HVAC Technician Apprenticeship in Rhode Island

Wages, programs & career outlook

HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems that keep buildings comfortable and commercial coolers running. The trade blends mechanical work, electrical diagnostics, and refrigerant handling.

RI Median Salary
$63,580/yr
+6% vs. national
National Median
$59,810/yr
RI Employment
1,320
HVAC Technicians employed
RI Sponsors
95
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
8.1%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
40,100
Nationally, per yr

HVAC Technician Apprenticeship in Rhode Island: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered hvac technician apprenticeship in Rhode Island combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Rhode Island pay vs. national

Median hvac technician wages in Rhode Island are $63,580/year, +6% above the national median of $59,810. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Rhode Island has 95 registered apprenticeship sponsors for hvac technician listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.1% job growth for hvac technicians nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 40,100 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — Rhode Island-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Rhode Island Wage Spread

Annual wages for HVAC Technicians in Rhode Island across all experience levels.

10th pct
$37,180
Median
$63,580
90th pct
$86,290
Middle 50% of workers earn $47,660$78,830

Current HVAC Technician Apprenticeship Openings in Rhode Island

No hvac technician apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Rhode Island. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

HVAC Technician Apprenticeship Sponsors in Rhode Island

95 hvac technician-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Rhode Island. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current hvac technician apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Lawrence Air Systems Inc Barrington Bristol County
William Harris HVACR Solutions LLC Barrington Bristol County
New Shoreham Heating Service LLC Block Island Newport County
All Comfort Heating and Cooling Bradford Washington County
Phoenix Refrigeration LLC Bristol Bristol County
Sunshine Fuels & Energy Services Bristol Bristol County
Sunshine Fuels & Energy Services DUPLICATE Bristol Bristol County
MPG Mechanical LLC Charlestown Washington County
Brewer Mechanical Services Inc Chepachet Providence County
S and C Mechanical Chepachet Providence County
A & L Mechanical Inc Coventry Kent County
Barlow Heating LLC Coventry Kent County
Comfort Systems and Solutions Inc Coventry Kent County
East Coast Comfort Solutions Coventry Kent County
Standish Hvac Coventry Kent County
Vincent Heating & Air Inc Coventry Kent County
A R Heating & Cooling Inc Cranston Providence County
Air Conditioning Services of New England Inc Cranston Providence County
American Home Heating and A/C Inc Cranston Providence County
Automatic Temperature Controls Inc Cranston Providence County
Climate Controlled Systems Inc Cranston Providence County
Controls Heating & Air Inc Cranston Providence County
Horizon Mechanical LLC Cranston Providence County
Prime Heating & Cooling LLC Cranston Providence County
United Mechanical Inc Cranston Providence County
+ 70 more sponsors in Rhode Island
Search apprenticeship.gov for current HVAC Technician openings

Filter by occupation code 49-9021 and state RI for the most relevant results.

HVAC Technician Apprenticeship in Rhode Island

The HVAC Technician apprenticeship infrastructure in Rhode Island is extensive: 95 sponsors identifiable in our directory. Union halls, contractors, and joint apprenticeship committees all accept applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do HVAC Technicians make in Rhode Island?
HVAC Technicians in Rhode Island earn a median salary of $63,580/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $59,810 for the trade.
How long is an HVAC Technician apprenticeship?
A typical HVAC Technician apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
Should I do an HVAC Technician apprenticeship or go to trade school?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained HVAC Technicians, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
Where can I apply for an HVAC Technician apprenticeship in Rhode Island?
Our directory surfaces 95 HVAC Technician-related registered sponsors in Rhode Island. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
Do HVAC Technician apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $31,790/yr in Rhode Island). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. HVAC Technicians also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 244 Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) programs nationwide →
Too few Rhode Island-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

HVAC Technician in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Rhode Island

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.