HVAC Jobs in San Francisco, CA
Find HVAC technician, installer, and apprentice jobs in San Francisco, CA. The metro employs about 3,980 HVAC pros earning an average of $86,540 per year.
$86,540
Avg Salary
3,980
HVAC Employed
Salary Distribution
10th Pct
$49,180
entry-level
25th Pct
$61,930
early career
Median
$78,490
typical wage
75th Pct
$101,870
experienced
90th Pct
$129,380
senior tech
Wage data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
Cost of Living
Disposable Income
$14,983
After taxes and 2-bedroom rent, per year
How we calculated this
$86,540
$10,880
$6,620
$5,192
$63,847
$48,864
$14,983
2BR rent based on HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,705/month for the metro.
Federal and FICA tax computed for a single filer using the standard deduction. State income tax uses state-specific brackets where applicable. Annual rent derived from HUD 2024 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a 2-bedroom unit in this metro area.
Industry Snapshot
Contracting Businesses
286
AC & refrigeration · NAICS 238222
HVAC Mechanics Employed
3,980
SOC 49-9021 · BLS OEWS
Establishment data from BLS QCEW NAICS 238222. Employment Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Some smaller metros suppressed by BLS privacy rules.
Climate Profile
3C
Warm-Marine
San Francisco's Warm-Marine climate produces relatively mild, steady HVAC demand year-round. Technicians here see less of the extreme seasonal peaks of harsher markets — a more predictable workload with a focus on system efficiency, indoor air quality, and modernization.
Climate zone classification per IECC 2021 (International Energy Conservation Code).
Training & Education
There are 7 accredited HVAC programs within about 40 miles of San Francisco, ranked here by graduates per year:
Institute for Business and Technology · For-profit · Certificate · Santa Clara, CA · 33 mi · 142 grads/yr · Visit site
San Jose City College · Public · Certificate, Associate degree · San Jose, CA · 37 mi · 39 grads/yr · Visit site
Foothill College · Public · Certificate, Associate degree · Los Altos Hills, CA · 30 mi · 32 grads/yr · Visit site
InterCoast Colleges-Fairfield · For-profit · Certificate · Fairfield, CA · 31 mi · 21 grads/yr · Visit site
Laney College · Public · Certificate, Associate degree · Oakland, CA · 2 mi · 17 grads/yr · Visit site
CET-San Jose · Private nonprofit · Certificate · San Jose, CA · 38 mi · 14 grads/yr · Visit site
City College of San Francisco · Public · Certificate · San Francisco, CA · 10 mi · 6 grads/yr · Visit site
For programs across the state, see our California HVAC schools guide.
