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Salary Guides / Virginia
HVAC Helper Salary in Virginia
Compare Virginia helper wage ranges across HVAC support duties, supervised experience and three broader national industry benchmarks for evaluating offers.
What HVAC Helpers Earn in Virginia
Virginia employee wages span $14.62–$27.24/hr, with published annual earnings of $30,410–$56,660 a year. BLS groups HVAC helpers with other installation, maintenance and repair helpers. These figures describe that broader workforce, including support roles outside heating and cooling. Match an offer to equipment handling, installation assistance and service support duties. The experience bands organize wage comparisons and do not confer Virginia tradesman licenses or set registered apprenticeship pay schedules.
Hourly rates by level in Virginia
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
Where do you stand?
Enter your hourly rate to see how it compares to other hvac helpers in Virginia.
What are you making?
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Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.
You're right around the middle
$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
Calculate pay with extra credentials
Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.
1Your level
2Certifications you hold
3Shift & work type
4Overtime & per diem
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
Who pays the most in Virginia
For Virginia job searches, these national helper benchmarks distinguish HVAC contracting, commercial building projects and duct cleaning. Each covers a broader industry beyond HVAC.
Building Equipment Contractors
Heating and cooling contractors install and service building systems. Ask prospective employers which helper tasks involve equipment moves, ductwork or service preparation. Discuss who supplies tools and how daily assignments are arranged.
Nonresidential Building Construction
Commercial building employers coordinate HVAC support with other construction work. Discuss delivery windows and supervision when comparing commercial project assignments. Clarify whether work continues when one building project is finished.
Building and Dwelling Services
Duct cleaning falls within this broad service group. For cleaning openings, distinguish cleaning support from licensed HVAC installation and refrigerant servicing. Ask which cleaning equipment you will handle and who trains you.
Which states pay hvac helpers the most
Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.
What each certification is worth
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA Local 10 Plumbers & Steamfitters Apprenticeship (journeyperson) | +$3.60 | $7,488 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| Virginia DPOR Residential HVAC Tradesman License | +$2.21 | $4,597 | $272 | 4 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.14 | $291 | $59 | 11 weeks |
| Aerial/Scissor Lift (MEWP) Operator | +$0.03 | $62 | $59 | 50 weeks |
| American Red Cross Adult First Aid/CPR/AED | +$0.05 | $104 | $102 | 51 weeks |
| EPA Section 608 Universal Technician Certification | +$0.06 | $125 | $175 | 73 weeks |
What overtime actually adds
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $18.70/hr.
Questions workers ask
Can I earn from my own HVAC side jobs as a helper?▾
Can I carry apprenticeship progress to a new HVAC employer?▾
Where can I take an unpaid overtime concern?▾
See Open HVAC Helper Jobs in Virginia
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
Current BLS Virginia employee wages for Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, SOC 49-9098; broader installation/maintenance/repair helpers, including HVAC helpers, with premium pay and benefits excluded.
Last updated October 27, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.