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HVAC technicians in Florida: what they earn
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Florida earned a median $56,670 a year in May 2025, $27.24 an hour. 39,160 people held the job, 3.9 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 7% below the national figure of $61,010, and Florida ranks 41 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become an HVAC technician in Florida — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). ↓
The full wage spread in Florida
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.45 | $38,370 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $22.51 | $46,830 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $27.24 | $56,670 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $30.59 | $63,620 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $37.60 | $78,210 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $27.55 | $57,310 | The average. Pulled up by the top earners. |
Annual figures are the hourly rate times 2,080 hours, BLS's full-time year. Overtime is inside the survey's earnings but not separated out.
Florida against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | Texas | $57,760 | 34,730 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $57,560 | 5,650 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $57,260 | 15,230 |
| 41 | Florida | $56,670 | 39,160 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $56,610 | 6,920 |
| 43 | Georgia | $56,390 | 12,290 |
| 44 | Idaho | $56,240 | 4,550 |
The complete ranking is on the HVAC technicians page.
Against the national figure
| Florida | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $56,670 | $61,010 |
| Median hourly | $27.24 | $29.33 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $38,370 | $40,050 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $78,210 | $95,210 |
| Employed | 39,160 | 409,670 |
Other trades in Florida
Electricians ($57,250) · Plumbers and pipefitters ($52,910) · Welders ($50,640) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($50,640)
See all five ranked by pay in Florida.
How to become an HVAC technician in Florida
Handling refrigerant requires the federal EPA Section 608 certification; Florida licenses air-conditioning contractors through the DBPR as Certified (statewide) or Registered (local), Class A (unlimited) or Class B (up to 25 tons), and issues no individual state HVAC technician license. The licensing authority is Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB).
| License | What it takes | Experience | Exam | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPA Section 608 Certification (federal) | Required nationwide to handle refrigerants: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure), Type III (low-pressure) or Universal (all). Pass an EPA-approved test; the credential does not expire. | — | EPA-approved Section 608 test (Type I / II / III / Universal) | — |
| Certified Class A AC Contractor (statewide, unlimited) | Statewide certification, unlimited scope. Four years' experience (at least one as a foreman) and a passing Class A contractors' exam. | — | Air-conditioning Class A contractors' examination | $149 |
| Certified Class B AC Contractor (statewide, limited) | Statewide, limited to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 BTU of heating in any one system. Same certified-contractor path and the Class B exam. | — | Air-conditioning Class B contractors' examination | — |
Reciprocity. In-state, a Certified contractor may work in any Florida jurisdiction; a Registered contractor may work only where registered.
Renewal. Biennial (renews August 31 of every even-numbered year; the EPA 608 credential does not expire), with 14 hours of continuing education.
Licensing sources: EPA Section 608 Technician Certification (retrieved 2026-09-16) · DBPR Construction Industry (contractor classes) (retrieved 2026-09-16) · DBPR Construction Industry FAQs (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) before you act.
Compare the time and cost to get licensed across trades and states →
Common questions
Do you need a license to work as an HVAC technician in Florida?
Handling refrigerant requires the federal EPA Section 608 certification; Florida licenses air-conditioning contractors through the DBPR as Certified (statewide) or Registered (local), Class A (unlimited) or Class B (up to 25 tons), and issues no individual state HVAC technician license.
What does it cost to get licensed as an HVAC technician in Florida?
The main application or license fee is $149; separate exam or endorsement fees can apply, as noted in the table above.
How long does it take to become an HVAC technician in Florida?
It depends on which credential you need and the training and testing each step takes — the full path is in the table above.
The pay and employment figures above are the May 2025 BLS estimates; the licensing detail is sourced separately from the state authority and dated inline. See how the numbers are built.