How to hire a lead hvac technician

How to hire a lead hvac technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step lead hvac technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a lead hvac technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new lead hvac technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a lead hvac technician job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your lead hvac technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a lead hvac technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A lead hvac technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, lead hvac technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of lead hvac technicians and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Lead Hvac Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Lead Hvac Technician	Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers—often called heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) technicians—work on heating, ventilation, cooling, and refrigeration systems that control the temperature and air quality in buildings.	$16-35
   Installer Apprentice	An elevator installer apprentice is a trainee who trains under a skilled elevator installer to install, fix, and maintain elevators, escalators, and other lifts. Elevator installer apprentices must assist in assembling elevator cars as well as connecting electrical wiring to control panels and electric motors... Show more	$13-23
   Hvac Installer	An HVAC installer is responsible for working on office and house appliances, including heating systems, ventilation, and air conditioning units. HVAC installers follow and analyze the item's schematics and blueprints and conduct regular maintenance to ensure the efficiency of its systems... Show more	$14-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Ventilation
   • Plumbing
   • Preventive Maintenance
   • Heat Pumps
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Safety Procedures
   • Hot Water
   • Electrical Circuits
   • Exhaust Fans
   • Control Systems
   • Air Handlers
   • Humidifiers
   • Hand Tools
   • Water Heaters

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Make sure that the department is complying with OSHA and EPA guidelines.
   • Research and recommend changes in water treatment to reduce replacement of parts in humidifiers.
   • Work with mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors to gather quotes for repairs and capital projects.
   • Repair, installation, maintenance of HVAC, and plumbing equipment as well as customer service.
   • Repair and replace light fixtures, dimmer switches, outlets, ceiling fans and outlets and fixtures.
   • Supervise install helpers and install heating air conditioning and ventilation.

   More lead hvac technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your lead hvac technician job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A lead hvac technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a lead hvac technician in Texas may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level lead hvac technician usually earns less than a senior-level lead hvac technician. Additionally, a lead hvac technician with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average lead hvac technician salary

   $51,139yearly

   $24.59 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level lead hvac technician salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average lead hvac technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$79,871	$38
   2	Massachusetts	$74,035	$36
   3	Washington	$65,509	$31
   4	New Jersey	$61,833	$30
   5	Virginia	$60,713	$29
   6	Pennsylvania	$59,845	$29
   7	Colorado	$57,887	$28
   8	Indiana	$56,492	$27
   9	Wisconsin	$55,802	$27
   10	Michigan	$54,447	$26
   11	South Carolina	$51,926	$25
   12	Utah	$49,313	$24
   13	Kansas	$49,186	$24
   14	North Carolina	$48,136	$23
   15	Ohio	$46,445	$22
   16	Tennessee	$46,195	$22
   17	Oklahoma	$43,499	$21
   18	Georgia	$43,017	$21
   19	Florida	$42,653	$21
   20	Texas	$42,554	$20

   Average lead hvac technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Carrier	$74,999	$36.06	43
   2	Fluor Corporation	$74,337	$35.74	17
   3	Four Seasons	$73,922	$35.54	13
   4	Bechtel Corporation	$70,645	$33.96	4
   5	HealthTrust	$65,927	$31.70	14
   6	Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego	$65,433	$31.46	2
   7	Johnson Controls	$63,781	$30.66	391
   8	Allgeier	$60,910	$29.28
   9	RK	$55,794	$26.82	5
   10	EMCOR Group	$54,903	$26.40	173
   11	Bath & Body Works	$53,551	$25.75
   12	Hazen and Sawyer	$52,566	$25.27	1
   13	TAD PGS	$51,403	$24.71
   14	ATI - Allegheny Technologies Incorporated	$50,514	$24.29	3
   15	Cincinnati Public Schools	$49,139	$23.62	1
   16	Honeywell	$49,057	$23.59	5
   17	Sobieski Services	$48,879	$23.50	7
   18	CGL	$48,815	$23.47	13
   19	Aire Serv	$48,463	$23.30	172
   20	EnviroSafe Demil	$48,419	$23.28

4. Writing a lead hvac technician job description

   A good lead hvac technician job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a lead hvac technician job description:

   Lead hvac technician job description example

   Our Lead HVAC Technician / Sales Professional enjoys a competitive hourly wage plus commissions . You would have an earning potential of over $100,000/year ! We also offer solid benefits including health, dental, vision, life insurance, an independent retirement plan (IRA), paid holidays, 52 hours of accrued paid vacation in the first year, 104 hours of paid vacation after the 2nd year, a take-home vehicle, a cell phone, uniforms, tool allowance, excellent training, and family social events . If this sounds like the right position for you, apply today!

   
   

   ABOUT ALLGEIER AIR

   Our exceptional employees wow our customers each and every day. As representatives of Louisville's Top HVAC provider, our tight-knit team proudly represents our company as they service, repair and replace residential gas furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, geothermal heating systems, and ducting. Not only do we install and service, our educated and experienced team has the opportunity to tap into their creative side by engineering and advising on new construction design projects! With over 70 years of experience, we know how to train our entry-level employees to be top-of-the-industry seasoned experts so that our customers' comfort and safety are always TOP priority. With us, there are no cutting corners. We believe in recommending only the highest quality brands and products which enhances our team's workmanship. Always seeking to improve, we provide a team-oriented, career-building, and supportive workplace. Get ready to love your job!

   In order to hire, train, and retain the best, we offer top pay, exceptional benefits, and unparalleled career development. We not only train on technical skills but provide personal development training as well. We want our employees to value their jobs as much as we value their contributions to our company.

   
   

   QUALIFICATIONS FOR A LEAD HVAC TECHNICIAN / SALES PROFESSIONAL

   • HVAC experience
   • Sales skills
   • Leadership ability
   • Valid driver's license and a good driving record
   • Ability to pass a background check and drug test

   Can you easily connect with others? Do you have good communication skills and the ability to express technical information in layman's terms? Can you confidently present options to our customers and close sales? Are you an excellent troubleshooter? Do you have the ability to lead and motivate others? If so, you may be the Lead HVAC Technician / Sales Professional we're looking for! Apply today by filling out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application !

   
   

   Location: 40223

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right lead hvac technician for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your lead hvac technician job on Zippia to find and recruit lead hvac technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting lead hvac technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new lead hvac technician

   Once you have selected a candidate for the lead hvac technician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a lead hvac technician?