If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a recruiter specialising in HVAC, it’s this: the HVAC industry never stands still. The tech evolves. Regulations shift. Clients demand more. And yes—salaries follow suit.

I’ve had the privilege of speaking to and placing dozens of commissioning and service engineers across the UK and Ireland. From those conversations—and a detailed analysis 100s of data points—we’ve built a clear picture of how HVAC salaries are evolving.  We know what’s influencing those changes, and where the real value lies for commissioning / service, technical / ops managers, and multi-role engineers, and HVAC employers alike.

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💼 The Role You Play Matters—A Lot

When it comes to pay, versatility wins. Engineers who wear multiple hats—commissioning, servicing, installing—are the top earners, often pulling in £54,000–£60,000. Why? Because they’re adaptable, they understand systems end-to-end, and they solve problems without passing the buck.

Here’s a snapshot of the top-paying roles:

• Commissioning/Service hybrid engineers: £54,000+

• Technical or Operations Managers: £55,000+

• Multi-role engineers (Installation + Commissioning + Service): Up to £60,000

At the other end of the scale, we see more narrowly focused roles—like basic service-only or ventilation engineers—landing around £25,000–£35,000. Still good work, but the market rewards flexibility.  Food for thought!

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🛠 Sectors That Pay (and Those That Don’t… Yet)

It’s no surprise that Controls and Instrumentation lead the pack—these jobs demand precision and a strong understanding of both Mechanical and Electrical systems which are growing fast across the industry. Engineers in this space are commanding around £52,000.

Other highlights:

• Commercial Heating & Refrigeration: £45,000+

• Air Conditioning: Average £41,500, but with wide variation

• Domestic Heating: Trails slightly at £38,800

It’s no surprise either, that engineers working across multiple sectors—for example, Domestic + Commercial + Renewables—are seeing stronger pay offers. Again, versatility leads to value.

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📍 Location, Location, Compensation

In HVAC, where you work can make or break your salary bracket. Some key insights, and interesting, London / the South is not the top place to earn in HVAC:

• Top earners were based in Nottinghamshire, Dublin, and Derbyshire: £55,000–£60,000.

• Greater London and South East England are predictably strong: £45,000–£48,000 averages.

• The North West and Midlands showed the biggest range: from £30,000 to £47,000, depending on experience and niche.

• Scotland and Wales are mixed bags: Glasgow saw salaries from £27,000 to £46,000.

• Bristol and Midlothian posted the lowest figures—down to £19,000 in some cases.

The data shows there’s a strong opportunity across the Midlands and Ireland, particularly for engineers who are open to travel.

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🔧 The Real Takeaway?

The HVAC market is hungry for well-rounded professionals. The more skills you bring to the table—especially across commissioning, servicing, and leadership—the more you’re worth.

From a recruitment perspective, this also means employers in HVAC need to be realistic about what multi-skilled engineers are worth in today’s market. Expecting a one-stop-shop engineer / ops professional who can commission, maintain, install, and do paperwork for £35,000? You’re not going to attract the best talent into your growing HVAC business.

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👷 Final Thought: HVAC Needs Investment in Range

For engineers: If you want to push your earnings up, start developing cross-functional skills. Shadow a commissioning lead. Learn controls. Take a course on renewables.

For employers: If you want to attract and retain top-tier HVAC talent, you need to align with the market. Salaries are rising, and expectations are shifting. The cost of underpaying is far higher than the cost of hiring right.

Both employees and employers would do well to benchmark, annually, their skills and salaries to stay up to speed and competitive.

This survey proves one thing: the value of an HVAC engineer is no longer just in what they do—but in how many problems they can solve.

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If you'd like to talk about what this means for your team or your own HVAC career, I’m happy to chat. Contact me via this link https://www.thornhvac.co.uk/consultants/michael-frost