--- title: "HVAC/R Technician Salary in North Carolina: Pay & Jobs" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/hvac-technician/north-carolina/ description: "HVAC/R Technician pay in North Carolina: BLS average $57,400 (all experience levels), median $57,260, bottom 10% $37,780. 115 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. North Carolina North Carolina # HVAC/R Technician pay in *North Carolina* What HVAC and refrigeration technicians earn in North Carolina: BLS OEWS May 2025 pay for the state and 16 metro areas, plus job counts and 115 listed training programs. - **$57,400** Average pay (state) - **$37,780** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$57,260** Median pay (state) - **$77,160** Top 10% earn over 15,230 jobs in North Carolina · 115 listed programs. [Average pay across all experience levels (BLS OEWS May 2025)](https://highpayingtrades.com/methodology/). BLS wage data ## HVAC/R Technician pay in North Carolina 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | North Carolina | $37,780 | $46,830 | $57,260 | $64,310 | $77,160 | $57,400 | 15,230 | | 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $40,110 | $47,950 | $59,840 | $69,770 | $79,210 | $59,940 | 3,860 | | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $39,220 | $47,880 | $59,470 | $70,280 | $76,960 | $58,380 | 2,840 | | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $39,560 | $48,390 | $59,180 | $63,520 | $77,360 | $58,480 | 750 | | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $39,160 | $47,480 | $58,900 | $65,350 | $77,830 | $58,490 | 2,550 | | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $38,010 | $47,360 | $58,520 | $70,810 | $76,380 | $58,180 | 1,170 | | Asheville, NC | $43,520 | $49,060 | $58,120 | $62,780 | $75,980 | $57,540 | 660 | | Fayetteville, NC | $36,810 | $46,840 | $56,220 | $62,860 | $72,810 | $55,300 | 490 | | Rocky Mount, NC | $37,940 | $46,890 | $55,690 | $65,340 | $70,980 | $55,260 | 150 | | Winston-Salem, NC | $37,770 | $46,010 | $55,360 | $60,850 | $74,610 | $55,660 | 700 | | Greenville, NC | $36,830 | $45,000 | $53,160 | $62,640 | $72,630 | $53,410 | 220 | | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $36,460 | $45,640 | $52,580 | $60,720 | $63,610 | $53,190 | 160 | | Burlington, NC | $37,490 | $47,350 | $52,450 | $61,060 | $73,940 | $55,500 | 280 | 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. [**North Carolina HVAC apprenticeships and training** Registered apprenticeship sponsors and how to apply · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/nc/hvac/) [**HVAC apprenticeships and training** Apprenticeship sponsors and school routes by state · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/trades/hvac/) Programs ## Top training programs in North Carolina We matched 115 programs in North Carolina: 104 school programs (IPEDS 2023-24) and 11 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Alamance Community College](https://www.alamancecc.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Graham, NC | Certificate (1-2 years) | 5 | $2,592–$8,736 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Alamance Community College](https://www.alamancecc.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Graham, NC | Associate degree | 9 | $2,592–$8,736 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Alamance Community College](https://www.alamancecc.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Graham, NC | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 40 | $2,592–$8,736 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College](https://www.abtech.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Asheville, NC | Certificate (1-2 years) | 2 | $2,882–$9,026 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College](https://www.abtech.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Asheville, NC | Associate degree | 2 | $2,882–$9,026 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College](https://www.abtech.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Asheville, NC | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 11 | $2,882–$9,026 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Cape Fear Community College](https://www.cfcc.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Wilmington, NC | Certificate (1-2 years) | 16 | $2,772–$8,916 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Cape Fear Community College](https://www.cfcc.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Wilmington, NC | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 12 | $2,772–$8,916 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Catawba Valley Community College](https://www.cvcc.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Hickory, NC | Certificate (1-2 years) | 1 | $2,427–$7,803 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 47.0201 | | [Catawba Valley Community College](https://www.cvcc.edu/) Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | Hickory, NC | Associate degree | 1 | $2,427–$7,803 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/north-carolina/ 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.