A first-year HVAC apprentice in a non-union contractor program earns around $15–$18 per hour. That same first-year apprentice in a union program in a high-cost metro can clear $22–$26/hr before fringe benefits are counted. Four years later, both of those apprentices are looking at journeyman wages north of $28/hr nationally, with union markets in states like Illinois and New York pushing $40–$50/hr all-in when benefits are factored in.
The spread is real, and it's driven by a few specific things: whether your program is union or non-union, what region you're in, and what kind of work you're doing. This article breaks down what apprentices actually earn at each stage, where the money is better, and what moves you can make during the apprenticeship to end up at the top of the pay range when you graduate.
How HVAC Apprentice Pay Is Structured
Almost every formal apprenticeship program — union or not — ties apprentice wages to a percentage of the local journeyman rate. The idea is straightforward: as your skills grow, your pay grows proportionally, and by the time you've completed the program, you're earning close to what a journeyman earns for the same work.
In union programs, these percentages are locked into collective bargaining agreements and advance on a fixed schedule, typically every six months or at the start of each year. In non-union contractor programs, the percentages are similar in concept but vary more by employer — some stick close to union-style steps, others use merit-based raises with more flexibility.
The BLS median annual wage for HVAC technicians was $59,810 in May 2024, which works out to roughly $28.75/hr. Plug that into the percentage scale and you get a rough national baseline for what apprentice wages look like at each stage.
Union journeyman rates in major markets run considerably higher — $38–$55/hr in places like Chicago, New York, and Seattle. That's why union apprentice wages in those cities can look startlingly good relative to what you'd see in a smaller market.
Pay by Year of Apprenticeship
Most HVAC apprenticeship programs run four to five years, depending on the sponsor. The UA (United Association) and SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers) union programs run five years. Many non-union contractor and ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) programs run four years. Some residential-focused programs can be completed in three.
Here's what pay typically looks like at each stage.
Year 1: Learning the Fundamentals
Typical range: $15–$20/hr (non-union) | $18–$26/hr (union)
Year 1 is material runs, tool-setting, watching, and asking questions. You're on the truck with a journeyman, learning how systems are laid out, what the components are called, and how to handle refrigerant recovery equipment without doing something that violates the Clean Air Act. The work itself isn't glamorous, but the hands-on exposure in this year shapes how fast you develop.
Most programs start apprentices at 40–50% of the journeyman rate. Using a $28.75 national median journeyman rate as a reference, that's roughly $11.50–$14.40/hr at 40–50% — but the reality on the ground tends to run higher because most contractors aren't hiring at the absolute floor of what the scale allows. Year 1 wages in the $15–$18/hr range are more common in practice for non-union programs.
Union locals often have higher minimums baked into their wage schedules. UA Local 101 in Illinois, for example, starts apprentices at 35–40% of journeyman scale but those journeyman rates are substantially higher than the national BLS median — so the dollar figure is often competitive with or better than non-union shops in the same market.
In California, prevailing wage schedules for HVAC apprentices in some counties show Year 1 rates starting above $26/hr when you include the fringe benefit package. That's a useful illustration of how much location affects the picture.
Year 2: Starting to Pull Your Weight
Typical range: $18–$22/hr (non-union) | $22–$30/hr (union)
By Year 2, you're handling more of the actual work. System startup, equipment changeouts, refrigerant charging, basic diagnostics. You're still working alongside a journeyman on most jobs, but you're not just handing over tools anymore.
This is also the year when many union programs start pension contributions. That's additional compensation on top of your hourly rate that doesn't show up in the headline number — relevant context when comparing union and non-union total packages.
Most programs land Year 2 apprentices at 50–60% of journeyman rate. Non-union programs often deliver this as an across-the-board raise at the one-year mark, sometimes negotiated informally between the apprentice and the contractor.
The $2–$4/hr jump from Year 1 to Year 2 is often the biggest single increase in the program on a percentage basis. It reflects the difference between someone who needs constant supervision and someone who can be trusted with a van route and a basic service ticket.
Year 3: More Independence, More Complexity
Typical range: $22–$26/hr (non-union) | $27–$35/hr (union)
Year 3 apprentices are handling a meaningful portion of the service and installation work. Troubleshooting refrigerant-side problems, replacing air handlers and condensing units, wiring controls. In residential shops, a third-year apprentice with EPA 608 certification is often running solo service calls on straightforward jobs.
Programs put Year 3 at around 65–75% of journeyman rate. At this point, the gap between what you're contributing and what you're being paid starts to narrow. That's intentional — it's one of the mechanisms that keeps apprentices in the program rather than jumping ship for a non-apprenticeship position.
Commercial work opens up more in Year 3. If your program or employer has commercial contracts, this is when you start getting exposure to chillers, rooftop units, and building automation basics. That exposure directly affects what your journeyman rate looks like when you graduate, because specialty experience commands a premium.
Year 4 (and Year 5): Approaching Journeyman Wages
Typical range: $26–$30/hr (non-union) | $32–$45/hr+ (union)
Late-stage apprentices are at 75–90% of journeyman rate. In practical terms, you're doing journeyman-level work for most of your hours. The remaining gap in pay reflects the completed apprenticeship card you don't have yet.
In five-year union programs, Year 5 specifically bridges the gap from senior apprentice to journeyman. Some programs put Year 5 at 85–90% of scale, others at 90–95%. The difference sounds small but on a $45/hr journeyman rate, 5% is $2.25/hr — meaningful over a 2,000-hour year.
Completion of the apprenticeship typically triggers an immediate jump to full journeyman wages. ABC programs have described this as a $5–$12/hr raise "overnight" — the moment your card clears, your rate changes. That's not a figure most other career paths can point to.
Union vs. Non-Union Apprentice Pay: What the Numbers Show
The union premium for apprentices is real but varies significantly by market.
In strong union markets — Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle — union apprentice wages are meaningfully higher at every stage, and the benefit packages add another $8–$15/hr in effective compensation (health insurance, pension, paid training time). A first-year UA apprentice in the Chicago area can realistically see $22–$25/hr in base wages plus fringe.
In weaker union markets and right-to-work states across the South and parts of the Mountain West, the premium shrinks. Non-union contractors in those markets have also raised starting wages in recent years because of the shortage — some residential contractors in Texas and Florida are starting apprentice helpers at $18–$20/hr, competitive with or above what a lower-density union local would pay.
The other difference is structure. Union apprentice wage steps advance automatically when you hit your hours. Non-union raises depend on your employer — which means a good contractor can promote you faster, but also means a slow contractor can keep you at a lower step longer than the union schedule would allow.
Benefits are the bigger structural difference. In union programs, health insurance is typically paid in full by the contractor as part of the labor agreement. In non-union shops, you're often contributing to the premium or choosing a less comprehensive plan. The dollar-per-hour difference between full employer-paid family health coverage and employee-contribution plans can easily run $3–$6/hr when annualized. Non-union apprentices sometimes don't calculate that into their comparison.
Regional Variation in Apprentice Wages
Geography moves apprentice pay more than most first-year apprentices expect.
Highest-paying markets for HVAC apprentices:
- New York / Northeast corridor — Union density is high, prevailing wages apply to public work, and the journeyman rates that apprentice scales are pegged to run well above the national median
- California — Prevailing wage schedules on public work push rates significantly higher; Bay Area and LA County show Year 1 rates above $26/hr in prevailing wage jobs
- Illinois / Chicago — Strong union presence with UA and SMART locals; journeyman rates well above national median, which flows through to apprentice scales
- Washington state — Data center construction boom, high commercial HVAC demand, above-median wages across the board
Competitive non-union markets:
Texas, Florida, and Arizona have significant labor shortages that have pushed contractor starting wages up. A first-year HVAC helper at a busy residential shop in Phoenix or Houston often starts at $17–$20/hr now, which would have been unusual five years ago.
For a full state-by-state picture of where HVAC wages land, the HVAC technician salary by state guide has the breakdown. The salary data hub at HVACJobs.IO also aggregates current wage data filtered by state.
For a more personalized estimate based on your specific situation — including certification level and whether you're union or non-union — the pay rate calculator breaks it down to your metro area.
Apprentice job listings on HVACJobs.IO are filterable by location, so you can see what programs are actively hiring in your region before committing to a program.
Benefits Beyond Hourly Pay
A comparison that looks only at hourly wages misses a meaningful part of the picture, especially for union programs.
Health insurance. Union labor agreements typically require employers to contribute to a health and welfare fund that covers medical, dental, and vision for the apprentice and their family. Full family coverage. No premium contributions from the employee. The market value of that benefit in 2025 runs $15,000–$25,000/year for a family plan. Spread over 2,000 annual hours, that's $7.50–$12.50/hr in effective additional compensation.
Pension. Many union HVAC trades participate in defined-benefit pension plans. The often-cited benchmark is roughly $200/month per year of service. A 30-year career at that rate produces $6,000/month in retirement income — a benefit that essentially doesn't exist in non-union contractor settings, where you're responsible for your own retirement savings.
Tuition-free training. Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees (JATCs) in union programs pay for the related technical instruction. No student loans. No community college tuition. You earn while you learn, and the classroom side is covered. That's a real dollar value — HVAC training programs at private trade schools run $10,000–$20,000 for a certificate program.
Tool allowances and work boots. Many contractors, union and non-union, provide tool allowances to apprentices. Amounts vary: some employers provide a new-hire tool set, others pay an annual allowance of $300–$500. It's worth asking directly during the interview what the policy is.
Non-union programs vary significantly. Large national contractors like Service Experts or Lennox dealers often offer solid benefit packages. Smaller independent shops may offer minimal benefits, especially early in the apprenticeship.
How to Earn More During Your Apprenticeship
Get EPA 608 as early as possible. There's no requirement that you wait until Year 2 or Year 3. The exam is open to anyone, costs $50–$90 depending on the testing provider, and you can pass it with 4–6 weeks of focused study. Once you're EPA-certified, you can legally handle refrigerants independently. That makes you more useful to your employer and often translates to a faster path to more complex work — and higher steps in the pay scale.
The EPA 608 certification guide covers the study approach, exam format, and which certification type (Type I, II, III, or Universal) makes the most sense for where you're headed.
Take every overtime opportunity in peak seasons. Summer AC calls and winter heating season push HVAC shops into 50–60 hour weeks. Federal overtime kicks in at 40 hours, so those extra hours pay 1.5x your regular rate. An apprentice making $18/hr earns $27/hr for every hour past 40. A 60-hour week generates $27 × 20 hours in overtime — that's an additional $540 before taxes compared to a standard 40-hour week. Multiply that across a full summer and the seasonal overtime meaningfully closes the wage gap between Year 1 and Year 2 scale.
Gravitate toward commercial work. Residential HVAC is where most apprentices start, but commercial systems — chillers, VAV systems, cooling towers, building automation controls — pay more at the journeyman level. The journeyman rate differential between residential and commercial in the same market can run $5–$10/hr. Apprentices who get commercial exposure during their training years graduate into better-paying positions. If your program or employer has commercial work available, take it.
Learn controls. Building automation and HVAC controls work is where the field is heading, and the shortage of technicians who can work with BAS systems is acute. Apprentices who develop controls literacy — understanding BACnet, programming basic sequences, troubleshooting field devices — position themselves for the upper end of the journeyman pay scale.
For a deeper look at how pay grows after your apprenticeship card comes in, the how to become an HVAC technician guide covers the full career arc from apprentice to senior tech.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do HVAC apprentices make starting out?
Most first-year HVAC apprentices earn $15–$20/hr in non-union contractor programs. Union apprentices in major markets often start at $18–$26/hr. The national average for an entry-level apprentice runs around $16/hr, but that figure blends high-cost union markets with lower-cost non-union markets and understates what's available in either track specifically.
How much do HVAC apprentices make per year?
At $16–$18/hr working full-time (roughly 2,000 hours), a first-year apprentice takes home $32,000–$36,000. By Year 3–4, that climbs to $44,000–$56,000 at $22–$28/hr. In union programs in high-wage markets, Year 4–5 apprentices can earn $60,000–$70,000+ when fringe benefits are included in total compensation calculations.
Do HVAC apprentices get benefits?
In union programs, apprentices typically receive employer-paid health insurance (often including family coverage), pension contributions, and free classroom instruction through the JATC. Non-union programs vary — large national contractors often offer health insurance and 401(k) matching; smaller independent shops may offer limited benefits until after a probationary period.
What percentage of journeyman pay do HVAC apprentices earn?
Most programs start apprentices at 40–50% of the local journeyman rate in Year 1, scaling up to 85–95% by Year 4 or 5. The specific steps depend on the program. Union programs have these percentages written into collective bargaining agreements and advance automatically.
Is union or non-union HVAC apprenticeship pay better?
In most major markets, union apprenticeships pay more in both base wages and total compensation when benefits are included. The gap is largest in cities with strong union density and high journeyman rates. In some smaller markets and right-to-work states, the wage premium narrows and non-union contractors with high demand are starting apprentices at competitive wages. The benefit packages almost always favor union programs.
How long does an HVAC apprenticeship take?
Most formal apprenticeship programs run four to five years. UA and SMART union programs are typically five years. Many non-union and ABC programs run four years. Some residential-focused programs can be completed in three years.
Can HVAC apprentices work overtime?
Yes, and peak season overtime is a meaningful income booster. Summer and winter are the heavy demand periods. Many shops see 50–60 hour weeks during those months, and hours past 40 are paid at 1.5x. For an apprentice making $18/hr, those overtime hours pay $27/hr — worth taking every time it's offered.
What state pays HVAC apprentices the most?
California, New York, Illinois, and Washington consistently show the highest apprentice wages when union and prevailing wage work is included. California prevailing wage schedules show Year 1 rates above $26/hr in some counties including the full benefit package. Non-union markets in Texas and Arizona have become more competitive due to demand, with starting wages for helpers at $17–$20/hr in some metros.
HVAC apprentice programs accepting applications right now are listed at HVACJobs.IO — filterable by state, union status, and program type. If you're comparing programs before committing, look at the journeyman rate the apprentice scale is pegged to, not just the Year 1 number. A program that starts you at 40% of a $45/hr journeyman rate pays you more than one that starts you at 50% of a $30/hr rate — and the difference compounds over five years.