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

"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 Oregon?"

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

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

"In Oregon, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division, 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 Oregon

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), hvac technicians in Oregon earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,940. Employment concentration in Oregon is roughly 0.77 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 Oregon?"

"Oregon currently employs approximately 3,980 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 Oregon?"

"Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians on federally funded construction projects in Oregon earn a prevailing wage of approximately $60.77 per hour in base pay plus $34.72 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $95.49 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026)."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Oregon heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $62,940 ($30.26/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,980 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 3.2% above the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,940 ($30.26/hr)
25th percentile: $56,340 per year
75th percentile: $78,890 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $94,520 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $46,990 per year
Workers employed in Oregon: 3,980
Versus national median: 3.2% above the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.77 - this occupation is less concentrated in Oregon than the national average

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

Oregon employs approximately 3,980 hvac technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,940 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 Oregon, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An HVAC Technician in Oregon

How do I become an hvac technician in Oregon? Oregon requires credentials such as Apprentice Plumber (Speciality), Solar Heating and Cooling System Installer, Tank, Heating Oil, Supervisor. The licensing authority is the Bureau of Labor and Industries 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 Oregon? Yes. Oregon has licensing or registration requirements for hvac technicians. The Bureau of Labor and Industries oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do hvac technicians earn in Oregon? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in Oregon is $62,940 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $46,990 and experienced professionals can earn $94,520 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: Bureau of Labor and Industries
Median wage (Oregon): $62,940 per year ¹

HVAC Technician License Requirements in Oregon

The Bureau of Labor and Industries oversees hvac technician licensing in Oregon ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Apprentice Plumber (Speciality), Solar Heating and Cooling System Installer	Apprentice plumber and limited specialty plumber licenses are issued to individuals who are enrolled in registered apprenticeship or training programs approved by the Oregon State Apprenticeship and T…
Tank, Heating Oil, Supervisor	Individual who supervises heating oil tank services. Services include voluntary decommissioning and performing corrective action to clean up releases of heating oil into the environment.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

HVAC Technician Apprenticeship Information in Oregon

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

Contact Information:

Office: Apprenticeship and Training Division, Oregon State Bureau of Labor and Industries
Address: 1800 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Phone: (971) 245-3844
Email: [email protected]

HVAC Technician Wages by Metro Area in Oregon

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	2,580	$65,260	$72,700	$48,650	$98,810
Eugene-Springfield	370	$60,050	$62,870	$44,760	$82,590
Salem	350	$65,050	$68,450	$46,810	$91,330
Bend	340	$61,150	$66,060	$47,270	$89,980
Medford	200	$59,750	$64,110	$45,310	$84,460
Albany	130	$58,890	$62,680	$45,130	$84,600
Grants Pass	80	$48,190	$54,910	$38,420	$78,020
Corvallis	40	$63,720	$67,470	$49,280	$80,040

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 Oregon

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	2,580	$65,260
Eugene-Springfield	370	$60,050
Salem	350	$65,050
Bend	340	$61,150
Medford	200	$59,750

Explore hvac technician programs in Portland, Eugene, and Salem.

Federal Prevailing Wage in Oregon

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians working on federally funded construction projects in Oregon earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Oregon general wage determinations show approximately $60.77 per hour in base pay plus $34.72 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $95.49 (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 Oregon

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for hvac technicians in Oregon? Oregon currently employs approximately 3,980 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 Oregon with an out-of-state license? Contact the Bureau of Labor and Industries for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do hvac technicians earn in Oregon compared to the national average? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in Oregon is $62,940, which is $3,130 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor and Industries - Licensing Information: http://www.oregonobo.org/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division: https://www.oregon.gov/boli/apprenticeship/pages/apprenticeship-opportunities.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)