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HVAC technicians in New York: what they earn
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in New York earned a median $74,430 a year in May 2025, $35.78 an hour. 24,430 people held the job, 2.5 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 22% above the national figure of $61,010, and New York ranks 10 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become an HVAC technician in New York — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from U.S. EPA Section 608 (federal); New York has no statewide HVAC license, so any HVAC/refrigeration credential is local. ↓
The full wage spread in New York
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $23.35 | $48,560 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $28.71 | $59,720 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $35.78 | $74,430 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $42.37 | $88,130 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $48.40 | $100,680 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $35.94 | $74,760 | 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.
New York against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Washington | $75,660 | 7,370 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $74,490 | 970 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $74,450 | 10,330 |
| 10 | New York | $74,430 | 24,430 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $73,850 | 2,560 |
| 12 | California | $72,560 | 35,130 |
| 13 | Maryland | $70,020 | 8,560 |
The complete ranking is on the HVAC technicians page.
Against the national figure
| New York | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $74,430 | $61,010 |
| Median hourly | $35.78 | $29.33 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $48,560 | $40,050 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $100,680 | $95,210 |
| Employed | 24,430 | 409,670 |
Other trades in New York
Electricians ($78,750) · Plumbers and pipefitters ($77,490) · Welders ($59,140) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($62,050)
See all five ranked by pay in New York.
How to become an HVAC technician in New York
Handling refrigerant requires the federal EPA Section 608 certification; New York has no statewide HVAC license, so any HVAC or refrigeration credential is set locally — for example, New York City's FDNY Q-01 for refrigerating systems.
| 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) | — |
| NYC FDNY Refrigerating System Operating Engineer (Q-01) — local example | A New York City credential, not statewide: a refrigerating system that needs an FDNY permit must be supervised by a Q-01 holder while it runs. Shown as a local example; other New York localities differ. | — | FDNY written and practical exam | — |
Renewal. The EPA 608 credential does not expire; New York has no statewide HVAC renewal (local credentials such as NYC's Q-01 renew every three years).
Licensing sources: EPA Section 608 Technician Certification (retrieved 2026-09-16) · NYC FDNY Q-01 Certificate of Qualification (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with U.S. EPA Section 608 (federal); New York has no statewide HVAC license, so any HVAC/refrigeration credential is local 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 New York?
Handling refrigerant requires the federal EPA Section 608 certification; New York has no statewide HVAC license, so any HVAC or refrigeration credential is set locally — for example, New York City's FDNY Q-01 for refrigerating systems.
What does it cost to get licensed as an HVAC technician in New York?
Fees are set by the issuing authority; each tier's fee, where published, is in the table above.
How long does it take to become an HVAC technician in New York?
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.