How to Become An HVAC Technician in West Virginia
West Virginia employs approximately 1,690 hvac technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,850 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 West Virginia, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming An HVAC Technician in West Virginia
How do I become an hvac technician in West Virginia? West Virginia requires credentials such as HVAC. The licensing authority is the CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 2,000 hours of experience (roughly 1.0 years of full-time work) 3.
Do I need a license in West Virginia? Yes. West Virginia has licensing or registration requirements for hvac technicians. The CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do hvac technicians earn in West Virginia? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in West Virginia is $48,850 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,160 and experienced professionals can earn $72,640 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: CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD
- Median wage (West Virginia): $48,850 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
HVAC Technician License Requirements in West Virginia
The CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD oversees hvac technician licensing in West Virginia 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| HVAC | West Virginia Law requires the certification of HVAC Technicians. Effective January 1, 2016, no person may perform or offer to perform heating, ventilating and cooling system work in West Virginia wit… |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: State exam required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
HVAC Technician Apprenticeship Information in West Virginia
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. West Virginia’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships 5.
Contact Information:
- Office: West Virginia Community and Technical College System
- Address: 1018 Kanawha Blvd E., Charleston, WV 25301
- Phone: (304) 558-0265
- Email: [email protected]
HVAC Technician Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers wages in West 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 |
| Huntington-Ashland | 360 | $48,860 | $52,080 | $35,780 | $73,400 |
| Charleston | 350 | $51,510 | $55,430 | $37,280 | $80,080 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | 280 | $58,410 | $60,820 | $38,040 | $87,790 |
| Winchester | 200 | $56,250 | $54,920 | $39,050 | $72,540 |
| Morgantown | 170 | $47,970 | $49,190 | $35,510 | $63,330 |
| Beckley | 100 | $44,600 | $45,850 | $34,200 | $61,830 |
| Wheeling | 100 | $56,240 | $56,630 | $36,510 | $77,850 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna | 90 | $45,600 | $45,750 | $33,570 | $60,890 |
| Weirton-Steubenville | 80 | $57,000 | $56,590 | $32,200 | $77,210 |
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 West Virginia
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest hvac technician employment within West Virginia according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | 360 | $48,860 |
| Charleston | 350 | $51,510 |
| Morgantown | 170 | $47,970 |
| Beckley | 100 | $44,600 |
| Wheeling | 100 | $56,240 |
Explore hvac technician programs in Huntington, Charleston, and Morgantown.
Federal Prevailing Wage in West Virginia
Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians working on federally funded construction projects in West Virginia earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent West Virginia general wage determinations show approximately $25.61 per hour in base pay plus $15.68 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $41.29 (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for hvac technicians in West Virginia? West Virginia currently employs approximately 1,690 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 West Virginia with an out-of-state license? Contact the CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in West Virginia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in West Virginia. You can also contact the Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships for apprenticeship opportunities.
How much do hvac technicians earn in West Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in West Virginia is $48,850, which is $10,960 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD - Licensing Information: https://labor.wv.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships: https://workforcewv.org/images/files/job-seekers/REGISTERED_STATEWIDE_APPRENTICESHIP_SPONSORS.pdf ↩︎
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) |