--- title: "HVAC/R Technician Salary in Kentucky: Pay & Jobs" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/hvac-technician/kentucky/ description: "HVAC/R Technician pay in Kentucky: BLS average $58,870 (all experience levels), median $58,620, bottom 10% $38,790. 43 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. Kentucky Kentucky # HVAC/R Technician pay in *Kentucky* What HVAC and refrigeration technicians earn in Kentucky: BLS OEWS May 2025 pay for the state and 9 metro areas, plus job counts and 43 listed training programs. - **$58,870** Average pay (state) - **$38,790** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$58,620** Median pay (state) - **$80,020** Top 10% earn over 5,100 jobs in Kentucky · 43 listed programs. [Average pay across all experience levels (BLS OEWS May 2025)](https://highpayingtrades.com/methodology/). BLS wage data ## HVAC/R Technician pay in Kentucky 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Kentucky | $38,790 | $47,780 | $58,620 | $67,540 | $80,020 | $58,870 | 5,100 | | 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $39,750 | $48,770 | $62,240 | $78,500 | $96,400 | $65,290 | 2,950 | | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $37,470 | $48,260 | $60,280 | $76,580 | $81,180 | $61,430 | 740 | | Owensboro, KY | $46,320 | $51,590 | $60,060 | $75,880 | $81,030 | $62,230 | 160 | | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $45,870 | $48,220 | $58,930 | $68,210 | $78,740 | $60,030 | 1,890 | | Paducah, KY-IL | $44,970 | $48,840 | $56,610 | $61,210 | $78,110 | $57,340 | 90 | | Elizabethtown, KY | $34,190 | $44,710 | $55,740 | $61,150 | $78,450 | $54,320 | 160 | | Bowling Green, KY | $39,240 | $47,310 | $55,230 | $61,500 | $74,260 | $54,900 | 230 | | Clarksville, TN-KY | $38,530 | $46,410 | $50,480 | $60,980 | $71,790 | $53,720 | 330 | | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $35,780 | $40,930 | $48,860 | $60,950 | $73,400 | $52,080 | 360 | 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. [**HVAC apprenticeships and training** Apprenticeship sponsors and school routes by state · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/trades/hvac/) Programs ## Top training programs in Kentucky We matched 43 programs in Kentucky: 40 school programs (IPEDS 2023-24) and 3 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Ashland Community and Technical College](https://ashland.kctcs.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Ashland, KY | Certificate (1-2 years) | 14 | $4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Ashland Community and Technical College](https://ashland.kctcs.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Ashland, KY | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 21 | $4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Big Sandy Community and Technical College](https://bigsandy.kctcs.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Prestonsburg, KY | Certificate (1-2 years) | 2 | $4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Big Sandy Community and Technical College](https://bigsandy.kctcs.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Prestonsburg, KY | Associate degree | 1 | $4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Big Sandy Community and Technical College](https://bigsandy.kctcs.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Prestonsburg, KY | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 2 | $4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Bluegrass Community and Technical College](https://bluegrass.kctcs.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Lexington, KY | Certificate (1-2 years) | 19 | $4,952–$6,752 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Bluegrass Community and Technical College](https://bluegrass.kctcs.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Lexington, KY | Associate degree | 14 | $4,952–$6,752 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Bluegrass Community and Technical College](https://bluegrass.kctcs.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Lexington, KY | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 79 | $4,952–$6,752 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Campbellsville University](https://www.campbellsville.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Campbellsville, KY | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 0 | $29,618 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Elizabethtown Community and Technical College](https://elizabethtown.kctcs.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Elizabethtown, KY | Certificate (1-2 years) | 11 | $4,872–$6,672 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | 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/kentucky/ 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.