HVAC Technician Apprenticeship in Virginia

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.

VA Median Salary
$60,630/yr
+1% vs. national
National Median
$59,810/yr
VA Employment
13,640
HVAC Technicians employed
VA Sponsors
118
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 Virginia: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered hvac technician apprenticeship in Virginia 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.

Virginia pay vs. national

Median hvac technician wages in Virginia are $60,630/year, +1% above the national median of $59,810. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Virginia has 118 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 — Virginia-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Virginia Wage Spread

Annual wages for HVAC Technicians in Virginia across all experience levels.

10th pct
$40,710
Median
$60,630
90th pct
$81,750
Middle 50% of workers earn $48,240$72,970

Current HVAC Technician Apprenticeship Openings in Virginia

No hvac technician apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Virginia. 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 Virginia

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

Organization City County
Buffalo Air Handling Company Amherst
Fidelity Mechanical Services Ashburn Loudoun County
Blazer Heating and Air Ashland Hanover County
CULLEY MECHANICAL Ashland Hanover County
Comfort Systems, Inc. Ashland Hanover County
GREEN AIR INC. Ashland Hanover County
HOWELL'S HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING Ashland Hanover County
PATRIOT MECHANICAL Ashland Hanover County
TEMPERATURE CONTROL MECHANICAL SERVICES Ashland Hanover County
PFOHL, Inc. dba Rome Mechanical Blacksburg Montgomery County
AIR QUALITY SYSTEMS, INC. Broadway Rockingham County
Roxbury Mechanical LLC Charles City Charles City County
A&J Heating Air, Inc. Charlottesville Charlottesville City
ALBEMARLE HEATING AND AIR, INC. Charlottesville Charlottesville
Jones Heating & Air LLC Charlottesville
TRANE COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS Charlottesville Charlotte County
Associated Mechanical Companies, Inc. Chesapeake Chesapeake City
COMFORT SYSTEMS OF VIRGINIA, INC. Chesapeake Chesapeake
Hobbs Mechanical Chesapeake Chesapeake City
JRC MECHANICAL, LLC Chesapeake Chesapeake City
SOUTHEASTERN MECHANICAL INC. Chesapeake Chesapeake
TEMPLE HEATING & AIR Chesapeake Chesapeake City
TIDEWATER AIR BALANCE, INC Chesapeake Chesapeake City
TRANE Chesapeake Chesapeake City
VP Refrigeration LLC Chesapeake Chesapeake City
+ 93 more sponsors in Virginia
Search apprenticeship.gov for current HVAC Technician openings

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

HVAC Technician Apprenticeship in Virginia

Prospective HVAC Technician apprentices in Virginia have 118 trade-specific registered sponsors to explore — a mix of union locals, contractors, and employer-sponsored programs. Most major metro areas have accessible entry points.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average HVAC Technician salary in Virginia?
The BLS reports a median wage of $60,630/yr for HVAC Technicians in Virginia (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How many years does it take to become an HVAC Technician through apprenticeship?
Most HVAC Technician apprenticeships run 4 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for HVAC Technicians?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 4 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
Where can I apply for an HVAC Technician apprenticeship in Virginia?
Our directory surfaces 118 HVAC Technician-related registered sponsors in Virginia. 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.
How much do HVAC Technician apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $30,315/yr in Virginia). 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 Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) programs in Virginia →
Or see all 244 programs nationwide.

HVAC Technician in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Virginia

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