How to Become an HVAC Technician in Massachusetts (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Massachusetts employs about 8,200 hvac technicians earning a median $77,300 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an hvac technician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Department of Public Safety - Engineering Division credentialing requirements.

Compare HVAC Technician Schools in Massachusetts

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
162.3Contact school for pricing$61,96674%—25 mi
261.9Contact school for pricing$61,96681%—38 mi
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358.1$6,262 in-state / $11,206 out-of-state$55,07622%Yes*38 mi
454.0Contact school for pricing$48,03774%—24 mi
Sponsored Ad
553.9$5,376 in-state / $10,320 out-of-state$54,28819%Yes*20 mi
643.7$18,906$57,09346%—1 mi
Sponsored Ad

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Massachusetts employs approximately 8,200 hvac technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $77,300 1. 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 Massachusetts, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become an HVAC Technician in Massachusetts

How to become an HVAC Technician in Massachusetts? Massachusetts requires credentials such as REFRIGERATION APPRENTICE, REFRIGERATION TECHNICIAN. The licensing authority is the Department of Public Safety - Engineering Division 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths into the hvac technician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Massachusetts? Yes. Massachusetts has licensing or registration requirements for hvac technicians. The Department of Public Safety - Engineering Division oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do hvac technicians earn in Massachusetts? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in Massachusetts is $77,300 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $50,820 and experienced professionals can earn $102,410 or more 1.

How to Become an HVAC Technician in Massachusetts

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Massachusetts training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Massachusetts that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Pass the state exam and apply for your license. Apply to the Department of Public Safety - Engineering Division, pass the required examination, and obtain the hvac technician credential before working unsupervised in Massachusetts.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

HVAC Technician License Requirements in Massachusetts

The Department of Public Safety - Engineering Division oversees hvac technician licensing in Massachusetts 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
REFRIGERATION APPRENTICEThis license allows the holder to perform refrigeration work subject to inspection under any law, ordinance, by-law, rule or regulation under the direct supervision of a journeyman or Refrigeration Co…
REFRIGERATION TECHNICIANThis license allows the holder to perform refrigeration work subject to inspection under any law, ordinance, by-law, rule or regulation but does not employ other technicians or contractors.

Additional Requirements

  • Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
  • Exam: No exam required
  • Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.

HVAC Technician Apprenticeship Information in Massachusetts

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Massachusetts’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Training 5.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Division of Apprentice Training, Department of Workforce Development
  • Address: 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114
  • Phone: (617) 626-5442
  • Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Massachusetts

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians working on federally funded construction projects in Massachusetts earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Massachusetts general wage determinations show approximately $66.58 per hour in base pay plus $39.22 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $105.80 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 6.

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.

HVAC Technician Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers wages in Massachusetts vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Boston-Cambridge-Newton6,050$78,530$79,890$50,890$103,050
Providence-Warwick1,930$67,380$70,900$44,970$104,080
Worcester800$73,800$73,430$48,300$96,800
Barnstable Town460$73,330$72,950$50,870$96,780
Springfield460$76,530$74,840$47,940$98,870
Pittsfield190$63,900$70,120$48,250$98,430
Amherst Town-Northampton180$73,370$71,960$49,150$92,230

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for hvac technicians in Massachusetts? Massachusetts currently employs approximately 8,200 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 Massachusetts with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Public Safety - Engineering Division for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Massachusetts? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Massachusetts. You can also contact the Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Training for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do hvac technicians earn in Massachusetts compared to the national average? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in Massachusetts is $77,300, which is $17,490 above the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data 1.

In Massachusetts

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

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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

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Department of Public Safety - Engineering Division - Licensing Information: http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/dps/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

  5. Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Training: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/01/oi/all-active-sponors.xlsx ↩︎

  6. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)