Which state pays HVAC certificate graduates the most?

California, where the median program pays its graduates $38,137 in their first year, the highest of 4 state rankings. Pennsylvania is next, at $37,568.

Which HVAC certificate program pays the most?

Perry Technical Institute in Washington reports the highest first-year pay of the 140 programs ranked here, $57,782. Its median federal debt is $17,146.

How much debt do HVAC certificate graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $10,117 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 29% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying HVAC (Certificate) Programs in the US

154 programs report first-year pay
4 state rankings
Certificate in Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median HVAC certificate program in the US pays its graduates $36,974 in their first year and $45,559 five years after. California has the highest state median ($38,137), and Texas the lowest ($29,535). The median program leaves its graduates with $10,117 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$36,974Across 154 programs

Median pay after 5 years$45,559Across 141 programs

Median federal debt$10,117Across 101 programs

Debt-to-earnings29%Across 96 programs

All 140 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	Perry Technical InstituteYakima, WA · private nonprofit	$57,782	$53,995	$71,486	$17,146	30%
2	St Cloud Technical and Community CollegeSaint Cloud, MN · public	$57,178	$57,978	$63,498	$10,394	18%
3	Century College (Minnesota)White Bear Lake, MN · public	$52,870	$53,609	Not reported	$13,000	25%
4	Western Technical College (Wisconsin)La Crosse, WI · public	$52,820	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
5	Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA · public	$52,345	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
6	Dakota County Technical CollegeRosemount, MN · public	$52,079	$52,807	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
7	Motoring Technical Training InstituteSeekonk, MA · private for-profit	$51,281	Not adjusted	$55,796	$9,500	19%
8	Greenville Technical CollegeGreenville, SC · public	$50,802	Not adjusted	$54,689	$12,546	25%
9	Georgia Piedmont Technical CollegeClarkston, GA · public	$49,346	$51,246	$49,868	Not reported	Not reported
10	Refrigeration SchoolPhoenix, AZ · private for-profit	$48,145	$47,821	Not reported	$8,835	18%
11	Midlands Technical CollegeWest Columbia, SC · public	$46,803	$49,924	$59,159	Not reported	Not reported
12	Davidson-Davie Community CollegeThomasville, NC · public	$46,491	$49,288	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
13	Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeBowling Green, KY · public	$46,451	$51,521	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
14	Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeFergus Falls, MN · public	$46,285	$46,932	$62,937	$7,500	16%
15	Manatee Technical CollegeBradenton, FL · public	$45,926	$44,410	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
16	Athens Technical CollegeAthens, GA · public	$45,356	$47,102	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
17	Owensboro Community and Technical CollegeOwensboro, KY · public	$44,899	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
18	Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · public	$44,715	$49,236	$60,480	Not reported	Not reported
19	Fort Myers Technical CollegeFort Myers, FL · public	$44,343	$42,879	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
20	Northeast Technical InstituteScarborough, ME · private for-profit	$44,276	$45,622	$51,990	$8,550	19%
21	YTI Career Institute-YorkYork, PA · private for-profit	$44,157	$45,256	$54,651	$9,212	21%
22	American Trade SchoolSaint Ann, MO · private for-profit	$44,057	$48,512	$52,105	$19,000	43%
23	Adult and Continuing Education-BCTSHackensack, NJ · public	$44,000	$40,439	$60,484	Not reported	Not reported
24	DeHart Technical SchoolModesto, CA · private for-profit	$43,927	$39,674	Not reported	$8,950	20%
25	Porter & Chester InstituteBridgeport, CT · private for-profit	$43,235	$41,729	$56,898	$14,120	33%
26	Kansas City Kansas Community CollegeKansas City, KS · public	$43,010	$47,753	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
27	Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire, WI · public	$42,963	$45,659	Not reported	$5,500	13%
28	Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth, FL · public	$42,882	$41,466	$48,648	Not reported	Not reported
29	New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Rhode IslandPawtucket, RI · private for-profit	$42,532	$41,584	$54,024	$13,437	32%
30	Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCESLiverpool, NY · public	$42,145	$39,052	$49,101	$7,422	18%
31	Chattahoochee Technical CollegeMarietta, GA · public	$41,978	$43,594	$57,553	Not reported	Not reported
32	Industrial Management Training InstituteWaterbury, CT · private for-profit	$41,746	$40,291	Not reported	$9,500	23%
33	Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeLexington, KY · public	$41,731	$46,286	Not reported	$8,250	20%
34	Institute for Business and TechnologySan Jose, CA · private for-profit	$41,695	$37,658	$68,881	$9,316	22%
35	HVAC Technical InstituteChicago, IL · private for-profit	$41,644	$41,661	Not reported	$6,851	16%
36	Interactive College of Technology-ChambleeChamblee, GA · private for-profit	$41,374	$42,967	$51,032	$11,106	27%
37	Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN · public	$41,270	$44,220	$51,725	$5,940	14%
38	Indian River State CollegeFort Pierce, FL · public	$41,239	$39,878	$42,635	Not reported	Not reported
39	Charter CollegeAnchorage, AK · private for-profit	$41,202	$40,252	$52,293	$14,750	36%
40	Butler Technology and Career Development SchoolsMonroe, OH · public	$41,108	$44,310	Not reported	$6,840	17%
41	Charlotte Technical CollegePort Charlotte, FL · public	$40,977	$39,624	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
42	Advanced Training InstituteLas Vegas, NV · private for-profit	$40,633	$40,642	Not reported	$8,867	22%
43	Virginia Western Community CollegeRoanoke, VA · public	$40,629	$40,185	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
44	Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeConway, SC · public	$40,480	$43,179	$54,681	$9,500	23%
45	San Joaquin Valley College-VisaliaVisalia, CA · private for-profit	$40,368	$36,460	$67,788	$13,000	32%
46	Eastwick College-NutleyNutley, NJ · private for-profit	$40,270	$37,011	$52,095	$10,703	27%
47	Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical SchoolsGroveport, OH · public	$40,131	$43,257	$53,596	$9,298	23%
48	Porter & Chester Institute of HamdenHamden, CT · private for-profit	$40,075	$38,679	$49,034	$14,120	35%
49	Chattanooga State Community CollegeChattanooga, TN · public	$40,038	$43,581	$38,382	$5,500	14%
50	Northwest HVAC/R Training CenterSpokane, WA · private nonprofit	$39,949	$37,331	Not reported	$9,500	24%
51	Institute of Technology (California)Clovis, CA · private for-profit	$39,935	$36,068	$44,857	$9,500	24%
52	Pennco Tech-BlackwoodBlackwood, NJ · private for-profit	$39,632	$36,425	$47,998	$12,968	33%
53	Maysville Community and Technical CollegeMaysville, KY · public	$39,622	$43,947	Not reported	$6,760	17%
54	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN · public	$39,230	$42,702	$26,750	Not reported	Not reported
55	ETI School of Skilled TradesWillowbrook, IL · private for-profit	$39,169	$39,185	$48,180	$9,500	24%
56	Manhattan Area Technical CollegeManhattan, KS · public	$39,131	$43,446	$52,420	Not reported	Not reported
57	Pinellas Technical College-St. PetersburgSaint Petersburg, FL · public	$38,884	$37,600	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
58	Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfield, MO · public	$38,862	$42,792	$42,880	Not reported	Not reported
59	Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking CountyNewark, OH · public	$38,833	$41,858	$37,467	$9,430	24%
60	Advanced Technology InstituteVirginia Beach, VA · private for-profit	$38,761	$38,338	$44,860	$15,905	41%
61	Capstone CollegePasadena, CA · private for-profit	$38,740	$34,989	$59,207	$9,500	25%
62	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-DicksonDickson, TN · public	$38,589	$42,004	$46,776	Not reported	Not reported
63	Pennco Tech-BristolBristol, PA · private for-profit	$38,417	$39,373	$52,682	$13,000	34%
64	Lake Technical CollegeEustis, FL · public	$38,339	$37,073	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
65	InterCoast Colleges-West CovinaWest Covina, CA · private for-profit	$38,137	$34,445	$45,750	$9,500	25%
66	Miller-Motte College-ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN · private for-profit	$38,043	$41,410	$45,173	$12,139	32%
67	Orleans Technical CollegePhiladelphia, PA · private nonprofit	$37,848	$38,790	$52,694	$7,521	20%
68	Ohio Business College-SheffieldSheffield Village, OH · private for-profit	$37,743	$40,683	Not reported	$12,416	33%
69	Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeLouisville, KY · public	$37,460	Not adjusted	Not reported	$11,584	31%
70	New Castle School of TradesNew Castle, PA · private for-profit	$37,288	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
71	Fortis College-Cuyahoga FallsCuyahoga Falls, OH · private for-profit	$37,139	$40,032	$41,984	$13,000	35%
72	Fortis College-CentervilleCenterville, OH · private for-profit	$36,981	$39,861	$42,970	$13,000	35%
73	Atlantic Technical CollegeCoconut Creek, FL · public	$36,966	$35,746	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
74	Fortis College-Baton RougeBaton Rouge, LA · private for-profit	$36,485	$41,363	$42,934	$13,000	36%
75	North American Trade SchoolsBaltimore, MD · private for-profit	$36,464	$34,741	$36,671	$10,329	28%
76	Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, IA · public	$36,401	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
77	Great Oaks Career CampusesCincinnati, OH · public	$36,172	$38,989	$53,431	$8,152	23%
78	Apex Technical SchoolLong Island City, NY · private nonprofit	$36,136	$33,484	$46,540	$9,500	26%
79	East Central CollegeUnion, MO · public	$36,118	$39,770	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
80	CET-San JoseSan Jose, CA · private nonprofit	$35,970	$32,487	$48,636	$6,160	17%
81	Fortis Institute-TowsonTowson, MD · private for-profit	$35,785	$34,094	$43,961	$13,000	36%
82	Universal Technical Institute-CantonCanton, MI · private for-profit	$35,713	$37,117	$47,395	$12,225	34%
83	West Georgia Technical CollegeWaco, GA · public	$35,572	Not adjusted	$46,080	Not reported	Not reported
84	Mayfield CollegeCathedral City, CA · private for-profit	$35,007	$31,618	$44,585	$9,500	27%
85	Augusta Technical CollegeAugusta, GA · public	$34,877	$36,220	$45,559	Not reported	Not reported
86	Orange Technical College-South CampusOrlando, FL · public	$34,860	$33,709	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
87	Central Georgia Technical CollegeWarner Robins, GA · public	$34,320	Not adjusted	$55,342	$13,750	40%
88	Tennessee College of Applied Technology NashvilleNashville, TN · public	$34,315	$37,352	$52,231	Not reported	Not reported
89	Fred K Marchman Technical CollegeNew Port Richey, FL · public	$34,236	$33,106	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
90	Fortis Institute-WayneWayne, NJ · private for-profit	$34,064	$31,307	$46,888	$12,106	36%
91	South Louisiana Community CollegeLafayette, LA · public	$33,792	$38,310	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
92	Lively Technical CollegeTallahassee, FL · public	$33,701	$32,588	$38,925	Not reported	Not reported
93	Valley College-MartinsburgMartinsburg, WV · private nonprofit	$33,697	$37,652	$28,095	$9,500	28%
94	Northwest Louisiana Technical Community CollegeMinden, LA · public	$33,495	Not adjusted	$33,882	Not reported	Not reported
95	UEI College-Huntington ParkHuntington Park, CA · private for-profit	$33,444	$30,206	Not reported	$9,500	28%
96	Stautzenberger College-MaumeeMaumee, OH · private for-profit	$33,403	$36,005	Not reported	$13,730	41%
97	Tulsa Technology CenterTulsa, OK · public	$33,310	$37,920	$39,740	Not reported	Not reported
98	All-State Career SchoolEssington, PA · private for-profit	$33,283	$34,111	$46,381	$13,000	39%
99	Dorsey CollegeMadison Heights, MI · private for-profit	$33,265	$34,573	$42,330	$9,500	29%
100	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksonJackson, TN · public	$33,005	$35,926	$45,963	Not reported	Not reported
101	Fortis College-DothanDothan, AL · private for-profit	$32,955	$37,102	$38,095	$10,649	32%
102	NUC UniversityBayamon, PR · private for-profit	$32,953	Not adjusted	$42,697	$13,845	42%
103	Erwin Technical CollegeTampa, FL · public	$32,790	$31,708	$38,975	Not reported	Not reported
104	Delgado Community CollegeNew Orleans, LA · public	$32,550	$36,902	Not reported	$18,250	56%
105	Tom P. Haney Technical CollegePanama City, FL · public	$32,430	$31,359	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
106	Wharton County Junior CollegeWharton, TX · public	$32,414	$33,397	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
107	Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands, TX · public	$32,070	Not adjusted	$54,727	$5,500	17%
108	Fortis CollegeMobile, AL · private for-profit	$32,004	$36,031	$36,100	$13,000	41%
109	Southern Technical College (Orlando, Florida)Orlando, FL · private for-profit	$31,990	$30,934	Not reported	$11,250	35%
110	Remington College-Dallas CampusDallas, TX · private nonprofit	$31,763	$32,726	$40,824	$12,965	41%
111	Springfield Technical Community CollegeSpringfield, MA · public	$31,369	$29,661	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
112	Florida Education InstituteMiami, FL · private for-profit	$31,247	$30,215	Not reported	$9,500	30%
113	Fortis Institute-ScrantonScranton, PA · private for-profit	$30,823	$31,590	$48,393	$10,342	34%
114	Sheridan Technical CollegeHollywood, FL · public	$30,626	$29,615	$41,316	Not reported	Not reported
115	Tidewater Tech-TradesNorfolk, VA · private for-profit	$30,448	$30,116	$43,957	$14,750	48%
116	UEI College-GardenaGardena, CA · private for-profit	$30,235	$27,308	Not reported	$9,500	31%
117	San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena, TX · public	$30,189	$31,104	$31,732	Not reported	Not reported
118	All-State Career-BaltimoreBaltimore, MD · private for-profit	$30,110	$28,687	$40,699	$13,000	43%
119	Erie Community CollegeBuffalo, NY · public	$29,804	$27,616	$56,738	$6,500	22%
120	Texarkana CollegeTexarkana, TX · public	$29,535	$30,431	Not reported	$10,500	36%
121	Centura College-ChesapeakeChesapeake, VA · private for-profit	$29,395	$29,074	Not reported	$14,750	50%
122	Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of TechnologyBoston, MA · private nonprofit	$29,266	$27,673	$35,548	$9,500	32%
123	Dallas CollegeDallas, TX · public	$28,849	$29,724	$47,817	$9,720	34%
124	Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield, IL · public	$28,504	$28,516	$32,199	$6,292	22%
125	Paris Junior CollegeParis, TX · public	$28,207	$29,062	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
126	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper CumberlandCrossville, TN · public	$28,029	$30,509	$41,570	Not reported	Not reported
127	Robert Morgan Educational Center and Technical CollegeMiami, FL · public	$27,384	$26,480	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
128	Indian Capital Technology Center-MuskogeeMuskogee, OK · public	$26,962	$30,693	$39,097	Not reported	Not reported
129	Ridge Technical CollegeWinter Haven, FL · public	$26,807	$25,922	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
130	Houston City CollegeHouston, TX · public	$26,250	$27,046	Not reported	$19,000	72%
131	South Texas CollegeMcAllen, TX · public	$25,711	$26,491	$28,124	Not reported	Not reported
132	Hazard Community and Technical CollegeHazard, KY · public	$25,094	$27,833	$41,135	Not reported	Not reported
133	Elgin Community CollegeElgin, IL · public	$24,513	$24,523	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
134	UEI College-FresnoFresno, CA · private for-profit	$23,433	$21,164	Not reported	$9,500	41%
135	Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlesterMcAlester, OK · public	$23,333	Not adjusted	$40,939	Not reported	Not reported
136	Blue Cliff College-MetairieMetairie, LA · private for-profit	$23,326	$26,445	$30,007	$9,500	41%
137	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MorristownMorristown, TN · public	$23,325	$25,389	$47,726	Not reported	Not reported
138	Mech-Tech CollegeCaguas, PR · private for-profit	$21,521	Not adjusted	$34,704	$3,500	16%
139	Automeca Technical College-BayamonBayamon, PR · private for-profit	$17,204	Not adjusted	$24,785	$4,000	23%
140	Universal Technology College of Puerto RicoAguadilla, PR · private nonprofit	$15,553	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 123 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 17, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

56 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked. 14 more programs report pay but aren't listed, because College Scorecard's school file doesn't name their schools. The national medians above still count them.

HVAC (Certificate) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's HVAC certificate programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	California	11	$38,137	$9,500
2	Pennsylvania	6	$37,568	$10,342
3	Ohio	8	$37,441	$10,923
4	Texas	9	$29,535	$10,500

Programs in 31 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

Lone Star College System, TX$5,500
CET-San Jose, CA$6,160
Butler Technology and Career Development Schools, OH$6,840
Orleans Technical College, PA$7,521
Great Oaks Career Campuses, OH$8,152
DeHart Technical School, CA$8,950
YTI Career Institute-York, PA$9,212
Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools, OH$9,298
Institute for Business and Technology, CA$9,316
Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County, OH$9,430

Lowest debt for the pay

Butler Technology and Career Development Schools, OH17%
CET-San Jose, CA17%
Lone Star College System, TX17%
Orleans Technical College, PA20%
DeHart Technical School, CA20%
YTI Career Institute-York, PA21%
Institute for Business and Technology, CA22%
Great Oaks Career Campuses, OH23%
Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools, OH23%
Institute of Technology (California), CA24%

Only the 29 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

What heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn

Pay for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers across the US, across all experience levels, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

$61,010

Median pay in the US. 409,670 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 11% from 2025 to 2035, with about 40,600 openings a year. Typical education to start: postsecondary nondegree award.

Bottom 10%: $40,050Top 10%: $95,210

Common questions

The median HVAC certificate program in the US pays its graduates $36,974 in their first year and $45,559 five years after. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median of $61,010 across all experience levels.

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024