Introduction
Oklahoma's dynamic climate, with its extreme weather patterns, demands robust heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The state experiences long, scorching summers, brief but chilly winters, high humidity, flash floods, droughts, tornadoes, and thunderstorms. Consequently, maintaining indoor comfort is a priority for Oklahomans year-round.
Several national HVAC and refrigeration (HVAC/R) associations offer support to technicians, and three have a significant presence in Oklahoma: the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the Mechanical – Electrical – Plumbing Contractors – Oklahoma (MEPO), and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCCA). These industry groups provide valuable resources such as professional standards maintenance, updates on legislative changes, continuing education opportunities, and discounts on professional expenses.
Demand for HVAC Technicians in Oklahoma
The demand for HVAC technicians continues to grow nationwide. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, 2021), the number of job openings in this field is expected to grow by 4 percent between 2019 and 2029, matching the average growth rate across all occupations. Oklahoma is keeping pace with this national trend. Projections Central predicts a 10.3 percent increase in HVAC jobs in Oklahoma for the decade ending in 2028 projectionscentral.org.
Several factors contribute to the growth of the HVAC industry in Oklahoma:
- Construction of new commercial buildings and residences: The ongoing development of new properties requires the installation of modern HVAC systems.
- Complexity of climate control systems: Advances in technology have led to more sophisticated HVAC systems that require skilled technicians for installation and maintenance.
- Emphasis on energy efficiency and reducing pollution: As energy efficiency becomes a priority, there is a growing demand for HVAC technicians to retrofit and upgrade older systems to meet new standards.
- Replacing, retrofitting, or upgrading older systems: Older HVAC systems need to be replaced or updated to improve efficiency and performance.
HVAC equipment often requires outdoor installation and maintenance, meaning technicians must work in adverse weather conditions. Indoor work can also be challenging, especially when systems fail, creating very hot or freezing environments until repairs are completed. Technicians may also need to work in small or cramped areas, adding to the physical demands of the job.
Schools in Oklahoma
Pontotoc Technology Center
601 W 33rd
Ada, Oklahoma 74820
Phone: (580) 310-2200 x2223
URL: www.pontotoctech.edu/
This school is a < 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a fringe rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 300
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
1801 E 4th St
Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447-3901
Phone: (918) 293-4678
URL: osuit.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a distant town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 2357
- Total Faculty: 141
Tulsa Welding School-Tulsa
2545 E. 11th Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104
Phone: (800) 935-3776
URL: www.tws.edu/
This school is a 2 year Private for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 793
- Total Faculty: 15
Central Technology Center
3 CT Circle
Drumright, Oklahoma 74030
Phone: (918) 352-2551
URL: www.centraltech.edu/
This school is a < 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a distant rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 1459
Moore Norman Technology Center
4701 12th Avenue NW
Norman, Oklahoma 73069-8308
Phone: (405) 801-5000
URL: www.mntc.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a fringe rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 1706
Red River Technology Center
3300 W Bois D Arc
Duncan, Oklahoma 73533
Phone: (580) 255-2903
URL: www.rrtc.edu/
This school is a < 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a distant town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 549
Metro Technology Centers
1900 Springlake Drive
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111-5240
Phone: (405) 424-8324
URL: www.metrotech.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 1919
Great Plains Technology Center
4500 SW Lee Blvd
Lawton, Oklahoma 73505-8399
Phone: (580) 355-6371
URL: www.greatplains.edu/
This school is a < 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a small city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 201
Caddo Kiowa Technology Center
1415 N. 7th Street
Fort Cobb, Oklahoma 73038-0190
Phone: (405) 643-5511
URL: cktc.edu/
This school is a < 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a remote rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 381
Southern Oklahoma Technology Center
2610 Sam Noble Parkway
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401
Phone: (580) 223-2070
URL: www.sotech.edu/
This school is a < 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a fringe rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 563
Autry Technology Center
1201 W Willow
Enid, Oklahoma 73703-2506
Phone: (580) 242-2750
URL: autrytech.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a remote town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 458
Canadian Valley Technology Center
6505 E Hwy 66
El Reno, Oklahoma 73036-9117
Phone: (405) 262-2629
URL: www.cvtech.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a distant rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 1608
Meridian Technology Center
1312 South Sangre Road
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074-1899
Phone: (405) 377-3333
URL: www.meridiantech.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a distant town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 806
Gordon Cooper Technology Center
1 John C Bruton Blvd
Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804
Phone: (405) 273-7493 x1107
URL: www.gctech.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a distant town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 934
Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlester
301 Kiamichi Dr
McAlester, Oklahoma 74501
Phone: (918) 465-2323
URL: www.ktc.edu/
This school is a < 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a remote town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 568
Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee
2403 N 41st St E
Muskogee, Oklahoma 74403-1889
Phone: (918) 687-6383 x7900
URL: www.ictech.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers One but less than two years certificate|Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a fringe rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 1541
Western Technology Center
621 Sooner Drive
Burns Flat, Oklahoma 73624-1469
Phone: (580) 562-3181 x279
URL: www.westtech.edu/
This school is a < 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a remote rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 530
Mid-America Technology Center
27438 State Hwy 59
Wayne, Oklahoma 73095-0210
Phone: (572) 215-2060
URL: www.matech.edu/
This school is a < 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a distant rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 910
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center
4601 N Choctaw Rd
Choctaw, Oklahoma 73020-9017
Phone: (405) 390-9591
URL: www.eoctech.edu/
This school is a < 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a fringe rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 492
Green Country Technology Center
1100 OK-56 Loop
Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447-1217
Phone: (918) 758-0840 x221
URL: gctcok.edu/
This school is a < 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a fringe rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 241
Mid-Del Technology Center
1621 Maple Dr
Midwest City, Oklahoma 73110-4825
Phone: (405) 739-1707 x6312
URL: www.middeltech.com/
This school is a < 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a large suburb with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 359
Oklahoma Technical College
4444 South Sheridan
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145-1122
Phone: (918) 610-0027
URL: www.oklahomatechnicalcollege.com/
This school is a 2 year Private not-for-profit college that offers One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 147
- Total Faculty: 11
Tulsa Technology Center
3420 S Memorial Drive
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145
Phone: (918) 828-5000
URL: tulsatech.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 3953
HVAC Worker Salaries in Oklahoma
Nationwide, HVAC/R mechanics and installers earn competitive salaries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, May 2023), the median annual wage for HVAC technicians was $57,300. In Oklahoma, HVAC technicians earned a median annual wage of $51,750, slightly below the national median but still substantial considering the state's cost of living.
Here are the detailed annual wage percentiles for HVAC professionals in the United States and Oklahoma as of May 2023:
| Percentile | United States | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Number of HVAC professionals employed | 415,800 | 4,280 |
| Annual mean wage | $57,920 | $51,750 |
| 10th percentile | $37,270 | $29,360 |
| 25th percentile | $44,100 | $36,320 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $57,300 | $51,750 |
| 75th percentile | $71,120 | $65,960 |
| 90th percentile | $84,250 | $78,040 |
PayScale (2023) provides additional data, showing that nationwide, HVAC technicians report the following salary percentiles:
- 10th percentile: $33,000
- 50th percentile (median): $49,507
- 90th percentile: $78,000
These figures indicate a promising earning potential for HVAC technicians, particularly as they gain experience and obtain additional certifications, which can lead to higher wages.
HVAC Certification and Licensing in Oklahoma
Federal law mandates that all HVAC technicians who work with refrigerants obtain Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 608 certification. This certification requires passing an exam on the safe handling of refrigerants and is divided into four types:
- Type I: Small appliances
- Type II: High-pressure appliances
- Type III: Low-pressure appliances
- Universal: All types of equipment
Technicians may pursue additional training and certifications from industry organizations such as:
- Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES)
- North American Technician Excellence (NATE)
- HVAC Excellence
Additionally, the State of Oklahoma requires apprentices to register, though there is no fee to do so. Journey-level technicians and contractors must be licensed. The licensing classifications depend on the size and type of systems worked on and include specific education, experience, and testing requirements. Note that fees and qualifications for these licenses vary.
Furthermore, some cities in Oklahoma may have their own permitting or credentialing requirements for HVAC work. It is crucial for HVAC workers in Oklahoma to contact their local city offices to ensure they comply with all local laws before starting any projects.