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HVAC technician apprenticeships: what they pay, state by state

U.S. Department of Labor records list 10,373 registered apprentices active across the 50 states and the District of Columbia in fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024) under the occupation titles DOL maps to heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (SOC 49-9021). The file's fiscal 2024 records largely stop after February 2024. In fiscal 2023 (October 2022 to September 2023) the median starting wage of registered apprentices ran from $14.85 an hour in Tennessee to $31.00 in Minnesota, across the 23 states where 50 or more apprentices carry a starting wage DOL counts.

Active apprentices
10,373
50 states and DC, fiscal 2024
Starting wage, by state
$14.85 to $31.00
lowest and highest state median, fiscal 2023
Wage at completion, by state
$21.03 to $51.97
lowest and highest state median, fiscal 2023
All HVAC technicians, BLS
$29.33
national median an hour, May 2025

Apprentice counts and wages by state

The most are in California (1,487), Florida (1,067), Iowa (825), New Jersey (708), Virginia (696). Among the apprentices who completed in fiscal 2023, the median wage at completion ran from $21.03 an hour in Virginia to $51.97 in California, across the 9 states with 50 or more exit wages DOL counts. A median is shown only where 50 or more apprentices carry the wage; the counts are shown for every state with an active apprentice in fiscal 2024.

StateActive, fiscal 2024Started, fiscal 2023Median starting wageMedian completing wageBLS median, May 2025
California 1,487 465 $27.61 $51.97 $34.88
Florida 1,067 459 $18.00 $25.77 $27.24
Iowa 825 390 $17.00 $22.00 $29.17
New Jersey 708 273 $20.00 $39.08 $35.79
Virginia 696 251 $16.00 $21.03 $28.72
Pennsylvania 487 134 $19.87 $41.50 $30.00
Missouri 418 182 $20.98 fewer than 50 wages $28.82
Ohio 414 183 $18.00 $28.73 $30.06
Minnesota 379 183 $31.00 fewer than 50 wages $36.71
Texas 374 169 $18.20 fewer than 50 wages $27.77
Michigan 293 119 $19.95 $35.95 $29.26
Illinois 276 112 $20.88 fewer than 50 wages $37.21
Delaware 248 91 $18.00 fewer than 50 wages $29.96
Indiana 239 72 $20.41 fewer than 50 wages $29.05
Maryland 228 79 $17.50 $30.75 $33.67
Hawaii 219 58 $19.54 fewer than 50 wages $31.47
Georgia 212 92 $16.45 fewer than 50 wages $27.11
Kentucky 196 70 $21.10 fewer than 50 wages $28.18
South Carolina 139 39 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $27.22
Louisiana 134 83 $16.79 fewer than 50 wages $28.20
Arizona 114 47 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $28.56
Tennessee 111 56 $14.85 fewer than 50 wages $26.68
Idaho 104 83 $20.00 fewer than 50 wages $27.04
Utah 102 63 $17.00 fewer than 50 wages $28.24
Nebraska 99 34 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $28.77
Kansas 87 23 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.07
South Dakota 68 24 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.51
Montana 64 28 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.26
Colorado 61 15 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $31.35
Alaska 51 18 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $37.23
Arkansas 51 18 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $23.13
Oklahoma 50 50 $16.00 fewer than 50 wages $27.67
Nevada 46 20 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.09
Rhode Island 39 7 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $32.39
Massachusetts 32 12 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $37.16
West Virginia 32 4 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $23.49
Wisconsin 28 13 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.67
New Hampshire 27 15 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $35.51
Wyoming 27 22 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $26.30
North Carolina 22 6 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $27.53
Vermont 18 2 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.88
Alabama 17 3 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $23.26
New York 16 5 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $35.78
North Dakota 15 9 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $35.81
Connecticut 11 10 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $36.83
Maine 11 2 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $30.37
Washington 10 6 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $36.38
District of Columbia 9 2 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $40.57
Mississippi 6 3 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $23.41
New Mexico 4 1 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $24.17
Oregon 2 0 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $30.26

Hourly wages, most active apprentices first. The starting wage is the median across the apprentices who started in fiscal 2023 and the completing wage the median across those who completed it: two groups of people. The BLS figure is the wage survey's median for the occupation in the state, a different source and a different period, so read the two side by side and not as a ratio. Which wages DOL counts and how the state is assigned are on the data page. As a file: every trade and state with an active apprentice (CSV).

What those wages come to a week and a year, at your hours →

How the apprenticeship runs

Some technicians train through an apprenticeship, which usually lasts several years, with paid on-the-job training and some technical instruction each year; over its course they learn about topics such as safety practices, blueprint reading, and heating and cooling systems. The federal Apprenticeship Finder searches apprenticeship openings by occupation and by city, state or ZIP code. Apprenticeship Finder →

BLS wording

“Some technicians train through an apprenticeship program, which usually lasts several years. Apprenticeships include paid on-the-job training, as well as some technical instruction, each year. Over the course of the apprenticeship, technicians learn about topics such as safety practices, blueprint reading, and heating and cooling systems.”

How long. Postsecondary programs generally last six months to two years, and on-the-job training after hiring is typically lengthy; an apprenticeship usually lasts several years.

BLS wording

“Once hired, they typically have a lengthy period of on-the-job training to attain competency. ... These programs generally last from 6 months to 2 years and lead to a certificate or an associate's degree. ... Some technicians train through an apprenticeship program, which usually lasts several years.”

From the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, read 2026-09-28. The steps in order and pay by state are on How to become an HVAC technician.

Common questions

How much do apprentice HVAC technicians make?

In fiscal 2023 (October 2022 to September 2023) the median starting wage of registered apprentices ran from $14.85 an hour in Tennessee to $31.00 in Minnesota, across the 23 states where 50 or more apprentices carry a starting wage DOL counts. Among the apprentices who completed in fiscal 2023, the median wage at completion ran from $21.03 an hour in Virginia to $51.97 in California, across the 9 states with 50 or more exit wages DOL counts. The starters and the completers are different people, and the wages are in that year's dollars.

How long does it take to train as an HVAC technician?

Postsecondary programs generally last six months to two years, and on-the-job training after hiring is typically lengthy; an apprenticeship usually lasts several years.

How many apprentice HVAC technicians are there?

U.S. Department of Labor records list 10,373 registered apprentices active across the 50 states and the District of Columbia in fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024) under the occupation titles DOL maps to heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (SOC 49-9021). The file's fiscal 2024 records largely stop after February 2024. The most are in California (1,487), Florida (1,067), Iowa (825), New Jersey (708), Virginia (696).

Sources

Other trades: Electricians · Plumbers and pipefitters · Welders · Truck drivers (CDL) · Lineworkers (power-line installers) · Elevator installers · Ironworkers · Sheet metal workers · Carpenters · Brickmasons and blockmasons · Auto service technicians · Diesel mechanics · Heavy equipment operators · Machinists. Or see every trade side by side.