Quick Answer: HVAC Jobs in San Antonio, TX (2027)
Last updated: October 2026
HVAC technicians in San Antonio work in a metro where installation, maintenance and repair jobs make up 4.6 percent of employment and average $28.18 an hour (BLS, May 2025). Nationally the median is $61,010 with 11 percent growth projected through 2035. Texas requires a TDLR license for air conditioning contractors, and federal law requires EPA Section 608 certification to service most refrigerant equipment, so those two credentials decide which jobs you can take.
HVAC Jobs in San Antonio, TX
In South Texas, air conditioning is not a luxury. It runs most of the year, which keeps HVAC technicians busy through long cooling seasons and short, mild winters. San Antonio's steady population growth adds new homes, apartments, and commercial buildings that need systems installed, and the older housing stock needs service, replacement, and duct work on a predictable cycle.
This guide covers what HVAC jobs in San Antonio pay, which licenses and certifications you need, the kinds of employers hiring, and how to move from helper to licensed technician.
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What HVAC Technicians Earn in San Antonio
The Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 release for San Antonio-New Braunfels reports that installation, maintenance and repair occupations, the group that includes HVAC technicians, make up 4.6 percent of local employment and average $28.18 an hour. Construction and extraction workers average $25.94 an hour and transportation and material moving workers $21.23, so maintenance and repair work pays the most of the three (BLS: Occupational Employment and Wages in San Antonio-New Braunfels, May 2025). The release does not list HVAC mechanics as their own line for the metro, so treat $28.18 as the local benchmark for the broader group.
For HVAC mechanics and installers specifically, the national median in May 2025 was $61,010 a year, or $29.33 an hour, across about 440,900 jobs. The BLS projects 11 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average and the fastest of the big three trades (BLS: HVAC Mechanics and Installers). Compare it with electricians at $63,190 and plumbers at $63,800 in our trade pay comparison.
Licenses and Certifications for HVAC in Texas
Two credentials matter. The first is state licensing. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation runs the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors program, which lists a contractor license, a registered technician class, and a certified technician class. Contractors performing this work must hold a TDLR license, ACR companies must employ an ACR contractor at each permanent location, and license holders complete continuing education (TDLR: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors). If you are starting out, ask each employer which license class your role falls under and whether they sponsor your registration.
The second credential is federal. Under EPA Section 608, technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release ozone-depleting refrigerants must be certified, and since January 1, 2018 that includes appliances using most substitute refrigerants such as HFCs. The exam is given by an EPA-approved certifying organization and the credential does not expire (EPA: Section 608 Technician Certification). Many San Antonio employers expect it before you touch refrigerant, so earning it early makes you hireable faster. Our guide to trade certifications that raise pay covers the EPA exam and the rest.
Who Hires HVAC Technicians in San Antonio
Hiring comes from four directions. Residential service companies run most of the volume, with repair calls, tune-ups, and replacements. Replacement and new construction installers work for builders and specialty contractors across the metro's growth corridors. Commercial and facilities teams maintain rooftop units, chillers, and building controls for hospitals, schools, retail, and warehouses. Finally, industrial and refrigeration employers need technicians for cold storage and food distribution. Each path pays differently and teaches different skills, so match the employer type to what you want in two years.
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How to Start as an HVAC Helper and Move Up
Most technicians begin as helpers or installers' assistants, learning duct work, line sets, and safety before they ever diagnose a system. Pair that job with a trade school program or employer training, pass the EPA exam, and register with TDLR where required. After a year or two of service calls, you can specialize in commercial systems, refrigeration, or controls, or move toward a lead technician or service manager role. The pay ladder is what separates the median from the top of the range, as shown in our list of 17 skilled trade jobs that pay over $80,000 and the highest paying blue collar careers.
Choosing Between Residential, Commercial, and Refrigeration Work
Residential service is the easiest door to open, because there are many employers and the training is hands-on from day one. Commercial work pays for specialization: larger rooftop units, chillers, and building controls reward technicians who can read schematics and troubleshoot electronics. Refrigeration, which covers walk-in coolers, ice machines, and cold storage, tends to attract technicians who like precise diagnostic work and steadier, less seasonal schedules. None of these paths locks you in. Many technicians start in residential service, earn their EPA certification and license, and then move into commercial or refrigeration roles after a few years once they know what they enjoy.
Whichever route you choose, keep a record of your hours, the systems you have worked on, and any manufacturer training you complete. That documentation supports license applications, makes interviews easier, and gives you leverage when you negotiate pay.
What a Typical Week Looks Like
Expect variety. Residential technicians run several service calls a day, diagnosing airflow, electrical, and refrigerant problems and explaining options to homeowners. Installers spend long days in attics and mechanical rooms during replacements. Summer is the peak season, with extended hours and on-call rotations at many shops, while spring and fall fill with maintenance agreements and installations. Before you accept an offer, ask about on-call expectations, vehicle and tool policies, training budgets, and whether pay is hourly, flat rate, or a mix, because those details change real earnings more than the posted rate does.
Employers looking to hire HVAC talent can post a job here or read our blue collar hiring guide for what candidates want.
Frequently Asked Questions About HVAC Jobs in San Antonio
How much do HVAC technicians make in San Antonio?
BLS May 2025 data shows installation, maintenance and repair workers in the metro averaging $28.18 an hour. The national HVAC median is $61,010 a year.
Do I need a license to work in HVAC in Texas?
Contractors must hold a TDLR license, and TDLR lists registered and certified technician classes. Ask your employer which one applies to your role.
Do I need EPA certification?
Technicians who service equipment that could release ozone-depleting refrigerants must be EPA Section 608 certified, including most substitute refrigerants such as HFCs since 2018. The credential does not expire.
Is HVAC a growing field?
The BLS projects 11 percent growth from 2025 to 2035 for HVAC mechanics and installers, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Where can I find HVAC jobs hiring now in San Antonio?
Browse the San Antonio blue collar job listings on BC Recruits and create a profile so employers can find you.