Licensed supply, credential mix, wages and demand for HVAC technicians in Polk County, IA, from the state register (updated nightly) and BLS.
Polk County, IA carries 1,077 licensed HVAC technicians and a median wage of $62,640/yr ($30.11/hr).
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This county sits at the 77th percentile nationally for HVAC technicians pay, above the median US county. Average weekly wages across the county's construction trades rose 15.1% year over year (BLS QCEW).
Counties within 150 miles whose published median for this occupation is higher than Polk County's. Medians from the same BLS OEWS series shown above, not offers, and pay is only one reason to move.
| County | Median | Difference | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson County, IL | $77,410 | +$14,770 | 149 mi |
| Freeborn County, MN | $76,350 | +$13,710 | 138 mi |
| Faribault County, MN | $76,350 | +$13,710 | 139 mi |
| Mower County, MN | $76,350 | +$13,710 | 143 mi |
| Martin County, MN | $76,350 | +$13,710 | 146 mi |
Polk County holds 66% of the metro area's 1,631 licensed HVAC technicians (the largest HVAC technicians pool among its 6 counties), at 21.3 per 10,000 residents against 22.1 metro-wide.
Employment from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages for the industry this trade sits in; payroll from the Census County Business Patterns. Establishment counts are QCEW where the county is disclosed and an ATI estimate otherwise.
| Measure | Value | What it counts |
|---|---|---|
| Employer establishments | 148 | Physical business locations in this industry. |
| Industry employment | 5,351 | Everyone on those payrolls, not only licensed trades. |
| Annual industry payroll | $381M | Total wages paid across those establishments (Census CBP, 2023). |
County-wide construction activity, across all trades rather than HVAC technicians specifically. Each figure names its source and the period it covers.
| Measure | Value | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| New housing units permitted | 4,730 | Last full year, county-wide. 94 per 10,000 residents. Permits lead construction hiring by months, so this is the earliest honest signal of work arriving (Census Building Permits Survey). |
| Construction employment | 15,674 | Everyone working in construction in this county, all trades and office staff. Average pay $1,716 per week. BLS QCEW. |
| Median year homes were built | 1982 | Older stock means more repair, replacement and retrofit work, which is steadier than new build and does not stop in a downturn (Census ACS). |
| Net migration | -278 | People who moved in minus people who moved out, from IRS address changes. Arrivals need housing, wiring, plumbing and heat. |
21.3 licensed HVAC technicians per 10,000 residents; 115 licensed holders per 100 estimated workers in the trade; 3.5 apprentices per 10,000 residents. A thin pipeline against an ageing licensed base is how a shortage forms years before it shows up in wages.
License register: 2026-10-05; Wages: 2025-05-31; Demand: 2026-10-05; Apprenticeship: 2025-12-31.
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