HVAC Technician
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.
Also called: AC Mechanic (Air Conditioner Mechanic) · AC Tech (Air Conditioning Technician) · HVAC Control Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Control Technician) · HVAC Installer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Installer) · HVAC Mechanic (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Mechanic) · HVAC Service Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Service Technician) · HVAC Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technician) · Refrigeration Mechanic
O*NET-SOC 49-9021.00 (Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers)
HVAC Technician salary
Wages for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $29.33.
HVAC Technician pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $46,950 | $72,560 | $109,060 |
| Texas | $38,100 | $57,760 | $81,860 |
| Florida | $38,370 | $56,670 | $78,210 |
| New York | $48,560 | $74,430 | $100,680 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,970 | $62,400 | $89,440 |
| Illinois | $46,690 | $77,410 | $117,550 |
| Ohio | $38,630 | $62,510 | $98,310 |
| Georgia | $36,990 | $56,390 | $79,130 |
| North Carolina | $37,780 | $57,260 | $77,160 |
| Michigan | $40,210 | $60,850 | $95,290 |
HVAC Technician job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 440,900 jobs in 2025 to 489,100 in 2035 (11% change).
- About 40,600 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Bright (Rapid Growth).
How to become an HVAC technician
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary certificate
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- More than 1 year on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma10%
- High school diploma or equivalent41.6%
- Some college, no degree27.7%
- Associate's degree13.5%
- Bachelor's degree5.8%
- Master's degree1.2%
- Doctoral or professional degree.2%
Related training programs
- Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician
What does an HVAC technician do?
Common tasks
- Discuss heating or cooling system malfunctions with users to isolate problems or to verify that repairs corrected malfunctions.
- Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.
- Repair or replace defective equipment, components, or wiring.
- Lay out and connect electrical wiring between controls and equipment, according to wiring diagrams, using electrician's hand tools.
- Schedule work with customers and initiate work orders, house requisitions, and orders from stock.
- Estimate, order, pick up, deliver, and install materials and supplies needed to maintain equipment in good working condition.
- Install, connect, or adjust thermostats, humidistats, or timers.
- Comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area.
- Repair or service heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to improve efficiency, such as by changing filters, cleaning ducts, and refilling non-toxic refrigerants.
- Test pipes, lines, components, and connections for leaks.
Most important skills
- Troubleshooting
- Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
- Installation
- Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Equipment Maintenance
- Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
HVAC Technician certifications
8 of 144 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- ESCO Group · Core
- ESCO Group · Core
- ESCO Group · Core
- ESCO Group · Core
- ESCO Group · Core
- ESCO Group · Core
- ESCO Group · Core
- ESCO Group · Advanced
See all 144certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
HVAC Technician jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more skilled trades & maintenance jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Skilled Trades & Maintenance jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
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More skilled trades & maintenance careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.