HVAC Technician Career Overview

Updated: 07/12/2022

What might you expect from a career as an HVAC technician? Below are just some of the benefits the occupation could offer:

  • Getting outdoors and staying active on the job.
  • Daily variety in job duties and work environments.
  • Hands-on problem-solving.
  • Healthy job growth and pay.1*

Should you become an HVAC technician? Learning more about this skilled trade may help you decide. Find information in the career overview below.

SECTION 1

HVAC Technician Career: Quick Facts and Stats

HVAC Technician National Average Pay (2020)$53,410 annually / $25.68 hourly.2*
HVAC Technician National Job Growth (through 2029) 4% (As fast as average).3**
HVAC Technician Education Requirements Post-secondary HVAC training.3
HVAC Technician Certification and Licensing Requirements EPA Section 608 technician certification required for working with refrigerants. HVAC license required in some states.4
HVAC Technician Work Environments Indoors and outdoors. Full-time and overtime/irregular hours during peak heating and cooling seasons.3
HVAC Technician National Average Pay (2020) $53,410 annually / $25.68 hourly.2*
HVAC Technician Industries Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors; schools; wholesale trade; and self-employment.5

Interested in a career in HVAC? Learn more about what an HVAC technician does.

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SECTION 3

Do HVAC Technicians Make Good Money?

While each individual worker may define “good money” differently, compared to many occupations, HVAC technicians made healthy wages. For instance, nationally, they earned a median hourly wage of $24.32 in 2020.8*

 

HVAC Technician Salary

On average, nationally, HVAC technicians earned $53,410 a year, or $25.68 an hour in 2020. HVAC technician salaries overall, however, varied. Below are the Bureau of Labor Statistics percentile wage estimates for these tradespeople.2*

 

HVAC Technician National Percentile Wage Estimates2*

  • 10th Percentile: $31,910 yearly and $15.34 hourly.
  • 25th Percentile: $39,320 yearly and $18.90 hourly.
  • 50th Percentile: $50,590 yearly and $24.32 hourly.
  • 75th Percentile $64,350 yearly and $30.94 hourly.
  • 90th Percentile: $80,820 yearly and $38.86 hourly.

Highest Paying States for HVAC Technicians2*

 

Why Incomes for HVAC Technicians Vary

What sets an HVAC technician in the 10th percentile of earners apart from one in the 90th? A host of factors.

Higher earners may have more work experience and in-demand skills. They may also possess vocational training certificates, EPA and industry HVAC certifications, and state or local licenses. Credentials like these can demonstrate proficiency in specific skills and knowledge to employers.9

An HVAC technician’s job duties can also influence how much he or she earns. As mentioned earlier, entry level-technicians tend to handle simpler tasks than experienced techs do. Even within the same career level, technicians with better performance records may earn more than those with less impressive ones.9

Geographic location and industry are two other factors that can impact how much an HVAC technician makes.9 Check out the BLS data below to see the highest paying states and industries for techs in 2020.

 

Highest Paying Industries for HVAC Technicians2*

IndustryHVAC Technician Hourly Pay HVAC Technician Yearly Pay
Natural Gas Distribution $38.14 $79,320
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing $38.87 $80,850
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank $35.35 $73,520
Telecommunications $35.51 $73,860
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution $33.92 $70,560

Highest Paying States for HVAC Technicians2*

State HVAC Technician Hourly Pay HVAC Technician Yearly Pay
District of Columbia $35.32 $73,460
Alaska$38.28 $79,630
Washington $31.34 $65,180
Massachusetts $31.13 $64,760
Hawaii$31.56 $65,640

What’s clear from the HVAC technician salary data is that wages can differ depending on several variables, such as training, certifications, licenses, skills, experience and performance. Earning such credentials, as well as working in the most lucrative industries and highest-paying states, may lead to higher incomes as an HVAC technician.
 
Interested in a career in HVAC? Learn more about how much you could make as an HVAC technician.

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SECTION 4

Is There a Demand for HVAC Technicians?

Yes, demand for HVAC technicians in terms of job growth is set to be much faster than average. The BLS projects 4% job growth through 2029.3**

Depending on where an HVAC technician works, job growth may be even faster than the national average for this occupation.

StatePredicted HVAC Technician Job Growth**
Florida16.2% through 202810
Arizona21.4% through 202811
California12.5% through 202812
Colorado29.7% through 202813
Texas 15.9% through 202814

HVAC Technician Employment Levels

Just as pay for HVAC technicians can depend on location and industry, so too can levels of employment. Check out the states and industries with the highest levels of employment for techs below.

  • States with the Highest Levels of Employment of HVAC Technicians
    A total of 344,020 HVAC technicians were employed in the U.S. in 2020. Below were the states with the highest levels of employment of techs:

    • Florida: 33,210 HVAC Technicians.
    • California: 32,410 HVAC Technicians.
    • Texas: 28,010 HVAC Technicians.
    • New York: 16,730 HVAC Technicians.
    • Pennsylvania: 14,900
    • HVAC Technicians.2**
  • Industries with the Highest Levels of Employment of HVAC Technicians
    Homes, stores, schools, hospitals, factories and office buildings can all be places where HVAC technicians ply their trade.5 Below were the specific industries with the highest levels of employment of HVAC technicians in 2020:

    • Contractors of building equipment: 254,320 HVAC Technicians.
    • Direct selling establishments: 9,250 HVAC Technicians.
    • Merchant wholesalers, durable goods: 10,770 HVAC Technicians.
    • Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment: 6,670 HVAC Technicians.
    • Pennsylvania: 14,900
    • Universities, colleges and professional schools: 5,780 HVAC Technicians.2**

 
Interested in a career in HVAC? Learn more about the types of HVAC careers.

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SECTION 5

Is HVAC Technician a Good Career?

 

  • Working outdoors instead of in offices.
  • Hands-on work.
  • Solving practical problems.
  • Handling tools and machinery.
  • Minimal paperwork.
  • Working independently instead of close to others.
  • Following set procedures and routines.
  • Dealing with details and data more than ideas.
  • Answering to a clear line of authority.
  • Investigating problems.

 

Career Goals

  • Becoming a skilled tradesman or woman.
  • Entering a growing industry.3**
  • Enjoying opportunities for career advancement and higher earnings.2*
  • Obtaining certifications and licenses.4
  • Being self-employed or starting your own HVAC service company.5

 

Career Preparation Resources

  • Shorter training time than for professions requiring 4 years or more of college (6 months to 2 years).4
  • Fewer years of tuition to pay for and possibly lower tuition costs.15
  • Flexible training options for working students and parents.

Of course, there may be other factors to take into account when choosing a new career. During this time, conducting research, utilizing HVAC technician career resources and speaking with HVAC school representatives can help you learn more about the occupation and whether or not it’s a good fit.
 
Interested in a career in HVAC? Learn more about why being an HVAC technician is a great career.

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SECTION 6

What Are the HVAC Technician Training Requirements?

What skills are needed to be an HVAC technician? Is vocational training necessary? Do HVAC technicians need to be licensed?

These are important questions to ask when considering becoming an HVAC technician. Find answers to them below.

 

HVAC Technician Education Requirements

  • High School Diploma or GED
    Many post-secondary institutions that provide HVAC training, such as trade schools and community colleges, require students to have a high school diploma or GED. It’s also common for employers to require one or the other.16While in high school, taking classes in math, physics and vocational education can help with preparing to become an HVAC technician, according to the BLS. Learning about basic electricity and plumbing can also be beneficial.4
  • HVAC Training
    Due to the increasing complexity of the equipment, many employers prefer to hire workers with formal HVAC training from a trade school or community college.4 The Refrigeration Technologies program at The Refrigeration School (RSI), for example, has the following courses:

    • Fundamentals of Electricity
    • Fundamentals of Refrigeration
    • Comfort Systems – Commercial
    • Comfort Systems – Residential
    • Refrigeration Systems & Practices
    • Advanced Trouble-Shooting Techniques

 

HVAC Certification and Licensing Requirements

HVAC technicians who handle refrigerants are required to have Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 608 Technician Certification. It’s common for HVAC schools to help prepare students for this test.4

Beyond the EPA mandate, HVAC certifications and licenses may be beneficial for certain positions or required in some states.4 Industry organizations that grant general or specialized HVAC certifications include HVAC Excellence and North American Technician Excellence (NATE).17

Interested in a career in HVAC? Learn more about the training requirements.

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SECTION 7

Train to Become an HVAC Technician

Want to learn more about becoming an HVAC technician or ready to enroll in an HVAC training program? A representative for The Refrigeration School can answer any questions you may have, walk you through the admissions process, and help get you started on this exciting career path. Call RSI today at 888-671-5803.

*Phoenix Area’s annual mean wage is $50,070 for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (499021) reported by BLS as of May 2020 http://data.bls.gov/oes. Average starting salary for Refrigeration Technologies is $35,670 for RSI graduates employed during the 12-month period of 7/1/19-6/30/20.

**According to BLS data Arizona employed 10,000 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (499021) through May 2020 http://data.bls.gov/oes.

Interested in a career in HVAC? Learn how to become an HVAC technician.
Read More

 

Have Questions?

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(855) 318-9203[email protected]

Additional Sources


1 https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-9021.01
2 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes499021.htm
3 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm
4 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm#tab-4
5 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm#tab-3
6 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm#tab-2
7 Title: Fundamentals of HVAC; Authors: Carter Stanfield and David Skaves; Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute; Second Edition; Textbook page 6-7
8 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000
9 https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
10 https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm (search for “Florida” and select “Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers)
11 https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm (search “Arizona” and select “Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers” to generate job growth projection)
12 https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm?AreaName=california&Name=heating&i tems_per_page=10
13 https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm (search “Colorado” and select “Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers” to generate job growth projection)
14 https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm?AreaName=texas&Name=heating&item s_per_page=10
15 https://www.thesimpledollar.com/investing/college/why-you-should-consider-trade-school-instead-of-college/
16 https://education.seattlepi.com/advantages-ged-1135.html
17 http://www.hvwtech.com/hvac-certification/

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