Central air conditioner replacement cost in Salt Lake City, UT
Installed, 3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)
A typical central AC (3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)) costs about $4,650 installed in the Salt Lake City area, about the same as the national figure, because HVAC technicians here earn a median $29 an hour against $29 nationally.
Prices by size in Salt Lake City
| Size | Low | Typical | High | National typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $3,150 | $3,500 | $4,550 | $3,500 |
| 3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $4,100 | $4,650 | $6,100 | $4,650 |
| 4 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $5,450 | $6,000 | $7,650 | $6,000 |
| 5 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $6,650 | $7,400 | $8,850 | $7,400 |
Local labor: what HVAC technicians earn here
| Hourly wage | Salt Lake City metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $23 | $23 |
| Median | $29 | $29 |
| 75th percentile | $36 | $37 |
The Salt Lake City market
Salt Lake City's Consolidated Fee Schedule prices water heaters, furnaces and heating and cooling appliances under its plumbing and mechanical permits, which indicates a permit for each replacement even though no city page says so in words. Mechanical permits carry a $59 base fee plus $30 for a furnace up to 200,000 Btu/h, and repairs or alterations to heating or cooling units start at $42 for work up to $1,000. Plumbing permits are $59 base plus $16 per water heater. A property owner may pull permits for a primary residence with an Owner/Builder Certification; when a contractor is hired, state law makes the contractor responsible for the permit and inspections, which are scheduled through the Citizen Access Portal. Utah is gas country: EIA's 2020 survey found 86% of homes heat with natural gas and 90% use a furnace.
About 79% of Utah homes have central air, often as a coil sitting on the gas furnace. Ask for the coil match and a load calculation. The cooling season is shorter than the heating season here, so ask whether a mid-range SEER2 unit covers your needs before paying for the top tier. When the furnace is also aging, price the pair together.
Permits in Salt Lake City
| Permit for this job | Yes (inferred from mechanical permit fee lines for furnaces and heating/cooling appliances) (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | Mechanical: base fee $59 + furnace (<=200,000 BTU/h) $30. Plumbing: base fee $59 + water heater $16 each. |
| Who can pull it | Property owner (primary residence, with Owner/Builder Certification) or licensed contractor (contractor responsible for permit under state law) |
| Inspection | Yes (inspections scheduled after permit issuance; contractor responsible for seeing inspections done) |
Rebates in Utah
HEAR: paused. HOMES: paused. Source: Utah Office of Energy Development, checked October 13, 2026.
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in Salt Lake City
- Gas tank water heater
- Gas tankless water heater
- Gas furnace
- Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler)
Central air conditioner cost in other metros
Sources
- Salt Lake City, UT permit source (water heater permit)
- Salt Lake City, UT permit source (who can pull)
- Salt Lake City, UT permit source (inspection)
- Salt Lake City, UT permit source: Mechanical and Plumbing Fee Worksheets; Owner Builder Certification
- Utah Office of Energy Development: energy efficiency
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for space heating fuel in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Salt Lake City-Murray, UT (49-9021 HVAC mechanics and installers)
- DOE Residential CAC & Heat Pumps Direct Final Rule TSD (Dec 2016), Table 8.2.30, split AC coil-only (2015$; 4-ton interpolated)