An HVAC chief executive officer decides where a heating and cooling company is going and lines up the money, people and partners to get there. The CEO leads the senior managers, works with the bank and any investors, and is either the owner or answers to the owner.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, HVAC and plumbing contractors · BLS, May 2025
An innovative and strategic leader responsible for shaping the vision, securing resources, and driving the overall direction of our HVAC company. This role is pivotal in establishing industry-leading practices, ensuring operational excellence, and fostering a culture of growth and customer satisfaction.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Develop and execute the company’s strategic vision and long-term business plan.
Secure essential resources including capital, talent, and technology to drive growth.
Oversee all operational aspects, ensuring alignment with industry best practices in HVAC services.
Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, partners, and industry leaders.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Conduct daily strategy reviews and performance assessments with executive leadership.
Engage with key clients and industry partners to explore new business opportunities.
Review financial reports and operational metrics to drive data-informed decision-making.
Represent the company at industry events and public engagements to strengthen market presence.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Year-over-year revenue growth: 10% increase per annum.
Customer Satisfaction Rating: Achieve an average rating of >4.8 stars.
Employee Engagement: Maintain a 90% positive engagement score.
Operational Efficiency: Achieve a gross margin of at least 40%.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field; an advanced degree is preferred.
Minimum of 10 years of executive leadership experience in a service-oriented industry.
Exceptional strategic planning, financial acumen, and resource management skills.
Proven ability to communicate clearly and motivate high-performing teams.
6. Preferred Experience
Experience in leading companies within the HVAC or broader home services industry.
Demonstrated success in scaling operations and driving profitability in competitive markets.
Proven track record in managing complex projects and cross-functional teams.
Familiarity with regulatory and compliance standards specific to the HVAC industry.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to spend approximately 20% of time in field visits to operational sites.
Capacity to travel regularly, with occasional visits to multiple job sites and partner facilities.
Comfortable working in standard office environments as well as on-site when required.
Minimal physical demands beyond standard managerial office functions.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Standard work hours from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM with flexibility for industry events and meetings.
Regular travel across regions and occasional international trip requirements.
On-call duties during critical business situations or emergency operational challenges.
Collaborative office environment balanced with significant remote work flexibility.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Annual salary range of $200,000 - $350,000 USD, commensurate with experience.
Performance-related bonus structure based on achievement of strategic KPIs.
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance packages.
401(k) plan with company match and additional fringe benefits such as paid time off.
10. Company Culture and Overview
We pride ourselves on a dynamic and inclusive culture that champions innovation, continuous learning, and a commitment to excellence in every facet of our work. Our team is driven by passion and dedication to deliver unparalleled HVAC services. We foster an environment where new ideas are celebrated and every member is empowered to contribute to both personal success and the growth of the company.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
Need help filling this role? HireBus posts the ad, Iris interviews every applicant by phone before you do, and you decide who to hire. Start hiring now
Every CEO sets direction and finds the money to get there. In residential HVAC, licenses, technicians, equipment supply and buyers shape those choices.
The license may depend on one person
Some states license an HVAC company through one qualified person. In California, every contractor license needs a qualifying individual, who may or may not be the owner. If that person leaves, the company has 90 days to replace them, or the license is suspended or that classification is removed. A CEO who isn't the qualifier should know who is and have a backup plan. Source: CSLB: Application for replacing the qualifying individual.
Choosing which work to grow
Repairs, replacements, maintenance plans and new-home work for builders each bring different customers, crews and cash timing. Adding a service such as water heaters, generators or indoor air quality may need new licenses, training and stock. The CEO decides which work to grow, which to add and which to turn down, then makes sure the company can staff it.
The brands you sell and the distributor who stocks them shape your prices, warranties and parts supply. The refrigerant switch showed why. EPA says some contractors and technicians had trouble getting R-454B in the field to charge new systems in 2025. EPA has also moved the install deadline for older R-410A equipment twice, pushing it back a year in 2023 and dropping it in 2026. The CEO plans brands and stock with that risk in mind. Source: Federal Register: EPA final rule on HFC technology transitions (May 26, 2026).
Buyers look at how the company runs without you
Private equity firms and other buyers are active in residential HVAC. An August 2026 ACHR News report said buyers put a premium on recurring maintenance agreements, written procedures, and leadership teams that can run the business without the owner. Even if you never sell, those are the things a CEO should build. Source: ACHR News: A new generation of HVAC business owners emerges (August 2026).
How much HVAC chief executive officers make
The closest BLS group for HVAC chief executive officers is chief executives. Chief executives who work for plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors earned a median of $174,130 a year ($83.72 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s below the $213,990 median for chief executives in all industries. About 760 of the 204,350 chief executives in that survey work for HVAC and plumbing contractors.
Usually a salary plus a yearly bonus tied to profit and growth. A hired CEO may also get equity or a share of the proceeds if the company sells.
HVAC and plumbing contractors
$174,130$174,130 median Middle half $93,740–$271,790 10th–90th $70,780–$421,320
All industries
$213,990$213,990 median Middle half $129,540–$356,200 10th–90th $75,700–$507,730
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
HVAC and plumbing contractors
$70,780
$93,740
$174,130
$271,790
$421,320
All industries
$75,700
$129,540
$213,990
$356,200
$507,730
BLS reports HVAC and plumbing contractors together. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Reads a profit and loss, balance sheet and cash forecast without help
Has led managers, not only front-line staff
Can borrow or raise money and hold their own with lenders and investors
Sets a few clear goals and holds leaders to them
Makes hard calls on people, prices and spending
Teach these on the job
HVAC equipment basics and the refrigerant change
Which reports to pull from your field service software
Your maintenance plan rules and pricing
State and local licensing and permit rules
Your manufacturer and distributor relationships
The CEO works from reports more than from software: monthly financials, a cash forecast, and dashboards from field service software such as ServiceTitan, FieldEdge or Housecall Pro. Put your field service and accounting software in the ad so candidates can see what reporting they'll start with.
HVAC chief executive officer interview questions
They have their own page: 6 questions that test this job, what strong and weak answers sound like, and a work exercise to run with your finalists.
The targets in the template are examples. Set yours from your own history and plan, and review them with the owner or board each quarter.
Year-over-year revenue growth
Company revenue for the year to date against the same period last year. Read it by season, since a mild summer or winter can hide real progress or a real problem.
Customer Satisfaction Rating
Your average star rating on Google and other review sites, plus post-job survey scores, read each month. Check maintenance plan renewals next to it, since renewals show whether customers trust you enough to keep paying.
Employee Engagement
Scores from an anonymous staff survey you run on a set schedule, with the same questions each time. Read them next to how many technicians, installers and managers stay with you a full year.
Operational Efficiency
Gross margin from your monthly profit and loss: revenue minus the direct costs of jobs, such as field wages, equipment and parts, divided by revenue. Track it by department so a weak one can't hide.
The CEO decides what the company will become and makes the big calls that get it there. That includes which areas to serve, which equipment brands to sell, when to add trucks or a location, and whether to buy another company. The CEO hires and leads the senior team, such as a COO or general manager and a CFO or controller, and spends more time with lenders, partners and the owner than with customers.
How much does an HVAC chief executive officer make?
Chief executives who work for plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors earned a median of $174,130 a year ($83.72 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $93,740 and $271,790 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and bonus terms.
What is the difference between an HVAC CEO, COO and general manager?
The CEO decides where the company is going and how to pay for it. The COO builds and runs the systems that deliver the work across the whole company. A general manager runs one location day to day and owns its results. At a single-location company the COO and general manager jobs overlap, so owners often hire one or the other. Write the ad for the work you actually need done.
When should an HVAC owner hire a CEO?
Owners often hire one when they want to step back from daily decisions, plan to sell in a few years, or have growth plans that need more time than they have. If you mainly need someone to run the field and the office, a general manager or COO may fit better. Hire a CEO when you are ready to hand over real decisions, not just tasks.
Should an HVAC CEO come from the trade?
Not necessarily. Trade experience helps a CEO earn trust with technicians and judge install quality. Leaders from outside the trade may bring stronger finance and planning skills. Either way, the CEO needs someone close by who knows the equipment, the licenses and the field, whether that's the COO, a lead technician or the license qualifier.
What should an HVAC CEO job ad include?
Say who the CEO answers to, which decisions they will own, and how big the company is today: revenue range, trucks, locations and services. Explain any bonus or equity plan, and say whether the owner stays involved. Be honest about the hard parts, such as a planned sale or a leadership team that needs rebuilding.
