Introduction
Professionals interested in a fast-growing career and who enjoy hands-on work may find a job in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) to be an excellent fit.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, May 2023), Texas has the second-highest employment rate for HVAC technicians in the country, with 31,060 HVAC workers employed. The Dallas and Houston metropolitan areas have the highest concentrations of these professionals. This high demand means that even those new to the field can quickly find employment, particularly given the extreme summer temperatures in Texas, which make climate control essential.
HVAC technicians in Texas benefit from a variety of professional organizations that support their careers. For example, the Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Association offers educational opportunities and resources for HVAC workers. Additionally, Pipefitters Local 211 in Houston provides union support and apprenticeship programs for those looking to join the union. These organizations help ensure that technicians have access to the latest industry standards and training.
Starting a career as an HVAC technician in Texas is relatively straightforward. While foundational knowledge is necessary, there are no specific educational or testing requirements to begin work in Texas. New technicians must register with the state and work under the supervision of a certified technician. This allows individuals to start their careers quickly, often within a few months, depending on the training program, and begin earning a competitive salary.
Demand for HVAC Technicians in Texas
The demand for HVAC professionals in Texas is substantial and expected to continue growing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, May 2023), the HVAC industry is projected to grow by 6 percent nationwide from 2022 to 2032, adding approximately 37,700 new jobs across the country. This growth rate is twice as fast as the average for all occupations, which is projected to grow by 3 percent during the same period.
In Texas specifically, the need for qualified HVAC professionals is driven by several factors:
- System Lifecycle: HVAC systems typically need replacement every 10 to 15 years. This cyclical replacement, along with retrofitting older systems to accommodate new technologies, ensures a steady demand for HVAC services.
- Service and Maintenance Contracts: The rise in regular service and maintenance contracts ensures year-round work for HVAC technicians, even during traditionally slower seasons like spring and fall.
- High Construction Rates: Cities with high construction rates, such as Dallas and Houston, see increased demand for HVAC installation services, contributing to the overall demand for HVAC professionals.
For those considering a career in HVAC, the job market in Texas is robust, with numerous opportunities available. For example, Indeed (November 2023) listed 27,500 HVAC job openings in Texas, including positions at companies like Cargill, McKee Foods, Southern Tennessee Regional Health System, and Charles Stone Mechanical Heating & Cooling. Monster (November 2023) also featured job postings from employers such as Roscoe Brown Inc, Honeywell, and Johnson Controls.
Schools in Texas
Arlington Career Institute
901 Ave K
Grand Prairie, Texas 75050-2636
Phone: (972) 647-1607 x223
URL: www.arlingtoncareerinstitute.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|Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a large suburb with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 375
Austin Community College District
6101 Highland Campus Drive
Austin, Texas 78752-7000
Phone: (512) 223-7000
URL: www.austincc.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 34527
- Total Faculty: 1532
Remington College-Dallas Campus
9451 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY
Dallas, Texas 75243
Phone: (972) 686-7878
URL: www.remingtoncollege.edu/locations/dallas/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Private not-for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 302
- Total Faculty: 14
Brazosport College
500 College Dr
Lake Jackson, Texas 77566
Phone: (979) 230-3000
URL: www.brazosport.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a small suburb with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 4044
- Total Faculty: 303
Central Texas College
6200 West Central Texas Expressway
Killeen, Texas 76549-4199
Phone: (254) 526-7161
URL: www.ctcd.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a midsize suburb with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 8326
- Total Faculty: 716
Cisco College
101 College Heights
Cisco, Texas 76437
Phone: (254) 442-5000
URL: www.cisco.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a remote town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 2877
- Total Faculty: 166
North Central Texas College
1525 W California Street
Gainesville, Texas 76240-4699
Phone: (940) 668-7731
URL: www.nctc.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a distant town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 7360
- Total Faculty: 349
Del Mar College
101 Baldwin Blvd.
Corpus Christi, Texas 78404-3897
Phone: (361) 698-1200
URL: www.delmar.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate, Associate's degree, Two but less than 4 years certificate|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 9725
- Total Faculty: 604
Dallas College
1601 Botham Jean Blvd.
Dallas, Texas 75215-3604
Phone: (972) 669-6400
URL: www.dallascollege.edu/pages/default.aspx
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 64156
- Total Faculty: 2550
El Paso Community College
9050 Viscount Blvd
El Paso, Texas 79925-6507
Phone: (915) 831-2000
URL: www.epcc.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public 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: 24398
- Total Faculty: 1026
Western Technical College
9624 Plaza Circle
El Paso, Texas 79927
Phone: (915) 532-3737
URL: www.westerntech.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Private for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 1328
- Total Faculty: 94
Galveston College
4015 Ave Q
Galveston, Texas 77550-7496
Phone: (409) 944-1220
URL: www.gc.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a fringe town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 2026
- Total Faculty: 139
Grayson College
6101 Grayson Drive
Denison, Texas 75020-8299
Phone: (903) 415-2592
URL: grayson.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate, Associate's degree, Two but less than 4 years certificate|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a fringe rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 3938
- Total Faculty: 207
Trinity Valley Community College
100 Cardinal Drive
Athens, Texas 75751
Phone: (903) 675-6200
URL: www.tvcc.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a distant town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 5362
- Total Faculty: 226
Hill College
112 Lamar Dr
Hillsboro, Texas 76645
Phone: (254) 659-7500
URL: www.hillcollege.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate, Associate's degree, Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a distant town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 3689
- Total Faculty: 187
Houston Community College
3100 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77002
Phone: (877) 422-6111
URL: www.hccs.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 48159
- Total Faculty: 2505
Howard College
1001 Birdwell Lane
Big Spring, Texas 79720
Phone: (432) 264-5000
URL: www.howardcollege.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a distant town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 4264
- Total Faculty: 192
Kilgore College
1100 Broadway
Kilgore, Texas 75662-3299
Phone: (903) 984-8531
URL: www.kilgore.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a fringe town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 5189
- Total Faculty: 361
Lamar State College-Port Arthur
1500 Proctor St
Port Arthur, Texas 77640
Phone: (409) 984-6342
URL: www.lamarpa.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a small city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 2600
- Total Faculty: 108
Laredo College
West End Washington St
Laredo, Texas 78040-4395
Phone: (956) 721-5140
URL: www.laredo.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 9317
- Total Faculty: 286
Lee College
511 S Whiting
Baytown, Texas 77520
Phone: (281) 427-5611
URL: www.lee.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a small city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 7807
- Total Faculty: 409
Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie
2915 Alouette Drive
Grand Prairie, Texas 75052
Phone: (972) 660-5701 x41100
URL: www.lincolntech.edu/campus/grand-prairie-tx
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, Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a large suburb with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 1212
- Total Faculty: 70
Midland College
3600 N Garfield
Midland, Texas 79705
Phone: (432) 685-4500
URL: www.midland.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a midsize city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 5404
- Total Faculty: 334
Southern Careers Institute-Austin
1701 W Ben White Blvd
Ste 100
Austin, Texas 78744
Phone: (512) 437-7500
URL: www.scitexas.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: 1070
- Total Faculty: 143
Lone Star College System
5000 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, Texas 77381-4399
Phone: (832) 813-6500
URL: www.lonestar.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a midsize city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 68415
- Total Faculty: 3596
Texas Southmost College
80 Fort Brown
Brownsville, Texas 78520
Phone: (956) 295-3600
URL: www.tsc.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a midsize city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 7648
- Total Faculty: 217
Paris Junior College
2400 Clarksville St
Paris, Texas 75460
Phone: (903) 785-7661
URL: www.parisjc.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a remote town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 4427
- Total Faculty: 168
St Philip's College
1801 Martin Luther King Dr
San Antonio, Texas 78203-2098
Phone: (210) 486-2000
URL: www.alamo.edu/spc/
This school is a 2 year Public 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: 12653
- Total Faculty: 413
San Jacinto Community College
8060 Spencer Hwy
Pasadena, Texas 77505
Phone: (281) 998-6150
URL: www.sanjac.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a large suburb with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 30593
- Total Faculty: 1356
South Plains College
1401 S. College Ave
Levelland, Texas 79336
Phone: (806) 894-9611 x2542
URL: www.southplainscollege.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a distant town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 8580
- Total Faculty: 529
Miller-Motte College-STVT-McAllen
1800 South Main
Suite 500
McAllen, Texas 78503
Phone: (956) 631-1107
URL: www.stvt.edu/
This school is a less than 2 year Private for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a midsize city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 482
Southwest Texas Junior College
2401 Garner Field Rd
Uvalde, Texas 78801-6297
Phone: (830) 278-4401
URL: www.swtjc.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a remote town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 6278
- Total Faculty: 174
Tarrant County College District
300 Trinity Campus Circle
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Phone: (817) 515-8223
URL: www.tccd.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public 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: 40131
- Total Faculty: 1745
Texarkana College
2500 N Robison Rd
Texarkana, Texas 75599
Phone: (903) 823-3456
URL: www.texarkanacollege.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a small city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 3800
- Total Faculty: 162
Tyler Junior College
1400 East Fifth Street
Tyler, Texas 75701
Phone: (903) 510-2200
URL: www.tjc.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a midsize city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 11901
- Total Faculty: 485
Vernon College
4400 College Dr.
Vernon, Texas 76384-4092
Phone: (940) 552-6291
URL: www.vernoncollege.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a fringe rural area with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 2249
- Total Faculty: 159
Wharton County Junior College
911 Boling Hwy
Wharton, Texas 77488
Phone: (979) 532-4560
URL: www.wcjc.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a distant town with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 5495
- Total Faculty: 281
Collin County Community College District
3452 Spur 399
McKinney, Texas 75069
Phone: (972) 881-5790
URL: www.collin.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a midsize suburb with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 35077
- Total Faculty: 1737
Remington College-Fort Worth Campus
5555 Rufe Snow Drive
Suite 150
North Richland Hills, Texas 76180
Phone: (817) 451-0011
URL: www.remingtoncollege.edu/locations/fort-worth/
This school is a 2 year Private not-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: 181
- Total Faculty: 18
Fortis College
1201 West Oaks Mall
Houston, Texas 77082
Phone: (713) 266-6594 x6854
URL: www.fortis.edu/
This school is a 2 year Private 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: 258
- Total Faculty: 28
South Texas College
3201 W. Pecan
McAllen, Texas 78501
Phone: (855) 468-6782
URL: www.southtexascollege.edu/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a midsize city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 27894
- Total Faculty: 979
Interactive College of Technology
213 W Southmore St Suite 101
Pasadena, Texas 77502
Phone: (713) 920-1120
URL: www.ict.edu/campuses/tx/pasadena/
This school is a 2 year Private for-profit college that offers One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a large suburb with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 51
- Total Faculty: 2
Lamar Institute of Technology
855 E Lavaca
Beaumont, Texas 77705
Phone: (409) 880-8321
URL: www.lit.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree. The campus is located in a midsize city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 4808
- Total Faculty: 221
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas
400 E. Airport Freeway
Irving, Texas 75061
Phone: (214) 333-9711
URL: aviationmaintenance.edu/campuses/dallas-tx
This school is a 2 year Private for-profit college that offers 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: 406
Remington College-North Houston Campus
11310 Greens Crossing Blvd
Ste 300
Houston, Texas 77067
Phone: (281) 885-4450
URL: www.remingtoncollege.edu/locations/houston/greenspoint/
This school is a 2 year Private not-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: 185
- Total Faculty: 9
Lamson Institute
5819 NW Loop 410-Ste 160
San Antonio, Texas 78238
Phone: (210) 520-1800 x102
URL: lamson.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: 390
- Total Faculty: 31
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville
1900 North Expressway
Suite O
Brownsville, Texas 78521
Phone: (956) 554-3515
URL: www.stvt.edu/
This school is a less than 2 year Private for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a midsize city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 247
Miller-Motte College-STVT-Corpus Christi
2000 South Padre Island Dr
Corpus Christi, Texas 78416
Phone: (361) 232-5057 x35821
URL: www.stvt.edu/
This school is a less than 2 year Private for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 320
Fortis Institute
450 N Sam Houston Pkwy E Ste 200
Houston, Texas 77060
Phone: (713) 332-0062
URL: www.fortis.edu/
This school is a 2 year Private for-profit college that offers One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 295
- Total Faculty: 25
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen
1122 Morgan Boulevard
Harlingen, Texas 78550
Phone: (512) 437-7500
URL: www.scitexas.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 small city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 508
Miller-Motte College-STVT-San Antonio
734 SE Military Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78214
Phone: (210) 782-8000
URL: www.stvt.edu/
This school is a less than 2 year Private for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 557
CyberTex Institute of Technology
6300 La Calma Dr. Suite
350
Austin, Texas 78752
Phone: (512) 454-6116
URL: cybertex.edu/
This school is a less than 2 year Private for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 171
Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio
6963 NW Loop 410
San Antonio, Texas 78238-4114
Phone: (512) 437-7500
URL: www.scitexas.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: 772
Tulsa Welding School-Houston
243A Greens Road
Houston, Texas 77060-2100
Phone: (844) 242-1213
URL: www.tws.edu/
This school is a less than 2 year Private for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 1529
Texas State Technical College
3801 Campus Drive
Waco, Texas 76705
Phone: (800) 792-8784
URL: www.tstc.edu/
This school is a 2 year Public college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate, Associate's degree, Two but less than 4 years certificate. The campus is located in a midsize city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 10601
- Total Faculty: 590
Florida Career College-Houston
70-A Farm to Market Road 1960 West
Houston, Texas 77090-1111
Phone: (281) 943-6261
URL: www.floridacareercollege.edu/
This school is a 2 year Private 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: 1029
- Total Faculty: 21
Miller-Motte College-STVT-Arlington
2241 S Watson Rd #181
Arlington, Texas 76010
Phone: (682) 478-3018
URL: www.stvt.edu/
This school is a less than 2 year Private for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 103
Austin Career Institute
7215 Cameron Rd
Austin, Texas 78752
Phone: (512) 677-7776
URL: www.austincareerinstitute.edu/
This school is a less than 2 year Private for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate. The campus is located in a large city with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 76
Remington College-Online Dallas
9451 Lyndon B. Johnson FWY.
Suite 200
Dallas, Texas 75243
Phone: (407) 562-5500
URL: www.remingtoncollege.edu/locations/online/
This school is a 4 year primarily associate's Private not-for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate, One but less than two years certificate|Associate's degree|Bachelor's degree. The campus is located in a large suburb with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 217
- Total Faculty: 57
Universal Technical Institute-West Texas
301 West Howard Lane
Austin, Texas 78753-9742
Phone: (737) 284-3100
URL: www.uti.edu/
This school is a 2 year Private 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: 434
- Total Faculty: 20
Tulsa Welding School-Dallas Campus
700 E Airport Freeway
Irving, Texas 75602-4805
Phone: (214) 227-9911
URL: www.tws.edu/
This school is a less than 2 year Private for-profit college that offers Less than one year certificate. The campus is located in with campus housing not offered.
- Total Student Population: 0
HVAC Worker Salaries in Texas
HVAC technicians in Texas can expect competitive wages in a state with one of the highest employment rates for this profession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, May 2023), there are 31,060 HVAC professionals employed in Texas, earning an average annual wage of $55,820. Nationwide, HVAC technicians earn an average annual salary of $59,880.
Here is a more detailed comparison of HVAC salaries in the US and Texas:
| Percentile | United States | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,270 | $33,340 |
| 25th | $45,110 | $39,530 |
| 50th (Median) | $57,300 | $49,110 |
| 75th | $65,380 | $62,680 |
| 90th | $84,250 | $76,930 |
These figures demonstrate that while the average salary for HVAC workers in Texas is slightly below the national average, Texas offers a robust job market for HVAC professionals, especially in metropolitan areas like Dallas and Houston.
Additionally, according to Indeed (2023), the average base salary for an HVAC technician in Texas is around $51,790 per year or $24.90 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on location within the state. For example, HVAC technicians in cities like Plano and Austin can earn higher average wages compared to those in El Paso and Corpus Christi.
HVAC Certification and Licensing in Texas
Before seeking work, all HVAC workers in Texas must ensure they have the proper credentials. The primary nationally mandated certification for those working with refrigerants is the EPA Section 608 certification. This certification is divided into four categories:
- Type I: Small appliances
- Type II: High-pressure appliances
- Type III: Low-pressure appliances
- Universal: Covers all equipment types
Preparation for the EPA Section 608 certification exam is typically included in accredited HVAC training programs.
Additionally, various national organizations offer certifications to enhance an HVAC technician's credentials. Some of these include:
- HVAC Excellence: Certifications include Heating, Electrical, Air Conditioning Technology (HEAT), HEAT Plus, heat oil combustion, systems diagnostics, and green awareness.
- North American Technician Excellence (NATE): Certifications include air conditioning, air distribution, heat pump, hydronic oil, and commercial refrigeration.
- Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES): Certifications include commercial air conditioning, domestic service, and dynamic compression.
For more information on achieving these credentials, you can visit the respective organization's certification pages.
In Texas, HVAC technicians must be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). To apply for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor’s (ACRC) license, applicants must submit an application, pay a $115 application fee, and pass the licensing exam.
Eligibility Requirements for Licensing Exam:
- Age: Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
- Experience: Proof of 48 months of practical experience in air conditioning and refrigeration work under the supervision of a licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor within the last 72 months.
Details on how to apply for licensing and the types of licenses available (e.g., registered technicians vs. licensed contractors) are accessible on the TDLR website.
Licensing requirements can vary within Texas depending on the municipality. It's crucial for all HVAC professionals to ensure they comply with local laws wherever they work. Checking with municipal governments for specific licensing details is strongly encouraged to ensure full compliance with regional regulations.