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HVAC technicians in Pennsylvania: what they earn
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Pennsylvania earned a median $62,400 a year in May 2025, $30.00 an hour. 15,880 people held the job, 2.6 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 2% above the national figure of $61,010, and Pennsylvania ranks 20 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become an HVAC technician in Pennsylvania — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from No statewide HVAC licensing authority in Pennsylvania; requirements are municipal, and refrigerant handling is federal (EPA Section 608). ↓
The full wage spread in Pennsylvania
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $22.10 | $45,970 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $24.44 | $50,840 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $30.00 | $62,400 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $35.88 | $74,620 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $43.00 | $89,440 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $31.19 | $64,880 | 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.
Pennsylvania against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Maine | $63,170 | 2,250 |
| 18 | Oregon | $62,940 | 3,980 |
| 19 | Ohio | $62,510 | 14,150 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $62,400 | 15,880 |
| 21 | Delaware | $62,320 | 1,730 |
| 22 | Vermont | $62,150 | 970 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $61,710 | 6,630 |
The complete ranking is on the HVAC technicians page.
Against the national figure
| Pennsylvania | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $62,400 | $61,010 |
| Median hourly | $30.00 | $29.33 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $45,970 | $40,050 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $89,440 | $95,210 |
| Employed | 15,880 | 409,670 |
Other trades in Pennsylvania
Electricians ($67,600) · Plumbers and pipefitters ($68,080) · Welders ($52,900) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($58,580)
See all five ranked by pay in Pennsylvania.
How to become an HVAC technician in Pennsylvania
Handling refrigerant requires the federal EPA Section 608 certification; Pennsylvania has no statewide HVAC license, so HVAC requirements are set locally by municipalities.
| 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) | — |
| Pennsylvania statewide license (none required) | Pennsylvania does not license most construction trades, including HVAC, at the state level; licensing is left to municipalities. | — | — | — |
| Philadelphia Sheet Metal Technician (local example) | Philadelphia requires a local Sheet Metal Technician license to install, maintain and service the sheet metal used in HVAC systems. Municipal requirements vary city to city. | — | — | — |
Renewal. The EPA 608 credential does not expire; Pennsylvania has no statewide HVAC renewal (local rules vary).
Licensing sources: EPA Section 608 Technician Certification (retrieved 2026-09-16) · PA L&I Contractor Licensing (retrieved 2026-09-16) · City of Philadelphia Sheet Metal Technician License (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with No statewide HVAC licensing authority in Pennsylvania; requirements are municipal, and refrigerant handling is federal (EPA Section 608) 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 Pennsylvania?
Handling refrigerant requires the federal EPA Section 608 certification; Pennsylvania has no statewide HVAC license, so HVAC requirements are set locally by municipalities.
What does it cost to get licensed as an HVAC technician in Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania?
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.