"How long does it take to become an hvac technician in Minnesota?"

"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 hvac technicians need a license in Minnesota?"

"Yes. Minnesota requires state-level licensing or registration for hvac technicians, administered by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for hvac technicians in Minnesota?"

"In Minnesota, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Apprenticeship Minnesota, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become An HVAC Technician in Minnesota

Q: "How much do hvac technicians earn in Minnesota?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), hvac technicians in Minnesota earned a median annual wage of approximately $76,350. Employment concentration in Minnesota is roughly 0.54 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for hvac technicians in Minnesota?"

"Minnesota currently employs approximately 4,200 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Q: "What is the federal prevailing wage for hvac technicians in Minnesota?"

"Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians on federally funded construction projects in Minnesota earn a prevailing wage of approximately $48.06 per hour in base pay plus $30.33 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $78.39 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026)."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Minnesota heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $76,350 ($36.71/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,200 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 25.1% above the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $76,350 ($36.71/hr)
25th percentile: $58,860 per year
75th percentile: $87,190 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $100,030 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,220 per year
Workers employed in Minnesota: 4,200
Versus national median: 25.1% above the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.54 - this occupation is less concentrated in Minnesota than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Minnesota employs approximately 4,200 hvac technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $76,350 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 Minnesota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An HVAC Technician in Minnesota

How do I become an hvac technician in Minnesota? Minnesota requires credentials such as Mechanical Contractor Bond. The licensing authority is the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Minnesota? Yes. Minnesota has licensing or registration requirements for hvac technicians. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do hvac technicians earn in Minnesota? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in Minnesota is $76,350 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,220 and experienced professionals can earn $100,030 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: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Median wage (Minnesota): $76,350 per year ¹

HVAC Technician License Requirements in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry oversees hvac technician licensing in Minnesota ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Mechanical Contractor Bond	Minn. Stat. § 326B.197 requires anyone who installs gas piping, heating, ventilation, cooling, air conditioning, fuel burning or refrigeration (G/HVACR) equipment to post a $25,000 bond and file…

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

HVAC Technician Apprenticeship Information in Minnesota

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Minnesota’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Apprenticeship Minnesota ⁵.

Contact Information:

Office: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Apprenticeship Unit
Address: 443 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4303
Phone: (651) 284-5090
Email: [email protected]

HVAC Technician Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

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

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers wages in Minnesota vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	2,420	$77,490	$76,270	$48,660	$100,660
Sioux Falls	600	$62,440	$63,050	$48,990	$76,070
Fargo	370	$75,920	$70,290	$46,450	$95,950
La Crosse-Onalaska	270	$62,400	$69,120	$46,450	$94,910
St. Cloud	250	$74,420	$72,660	$46,580	$98,160
Rochester	190	$77,500	$73,380	$48,410	$94,600
Duluth	170	$75,710	$73,510	$48,740	$98,970
Grand Forks	130	$75,470	$70,020	$46,610	$95,700
Mankato	120	$76,670	$74,650	$47,900	$100,270

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 Minnesota

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest hvac technician employment within Minnesota according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	2,420	$77,490
St. Cloud	250	$74,420
Rochester	190	$77,500
Duluth	170	$75,710
Mankato	120	$76,670

Explore hvac technician programs in Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Rochester.

Federal Prevailing Wage in Minnesota

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians working on federally funded construction projects in Minnesota earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Minnesota general wage determinations show approximately $48.06 per hour in base pay plus $30.33 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $78.39 (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.

Explore More Trades in Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for hvac technicians in Minnesota? Minnesota currently employs approximately 4,200 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 Minnesota with an out-of-state license? Contact the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Minnesota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Minnesota. You can also contact the Apprenticeship Minnesota for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do hvac technicians earn in Minnesota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in Minnesota is $76,350, which is $16,540 above 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry - Licensing Information: http://www.dli.mn.gov/CCLD/Forms.asp ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Apprenticeship Minnesota: https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/apprenticeshipsponsor/ ↩︎
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)