How much do air conditioning techs make?
Christopher Ramos
Updated on March 22, 2026
Per BLS data, the median salary of HVAC technicians as of May 2016 was $45,910. The highest 10 percent of earners in the HVAC field earned upwards of $73,000.
What does an air conditioning technician do?
An HVAC or HVACR technician installs, repairs, or maintains heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems that control the temperature and air quality in buildings. In some cases, an HVAC technician may specialize in installation, repair, or maintenance.
Is being an HVAC technician dangerous?
HVAC technicians are subject to a number of potentially hazardous conditions. There are some more serious risks for HVAC workers that could be potentially fatal. They can be exposed to Carbon Monoxide which can be poisonous. As HVAC technicians frequently come into contact with wiring, they risk being electrocuted.
How much do air conditioners make a year?
The median annual wage for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers was $50,590 in May 2020. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
What is HVAC Installer?
HVAC installers are comfort controllers, and work with heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. They install, repair, replace and maintain HVAC systems for homes and businesses in many different types of buildings.
What is HVAC certified mean?
So, what exactly is HVAC certification? It’s essentially a procedure by which an accredited agency verifies a technician has undergone the requisite training for the position and has met industry standards and requirements. Any HVAC technician you hire should be properly trained and certified.
Is HVAC Tech School Hard?
HVAC training isn’t difficult. If you have mechanical, electrical, customer service, and attention to detail inclinations, it can be very easy. The difficult part is in the implementation. If you’re considering residential/commercial/industrial service, it gets physically brutal.
What kind of work does an air conditioning technician do?
What Does an Air Conditioning Technician Do? The air conditioning technician is responsible for installing, maintaining, repairing, and servicing certain equipment and facilities, including air conditioning systems and units, water-cooling systems, and refrigerators within client’s own facilities, including those that operate all day long.
Do you need licensure to be an air conditioning technician?
Certification and licensure may be required in this field. Air conditioning technicians may sometimes be referred to as HVACR technicians and are responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. These professionals work in industrial, residential and commercial settings.
What does it mean to be an HVAC technician?
An HVAC technician installs, maintains, and repairs heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems. HVAC is an abbreviation for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (an alternative abbreviation is HVACR).
What do apprentices learn in the air conditioning industry?
Apprentices learn about care and use of tools, blueprint reading and safety practices, as well as legislation and regulations regarding refrigerant products. They also learn about the theory and design of air conditioning, heating, refrigeration and ventilation systems.