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❄️ Cost GuideNational mean hourly wage for hvac technicians (BLS SOC 49-9021) is $30.30/hour. After the standard NAHB 2.4× contractor markup, homeowners pay roughly $73/hour for a service call. Here's the project-by-project breakdown — and below it, the same job priced for every major US metro.
| Project | Time | Typical cost | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic service call (no parts) | 45–90 min | $73 | $60 – $87 |
| Annual AC or furnace tune-up | 60–90 min | $134 | $110 – $161 |
| AC repair (capacitor / contactor / minor part) | 1–3 hours | $325 | $267 – $391 |
| Refrigerant recharge (R-410A, residential) | 1–2 hours | $389 | $319 – $467 |
| Smart thermostat install | 1 hour | $289 | $237 – $347 |
| Gas furnace replacement (80% AFUE, 80k BTU) | 1 day | $2,982 | $2,445 – $3,578 |
| Heat pump replacement (3-ton, 16 SEER) | 1–2 days | $6,818 | $5,591 – $8,182 |
| Mini-split install (single zone, 12k BTU) | 1 day | $2,482 | $2,035 – $2,978 |
| Whole-home duct cleaning | 3–5 hours | $351 | $288 – $421 |
A residential HVAC technician services, repairs, and installs forced-air furnaces, central AC, heat pumps, mini-splits, and ductwork. A diagnostic visit typically includes static-pressure measurement, refrigerant pressure (for cooling systems), temperature differential between supply and return, electrical-component testing (capacitor microfarad, contactor pull-in, transformer voltage), and ignition or burner inspection on heating equipment. Installations require Manual J / Manual D / Manual S calculations to size the equipment correctly — beware any installer who skips these and recommends "the same size you have now."
Cost-of-living variance is the single biggest factor in trade pricing. The same job in Hawaii or California can run 30–50% more than in Mississippi or Oklahoma. Pick your city below to see your localized rate.
"Same-size replacement" without a load calc, refrigerant-only quotes that don't address the leak, and any installer who pushes the largest unit without explaining why.