--- title: "HVAC/R Technician Salary in California: Pay & Jobs" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/hvac-technician/california/ description: "HVAC/R Technician pay in California: BLS average $75,370 (all experience levels), median $72,560, bottom 10% $46,950. 143 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [HVAC/R Technician](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/hvac-technician/) 4. California California # HVAC/R Technician pay in *California* What HVAC and refrigeration technicians earn in California: BLS OEWS May 2025 pay for the state and 25 metro areas, plus job counts and 143 listed training programs. - **$75,370** Average pay (state) - **$46,950** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$72,560** Median pay (state) - **$109,060** Top 10% earn over 35,130 jobs in California · 143 listed programs. [Average pay across all experience levels (BLS OEWS May 2025)](https://highpayingtrades.com/methodology/). BLS wage data ## HVAC/R Technician pay in California Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | California | $46,950 | $58,280 | $72,560 | $90,780 | $109,060 | $75,370 | 35,130 | | United States | $40,050 | $48,360 | $61,010 | $77,060 | $95,210 | $64,780 | 409,670 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Napa, CA | $51,400 | $64,220 | $84,570 | $102,200 | $108,850 | $84,650 | 70 | | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $57,170 | $63,820 | $82,050 | $106,630 | $136,650 | $91,280 | 1,740 | | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $49,200 | $62,250 | $79,510 | $99,320 | $122,600 | $84,230 | 560 | | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $48,550 | $62,520 | $78,640 | $95,310 | $120,430 | $79,640 | 260 | | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,180 | $61,930 | $78,490 | $101,870 | $129,380 | $86,540 | 3,980 | | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $47,760 | $62,020 | $78,330 | $97,070 | $115,790 | $80,540 | 210 | | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $47,540 | $59,300 | $75,710 | $88,620 | $102,520 | $74,730 | 390 | | El Centro, CA | $47,370 | $59,960 | $75,220 | $95,910 | $111,110 | $77,740 | 120 | | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $48,190 | $60,140 | $75,160 | $90,470 | $112,460 | $75,460 | 200 | | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $46,710 | $58,330 | $74,880 | $91,690 | $113,990 | $75,960 | 3,210 | | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,590 | $58,220 | $73,830 | $83,490 | $109,010 | $74,630 | 10,720 | | Salinas, CA | $49,590 | $61,340 | $72,550 | $103,080 | $115,990 | $80,530 | 300 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Find training ## Looking for a school or apprenticeship? This page covers pay and job outlook. Our sister site RegisteredTradeSchools.com keeps the training directory for HVAC and refrigeration technicians: registered apprenticeship sponsors, how to apply, and school routes. [**California HVAC apprenticeships and training** Registered apprenticeship sponsors and how to apply · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/ca/hvac/) [**HVAC apprenticeships and training** Apprenticeship sponsors and school routes by state · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/trades/hvac/) Programs ## Top training programs in California We matched 143 programs in California: 131 school programs (IPEDS 2023-24) and 12 registered apprenticeship sponsors (DOL). The 10 below are schools with published tuition first; the full directory is on RegisteredTradeSchools.com (links above). | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [American College of Healthcare and Technology](https://www.ach.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Riverside, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 19 | $36,695 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [American College of Healthcare and Technology](https://www.ach.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Huntington Park, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 7 | $17,950 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Antelope Valley Community College District](https://www.avc.edu/) Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician | Lancaster, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 2 | $1,124–$9,548 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0501 | | [Antelope Valley Community College District](https://www.avc.edu/) Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician | Lancaster, CA | Associate degree | 4 | $1,124–$9,548 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0501 | | [Antelope Valley Community College District](https://www.avc.edu/) Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician | Lancaster, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 10 | $1,124–$9,548 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0501 | | [ATA College](https://atacollege.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | El Cajon, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 28 | $16,990 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Bakersfield College](https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/) Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician | Bakersfield, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 15 | $1,450–$11,530 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0501 | | [Bakersfield College](https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/) Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician | Bakersfield, CA | Associate degree | 5 | $1,450–$11,530 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 15.0501 | | [Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education](https://bpace.bpusd.net/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Baldwin Park, CA | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 16 | $1,365 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Brownson Technical School](https://brownson.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Anaheim, CA | Certificate (1-2 years) | 197 | $17,895 Tuition & fees, largest program (program-year school) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | Schools: NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code; “Graduates 2023-24” is the number of first-major certificates or associate degrees the school awarded in that program from July 2023 to June 2024 (IPEDS). Tuition: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (updated 2026-10-15), matched by IPEDS unit ID; it is the published figure, not a quote. Apprenticeship sponsors: DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file (retrieved 2026-10-29); apprenticeships are typically paid, so no tuition is listed — contact the program. Related resources ## Keep researching [**HVAC technician path for veterans** Military experience, EPA 608 and apprenticeship entry. · MilitaryToTrades.com](https://militarytotrades.com/careers/hvac-technician/) [**GI Bill-approved HVAC/R programs** Schools that accept VA education benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/hvac/) ## Sources - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [49-9021.00 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-9021.00), retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/hvac-technician/california/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.