HVAC technicians in California: licensing, jobs, pay and local data
34,020 people work as HVAC technicians in California, and the median pay is $65,290 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
The Census Bureau counts 11,686 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractor businesses with employees in California (2023 County Business Patterns).
That is 8.0 businesses per 10,000 homes, against 7.7 nationally.
California ranks 11 of 51 states for median pay in this trade.
It ranks 23 of 51 for businesses per 10,000 homes.
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 34,020
- Median pay, a year
- $65,290
- Businesses with employees
- 11,686
HVAC technicians in California: businesses and jobs
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses with employees | 11,686 | 111,207 |
| Their employees | 126,947 | 1,214,761 |
| Annual payroll | $10,859,374,000 | $89,519,407,000 |
| Payroll per employee | $85,543 | $73,693 |
| Businesses per 10,000 homes | 8.0 | 7.7 |
| Jobs | 34,020 | 396,870 |
| Jobs per 1,000 jobs | 1.88 | — |
| Location quotient (1.00 = the national share) | 0.73 | 1.00 |
A location quotient above 1 means the trade’s share of all jobs is larger here than nationally.
What HVAC technicians earn in California
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $65,290 | $59,810 |
| Median pay, an hour | $31.39 | $28.75 |
| 10th percentile | $46,980 | $39,130 |
| 25th percentile | $55,730 | $47,850 |
| 75th percentile | $84,720 | $74,820 |
| 90th percentile | $107,600 | $91,020 |
| Average pay, a year | $74,470 | $62,690 |
The homes behind the work in California
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes heated by utility gas | 61.0% (±0.1 points) | 46.5% |
| Homes heated by fuel oil | 0.2% (±0.1 points) | 3.9% |
| Homes heated by electricity | 29.5% (±0.1 points) | 41.3% |
| Homes heated by propane | 3.4% (±0.1 points) | 4.9% |
Licenses for HVAC technicians in California
California sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license California requires and the agency that issues it.
Before work starts, the local building department says which permits the job needs and which license the person pulling them must hold.
Federal rules and model codes for HVAC technicians
These federal rules apply to this work in every state, and the model codes below are adopted state by state; each is linked to its official text.
- EPA refrigerant management, Clean Air Act section 608 (40 CFR part 82, subpart F)
- EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E)
- OSHA fall protection in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart M)
- International Mechanical Code (ICC) and Uniform Mechanical Code (IAPMO)
Business counts are establishments: a company with offices in two counties is counted in each.
Jobs and pay are for the occupation in every industry, so they include people employed by builders, property managers and governments as well as by contractors.
What you can do on Seayora in California
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Questions about California
How much do HVAC technicians make in California?
The median pay for HVAC technicians in California is $65,290 a year, against $59,810 nationally (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many HVAC technicians work in California?
34,020 people work as HVAC technicians in California, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
How many plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractor businesses are in California?
The Census Bureau counts 11,686 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractor businesses with employees in California (2023 County Business Patterns).
Do HVAC technicians need a license in California?
California sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license California requires and the agency that issues it.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023
- License Finder: HVAC technicians in California (US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop)
- EPA refrigerant management, Clean Air Act section 608 (40 CFR part 82, subpart F)
- EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E)
- OSHA fall protection in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart M)
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them. Rules are summarized from their official text, which governs; this page is not legal advice, and a state or city may add requirements of its own.
Figures last updated on .