why is new AC install labor cost so high?

from what I saw online pricing, it seems that install cost is more than equipment on average.

for example, an Trane XR13 cost about 2k (outside and inside together). but most AC tech charges 5k for total cost.

It's just a few hours of work to put it together.

Folks, Matt brings up a very good point. HVAC, plumbing, electrical is getting expensive.

Myself, just like Gevens, Vee and others here have been in the a/c industry for a few years.

There are NOT enough new students, apprentices, new hires going into the trade fields. I know many, many techs making well over $100k because of the shortage of GOOD tech workers.

The old timers are retiring, dying, or slowing down and we are not replacing them fast enough. Good techs are naming their prices and getting them.

Trade classes have been dropping out of k-12 schools for years. We are seeing the results.

The new buyers of our flips want turn key properties. They can't fix or repair anything. BUT they can write checks (or now pay online or through a square) Fixers-uppers are everywhere because nobody knows how to fix 'em up.

It will get worse. Young folks getting the trades now and become real pros will write their own checks in 10 years.

You are right it only takes a few hours with 5-8000 in equipment if you build it in one place, do you want to open sheetmetal and put the coil into the air handler/furnace - more time, then run lineset thru walls and bricks -a few more hours, want to add a indoor water drain also - pump and tubing or hard pipe along the floor to area drain - more time to marry to furnace/humidifier drain, let's clean up cause we already been here all day, tmrw braze the tubing shut and vacuum before adding freon in the afternoon.

I've seen the same, and I echo what LeePookie (aka Lee) says. Simple market supply and demand.

Time spent doing a task is irrelevant. Here's what I mean: my son's doctor performed laparoscopic surgery on him to tie the top part of his stomach around the base of his esophagus when he was less than 1 year old to cure his of severe acid reflux. The whole operation from the time they took him back to the time we were back with him was about 1.5 hours. No materials other than basic surgical equipment. Total bill was $50,000. ;-) Why? Because he's the only pediatric surgeon who specializes in that particular operation within 150 miles and he's done over 100 of them successfully.

So long story short: find yourself someone who is fresh out of school from studying the trade and/or is retired and just looking to earn some beer money. They'll work on their schedule when and where it's convenient for them, but you can save some $$$.

Or take some classes and DIY.

I am a plumbing contractor. One job, repair an emergency pipe leak in a hospital wall. The rules are, if I shut water off to a wing of a hospital, then patients have to be moved. Water is needed for everything from cleaning hands to all forms a patient care.

So I use my $3500 pipe freezing tool and isolate the water leak, so that only the room I'm working in has to be empty, saving the hospital thousands to move patients back and forth. And I have to use my press copper fittings to replace the problem pipes, and that tool cost $3,200.

So when I bill the Hospital owner for $500 for 2 hours of work, their net savings in 10 times my cost. Only few plumbers use this method and have the tool and fittings to back it up.

1. I have the proper certifications and licenses.

2. I have the skills and experience to do it right.

3. I have many thousands of dollars of specialty tools so I can do the job right.

Or you can hire a hack that will install the job with a pair of pliers and a hacksaw. LOL

And yes, we are and will be experiencing a severe shortage of skilled tradesmen.

Converted all electric house -

Total system for heat and AC including ducts, etc - delivered cost me $5000 at wholesaler. Get a wholesale account now. Supply House will have a ton of names of small guys to do this work

My 1 man heating guy ran the gas line (must be licensed in NH) and set up system etc - $1000. His cousin ( also licensed) set up AC condenser and ran lines on a weekend with his son as helper for $500