What apprenticeships are available for hvac technicians in Virginia?

In Virginia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry - Registered Apprenticeship, 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 Virginia (2026)

Q: How much do hvac technicians earn in Virginia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), hvac technicians in Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,730. Employment concentration in Virginia is about 1.36 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Virginia currently employs approximately 14,690 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 Virginia?

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians on federally funded construction projects in Virginia earn a prevailing wage of approximately $16.88 per hour in base pay plus $2.30 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $19.18 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026).

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Virginia heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $59,730 ($28.72/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 14,690 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.1% below the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,730 ($28.72/hr)
25th percentile: $47,910 per year
75th percentile: $73,440 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $83,420 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,760 per year
Workers employed in Virginia: 14,690
Versus national median: -2.1% below the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.36 - this occupation is more concentrated in Virginia than the national average

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

Virginia employs about 14,690 hvac technicians earning a median $59,730 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most hvac technicians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Virginia.

Compare HVAC Technician Schools in Virginia

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.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Advanced Technology Institute	63.1	$14,568	$47,728	79%	—	11 mi
2	ECPI University	55.5	$18,484	$54,409	42%	Yes*	11 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Virginia Peninsula Community College	39.2	$5,088 in-state / $11,526 out-of-state	$47,856	34%	Yes*	28 mi
4	Tidewater Tech-Trades	38.1	$16,337	$42,699	71%	—	14 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Tidewater Community College	36.7	$5,588 in-state / $12,296 out-of-state	$48,786	32%	Yes*	17 mi
6	Centura College-Virginia Beach	35.4	$16,637	$37,316	71%	—	5 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Tidewater Tech-East Little Creek	Not rated	$16,337	Not reported	Not reported	—	17 mi
8	Fortis College-Norfolk	24.6	$14,801	$33,938	30%	—	12 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	Centura College-Chesapeake	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	$37,316	67%	Yes*	15 mi

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.

Virginia employs approximately 14,690 hvac technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,730 ¹. The state’s concentration of hvac technician jobs is 1.36x 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 Virginia, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Virginia): $59,730 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an HVAC Technician in Virginia

How to become an HVAC Technician in Virginia? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for hvac technicians in Virginia.

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.

What do hvac technicians earn in Virginia? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in Virginia is $59,730 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,760 and experienced professionals can earn $83,420 or more ¹.

How to Become an HVAC Technician in Virginia

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Virginia training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Virginia that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor as part of a registered apprenticeship or employer program in Virginia.
Earn your journey card or employer qualification. Complete the registered apprenticeship or approved program, earn the journey card or employer qualification used in Virginia, and confirm contractor versus worker rules with the state before working unsupervised.

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

HVAC Technician Apprenticeship Information in Virginia

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Virginia’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Division of Registered Apprenticeship, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry
Address: 6606 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: (804) 786-6030
Email: [email protected]

Federal Prevailing Wage in Virginia

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians working on federally funded construction projects in Virginia earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Virginia general wage determinations show approximately $16.88 per hour in base pay plus $2.30 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $19.18 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) ⁴.

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 Virginia

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	8,730	$71,920	$73,740	$46,920	$105,180
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	2,840	$59,470	$58,380	$39,220	$76,960
Richmond	2,700	$59,130	$58,490	$38,270	$78,620
Roanoke	660	$49,230	$53,960	$37,720	$75,040
Lynchburg	530	$58,500	$57,130	$38,480	$78,120
Charlottesville	420	$59,540	$59,250	$43,110	$76,860
Harrisonburg	340	$60,210	$57,930	$39,340	$77,780
Kingsport-Bristol	290	$48,950	$51,270	$35,600	$65,790
Staunton-Stuarts Draft	230	$62,350	$62,300	$39,120	$80,740
Winchester	200	$56,250	$54,920	$39,050	$72,540
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford	190	$50,030	$53,690	$39,280	$68,710

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 Virginia? Virginia currently employs approximately 14,690 hvac technicians ¹. Nationally, hvac technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Virginia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Virginia. You can also contact the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do hvac technicians earn in Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in Virginia is $59,730, which is $80 below the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data ¹.

In Virginia

Best Trade Schools in Virginia (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Virginia

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.doli.virginia.gov/apprenticeship/sponsor-list/ ↩︎
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)