Our HVAC salary survey has been making the news recently with coverage in several industry publications including H&V News.

The study showed that HVAC sales engineers who work in London and the South East are commanding much higher average salaries than those in the North.

The results were most marked in the commercial heating sector where 60% of commercial heating sales engineers covering the Midlands and the North of England earn a basic salary below £40K compared to 35% in London and the South East.

16% of heating sales engineers in London and the South East earn an annual basic salary above £50K compared to just 5% in the Midlands and the North.

In the ventilation sector 42% of sales engineers in London and the South East earn an annual basic salary above £45K compared to 36% of sales engineers in the Midlands and 17% in the North of England.

Air conditioning sales engineers are also paid more in the South East where 42% earn an annual basic salary above £45K compared to 16% in the Midlands and 28% in the North.

But HVAC sales engineers are happier in the North

The survey gathered data from commercial, domestic and industrial sales engineers and managers working in regional, national and international sales roles and found that although HVAC sales professionals can earn more in London and the South East, those working in the North are more satisfied with their pay.

Two thirds (66%) of respondents working in the ventilation sector in London and the South East felt they were paid below market rates. 71% of respondents in the North of England and 64% of respondents in the Midlands were satisfied with their rate of pay.

These trends were reflected in other HVAC sectors with almost half of commercial heating sales engineers in the South East feeling they are paid below market rates. In contrast

65% of respondents in the North of England and 63% of respondents in the Midlands are satisfied with their rate of pay.

The Midlands scores best for bonuses

When it comes to bonuses the Midlands offers the highest bonus packages nationally for sales professionals in the ventilation sector.

In the Midlands a third of ventilation sales engineers earn a bonus worth over £20K on top of their basic salary. 18% of sales engineers in the South East and just 5% in the North of England fall into the top bonus bracket.

Jason Thornhill of Thornhvac said: “The aim of this survey was to gather data on salary levels in each region of the UK to act as a reference point for employers and to help candidates evaluate job offers.

“We will now be using this data to provide tailored reports for our clients and we intend to repeat the survey annually to keep our intelligence up to date and as relevant as possible.”