HVAC/R Technician Salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ (2026)
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine
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Trenton-Princeton, NJ HVAC/R Technician Wage Distribution
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders
HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index
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Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix
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HVAC/R Technician in Trenton-Princeton, NJ: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)
Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and New Jersey tax codes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.
- Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
- FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
- Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
- HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400
HVAC/R Technician in Trenton-Princeton, NJ: Market Snapshot
HVAC/R Technician roles in Trenton-Princeton, NJ report a median annual wage of $75,240, 23.3% above the national median of $61,010. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $47,730 to $111,720, and HUD’s $1,764 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 28.1% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $27.48 per hour.
Highest-paying metropolitan areas for HVAC/R Technician
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs this market |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $93,820 | +24.7% |
| Anchorage, AK | $85,620 | +13.8% |
| Napa, CA | $84,570 | +12.4% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $82,050 | +9.1% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,100 | +6.5% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $79,510 | +5.7% |
| Peoria, IL | $78,710 | +4.6% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,640 | +4.5% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,530 | +4.4% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $78,490 | +4.3% |
Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Managers | $208,440 | $100.21/hr |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $197,420 | $94.91/hr |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $196,870 | $94.65/hr |
| Chief Executives | $191,360 | $92.00/hr |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $186,700 | $89.76/hr |
| Financial Manager | $184,800 | $88.85/hr |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $182,230 | $87.61/hr |
| General and Operations Managers | $181,450 | $87.24/hr |
| Purchasing Managers | $180,340 | $86.70/hr |
| Public Relations Managers | $179,330 | $86.22/hr |
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 389 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .
Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network
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Related Skilled Trades Roles in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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Other Metros for HVAC/R Technician
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HVAC/R Technician median pay in Trenton-Princeton, NJ is $75,240 a year ($36.17/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents. Official 2026 economic data for HVAC/R Technician in Trenton-Princeton, NJ compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
The median annual wage is $75,240 ($36.17 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $47,730 and $111,720. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).
On the median wage of $75,240, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $59,152 a year ($4,929 a month) after $16,088 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 21.38%, using 2026 tax rules.