, compared to the standard 38-hour week used for the national average.

What would an HVAC technician take home after tax?

Using the 2026–27 tax rates (nil to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above) plus the 2% Medicare levy, a single resident earning the median $109,200 a year would pay roughly $24,700 in tax and $2,184 in Medicare levy, leaving about $82,316 take-home. That's about $1,583 a week. Your actual tax depends on deductions, offsets, and your total income.

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