Home › Trades › HVAC technicians › Georgia
HVAC technicians in Georgia: what they earn
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Georgia earned a median $56,390 a year in May 2025, $27.11 an hour. 12,290 people held the job, 2.5 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 8% below the national figure of $61,010, and Georgia ranks 43 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become an HVAC technician in Georgia — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors. ↓
The full wage spread in Georgia
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.78 | $36,990 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $22.24 | $46,250 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $27.11 | $56,390 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $31.82 | $66,180 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $38.05 | $79,130 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $27.44 | $57,080 | 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.
Georgia against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $55,490 | 9,740 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $54,700 | 690 |
The complete ranking is on the HVAC technicians page.
Against the national figure
| Georgia | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $56,390 | $61,010 |
| Median hourly | $27.11 | $29.33 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $36,990 | $40,050 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $79,130 | $95,210 |
| Employed | 12,290 | 409,670 |
Other trades in Georgia
Electricians ($58,320) · Plumbers and pipefitters ($57,200) · Welders ($48,430) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($57,050)
See all five ranked by pay in Georgia.
How to become an HVAC technician in Georgia
Georgia HVAC technicians need the federal EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerants; contracting requires a Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor license — Class I (up to 175,000 BTU heating / 60,000 BTU cooling) or Class II (unrestricted). The licensing authority is Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors.
| 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) | — |
| Conditioned Air Contractor — Class I (restricted) | Restricted to systems up to 175,000 BTU heating and 60,000 BTU cooling. Four years' documented conditioned-air experience, evidence of EPA certification, a Board-approved heat-loss/gain and duct-design course, and a passing exam (minimum 70). | — | Georgia Conditioned Air Class I exam (minimum 70) | $30 |
| Conditioned Air Contractor — Class II (unrestricted) | No BTU limit. Five years' documented conditioned-air experience including large-system work, evidence of EPA certification, the duct-design course, and a passing exam (minimum 70). | — | Georgia Conditioned Air Class II exam (minimum 70) | $30 |
Reciprocity. Conditioned Air reciprocity agreements are under review by the Board.
Renewal. Biennial (licenses expire November 30 of odd-numbered years).
Licensing sources: EPA Section 608 Technician Certification (retrieved 2026-09-16) · GA Rules 121-3-.04 (Conditioned Air Contractor) (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors 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 Georgia?
Georgia HVAC technicians need the federal EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerants; contracting requires a Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor license — Class I (up to 175,000 BTU heating / 60,000 BTU cooling) or Class II (unrestricted).
What does it cost to get licensed as an HVAC technician in Georgia?
The main application or license fee is $30; separate exam or endorsement fees can apply, as noted in the table above.
How long does it take to become an HVAC technician in Georgia?
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.