HVAC · Lesson 13 of 13Beginner4 min read
Careers in HVAC
Every building needs heating, cooling and clean air, and the people who install and fix those systems are in demand. Here’s what the work is like, what it pays, and how people get started.
What HVACR technicians do
The Bureau of Labor Statistics calls them heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers, and most people say HVACR technicians. They install, maintain and repair heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration systems; install electrical parts and wiring; inspect and test systems; talk with customers about problems; replace worn parts; recommend maintenance; and keep records of their work.
Some specialize: in radiant heating, in testing and balancing, or in commercial refrigeration for grocery stores, hotels and restaurants. Some focus on installing new systems, others on service and repair. About two-thirds work for plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, page last modified August 27, 2026.
Pay and outlook
BLS reports a median pay of $61,010 a year in May 2025, or $29.33 an hour, meaning half earned more and half less. There were 440,900 jobs in 2025, and employment is projected to grow 11 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. That’s about 40,600 openings a year, many of them to replace workers who retire or change careers.
BLS expects growth from new commercial buildings, including data centers, and new homes, and from more advanced climate-control systems. Because so much of the work is repair and replacement, technicians are also needed to retrofit, upgrade and replace existing systems.
Training paths
Most HVACR technicians complete a program at a technical or trade school or community college, lasting from 6 months to 2 years and leading to a certificate or an associate’s degree. Some employers hire high school graduates and train them; BLS suggests that high school students take vocational education, math and physics. New technicians start with basic tasks and move to harder ones, and the job involves a lengthy period of on-the-job training.
Others train through apprenticeships, which usually last several years and combine paid on-the-job training with technical instruction each year. A registered apprenticeship, approved through the U.S. Department of Labor, gives you paid work experience with a mentor, wage increases as your skills grow, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential. Search for openings at Apprenticeship.gov.
EPA certification and licenses
EPA certification. BLS notes that EPA requires nearly all HVAC technicians to be certified in proper refrigerant handling. Under Section 608, there are four types: Type I for small appliances, Type II for high- and very-high-pressure equipment such as home air conditioners and heat pumps, Type III for low-pressure equipment, and Universal for all three. Technicians pass an EPA-approved test given by an EPA-approved certifying organization, often as part of a school program, and the certification doesn’t expire.
State and local licenses. Some states and localities require HVAC technicians or contractors to be licensed, so check the rules where you plan to work. Many manufacturers and industry groups offer further certifications; most are optional, though some employers prefer or require them. A driver’s license is often needed to get to job sites.
What the work is like
Technicians work in homes, schools, hospitals, offices and factories, often in cramped attics and crawlspaces and sometimes outdoors in any weather. BLS reports that HVAC technicians have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations, from hazards such as burns from electrical parts or chemicals and muscle strains from moving heavy equipment; they wear protective gear when working with refrigerants. Most work full time, and many are on call for emergencies or work overtime during the peak heating and cooling seasons.
BLS lists the important qualities: customer-service skills, attention to detail, math, mechanical skills, physical stamina and strength, problem-solving and technology skills. The physics in this course, from latent heat to the Carnot limit, is the same physics technicians use every day.
NoteWhere the figures come from
Pay and job figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, page last modified August 27, 2026. Pay varies by location, experience and specialty.
Check yourself
Tap an answer to check it, or open “Show the answer.”
What was the median yearly pay for HVACR technicians in May 2025, according to BLS?
Show the answer
$61,010. $61,010 a year, or $29.33 an hour.
How fast does BLS project HVACR jobs to grow from 2025 to 2035?
Show the answer
11 percent, much faster than average. 11 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Which EPA certification type covers home central air conditioners and heat pumps?
Show the answer
Type II. Type II covers high- and very-high-pressure equipment; Universal covers all types.
What does a registered apprenticeship combine?
Show the answer
Paid work with a mentor and classroom instruction, ending in a nationally recognized credential. Earn while you learn: paid on-the-job learning plus related instruction.
Go deeper
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers The full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
- Apprenticeship.gov: Apprenticeship Finder Search for registered apprenticeships near you.
- U.S. EPA: Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements EPA’s Section 608 technician certification requirements.
- Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor): Career Seekers How registered apprenticeship works.
Sources
A free course from Teddy Rook Book. It explains how HVAC systems work in general and follows U.S. sources; your equipment’s manuals and the local code are the final word, along with your gas utility for anything involving gas.