How to Become An HVAC Technician in Alabama
Alabama employs approximately 8,260 hvac technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,370 1. The state’s concentration of hvac technician jobs is 1.48x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, hvac technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 40,100 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become an hvac technician in Alabama, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming An HVAC Technician in Alabama
How do I become an hvac technician in Alabama? Alabama requires credentials such as Licensed HVAC Contractor, Licensed Refrigeration Contractor. The licensing authority is the Alabama Board of Heating,Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 3,000 hours of experience (roughly 1.5 years of full-time work) 3.
Do I need a license in Alabama? Yes. Alabama has licensing or registration requirements for hvac technicians. The Alabama Board of Heating,Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do hvac technicians earn in Alabama? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in Alabama is $48,370 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,510 and experienced professionals can earn $65,690 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Alabama Board of Heating,Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
- Median wage (Alabama): $48,370 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
HVAC Technician License Requirements in Alabama
The Alabama Board of Heating,Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors oversees hvac technician licensing in Alabama 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Licensed HVAC Contractor | The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or provide proof of being lawfully authorized to be present in the United States. |
| Licensed Refrigeration Contractor | The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or provide proof of being lawfully authorized to be present in the United States. |
Additional Requirements
- Exam: State exam required
- Experience: Work experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
HVAC Technician Apprenticeship Information in Alabama
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years.
Contact Information:
- Office: Alabama Office of Apprenticeship
- Address: 1 Technology Court, Montgomery, AL 36116
- Phone: (334) 280-4440
HVAC Technician Wages by Metro Area in Alabama
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Wages by Metro Area in Alabama
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers wages in Alabama vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 2,370 | $48,740 | $52,640 | $37,440 | $69,830 |
| Mobile | 820 | $47,960 | $52,030 | $36,220 | $70,720 |
| Huntsville | 770 | $49,940 | $53,820 | $37,590 | $73,030 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | 540 | $46,870 | $48,460 | $35,900 | $61,580 |
| Montgomery | 540 | $48,680 | $51,280 | $35,880 | $65,960 |
| Tuscaloosa | 450 | $48,430 | $50,440 | $35,810 | $61,780 |
| Decatur | 330 | $48,750 | $54,670 | $36,830 | $75,650 |
| Columbus | 330 | $46,780 | $49,710 | $33,680 | $66,180 |
| Auburn-Opelika | 260 | $48,170 | $50,870 | $36,120 | $64,310 |
| Dothan | 250 | $46,210 | $47,650 | $35,240 | $61,710 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | 250 | $46,560 | $48,820 | $35,160 | $61,780 |
| Anniston-Oxford | 130 | $47,780 | $48,930 | $34,870 | $64,920 |
| Gadsden | 120 | $49,300 | $51,550 | $34,360 | $71,100 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Top Metros for Hvac technicians in Alabama
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest hvac technician employment within Alabama according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 2,370 | $48,740 |
| Mobile | 820 | $47,960 |
| Huntsville | 770 | $49,940 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | 540 | $46,870 |
| Montgomery | 540 | $48,680 |
Explore hvac technician programs in Birmingham, Mobile, and Huntsville.
Federal Prevailing Wage in Alabama
Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians working on federally funded construction projects in Alabama earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Alabama general wage determinations show approximately $30.50 per hour in base pay plus $20.49 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $50.99 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 5.
Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within hvac technician work.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for hvac technicians in Alabama? Alabama currently employs approximately 8,260 hvac technicians 1. Nationally, hvac technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as an hvac technician in Alabama with an out-of-state license? Contact the Alabama Board of Heating,Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Alabama? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Alabama.
How much do hvac technicians earn in Alabama compared to the national average? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in Alabama is $48,370, which is $11,440 below the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data 1.
Citations
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Alabama Board of Heating,Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors - Licensing Information: https://hacr.alabama.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |