Install, maintain, and repair the heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration systems that control temperature and air quality in buildings.
Labels like Hands-on and People-focused are BWTD classifications based on occupational data[9]. How we classify
Career data
National figures for all workers in this occupation (May 2025, United States). This is not starting pay and not a guarantee. Pay varies with location, experience, employer, and hours. Personal stories on BWTD show one person's experience and are reported separately.
HVAC technicians work on heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) systems. They install and repair equipment, wire electrical components, test systems, talk customers through what went wrong, and recommend maintenance that keeps systems running well.
Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Many technicians complete a postsecondary program lasting 6 months to 2 years that leads to a certificate or an associate's degree. Others learn through an apprenticeship, which usually lasts several years and includes paid on-the-job training plus technical instruction each year.
Under EPA rules, anyone who maintains, services, or repairs equipment containing regulated refrigerants in a way that could release them must pass an exam from an EPA-approved certification program. There are four certification types: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure equipment), Type III (low-pressure equipment), and Universal (all three). Apprentices are exempt while closely and continually supervised by a certified technician. Some states and localities also require an HVAC license.
Technicians travel to each site to make service calls, often working in customers' homes or business offices. In the O*NET worker survey, 58% said they work outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions, every day.
As listed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.[6]
Requirements vary by state and employer. Always confirm licensing, certification, and hiring requirements where you plan to work.
Median annual pay $61,010 (May 2025). Lowest 10% earned less than $40,050; highest 10% more than $95,210.
Source updated Aug 27, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
National annual wage percentiles, May 2025: 25th $48,360; 75th $77,060.
Accessed Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved from the BLS Public Data API, series OEUN000000000000049902112 (25th percentile) and OEUN000000000000049902114 (75th percentile); values match the OOH figures. On the tables page, choose National (May 2025).
Employment 440,900 (2025); projected growth 11% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
Source updated Aug 27, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
Typical entry-level education: postsecondary nondegree award. Programs last 6 months to 2 years; apprenticeships usually last several years with paid on-the-job training. EPA requires nearly all technicians to be certified in refrigerant handling; some states and localities require a license.
Source updated Aug 27, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR 82.161 (EPA technician certification)
Anyone who could reasonably be expected to violate the integrity of the refrigerant circuit while maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of appliances containing regulated refrigerants must pass an exam from an approved certification program: Type I, Type II, Type III, or Universal. Apprentices are exempt while closely and continually supervised by a certified technician.
Source updated Jan 1, 2017 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026 · Date is the section's last substantive amendment.
Duties and important qualities as listed by BLS.
Source updated Aug 27, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
Technicians travel to each site to make service calls. Most work full time; evening, weekend, and peak-season overtime are possible.
Source updated Aug 27, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
Work context: 58% work outdoors in all weather every day.
Accessed Oct 1, 2026 · O*NET 31.0 (August 2026 release); worker survey data dated 08/2026.
Ratings used for BWTD classifications (1–5 scales): Spend Time Sitting 2.15; Spend Time Using Your Hands 3.80; Performing General Physical Activities importance 3.99; Deal With External Customers or the Public 2.26.
Accessed Oct 1, 2026 · Supports BWTD classifications "Hands-on" and "In person" (methodology v1). People-focused not assigned.
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Built Without the Degree has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Skilled Trades
Install, maintain, and repair the electrical power, lighting, communications, and control systems that keep buildings running.
Median pay (U.S.)$63,190
Top earners: $100k+Top 10% earn more than $108k
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