HVAC Jobs in Texas: Your Complete Guide to Career Opportunities in The Lone Star State
Texas stands as one of the nation's premier destinations for HVAC professionals, offering exceptional career opportunities, competitive wages, and unmatched job security. With scorching summers reaching 116 degrees and the state's massive population growth, reliable heating and cooling systems aren't just conveniences—they're necessities. Whether you're launching your career or seeking advancement, Texas's booming HVAC industry provides the perfect environment for long-term professional success.
The Texas HVAC Job Market: Explosive Growth and Unparalleled Opportunity
The HVAC industry in Texas is experiencing unprecedented expansion. Employment is projected to grow from 29,700 to 36,030 jobs through 2030, representing 21% growth—the highest in the nation. This translates to approximately 3,720 new HVAC positions opening annually across Texas, creating abundant opportunities for qualified professionals at all experience levels.
Major metropolitan areas including Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and El Paso are driving this remarkable expansion. The combination of explosive population growth, commercial development, energy sector strength, and extreme climate demands has created one of the strongest HVAC job markets in the United States.
HVAC Salary Expectations in Texas
Texas offers highly competitive compensation for HVAC professionals, with wages providing excellent purchasing power given the state's tax advantages and reasonable cost of living:
Average Salaries by Position:
- HVAC Technicians: $28.71 per hour statewide average with $6,750+ in potential annual overtime (approximately $59,700-$66,450 total annual compensation)
- Entry-Level Technicians: $20.62 per hour (25th percentile)
- Experienced Technicians: $29.81 per hour (75th percentile)
- HVAC Installers: $24-$28 per hour
- HVAC Mechanics: $50,690 annually ($24 per hour average)
- Annual Mean Wage: $68,596 per year or $33 per hour, with top earners reaching $101,390 (90th percentile)
- Houston Technicians: $61,237 annually
- Dallas-Fort Worth Technicians: $71,249 per year or $34 per hour
- HVAC Managers/Supervisors: $85,000-$110,000 annually
- HVAC Engineers: $70,000-$90,000 annually
Top-paying cities in Texas include Justin, Odessa, Austin, and Dallas, with Justin offering salaries 26.8% above the state average. The Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metropolitan areas provide exceptional compensation opportunities, particularly for experienced technicians and commercial specialists.
Types of HVAC Jobs Available in Texas
Texas's diverse and robust economy creates demand for virtually every HVAC specialization:
Residential HVAC Positions
- HVAC Service Technicians: Diagnose and repair heating and cooling systems across Texas's urban, suburban, and rural areas
- Residential Installers: Install new HVAC systems in single-family homes, apartments, and the state's booming housing developments
- Maintenance Technicians: Perform preventive maintenance, seasonal tune-ups, and system efficiency inspections essential in Texas's extreme climate
Commercial HVAC Roles
- Commercial Service Technicians: Work on large-scale systems in office buildings, retail centers, schools, and healthcare facilities
- Refrigeration Technicians: Service commercial refrigeration in grocery stores, restaurants, and Texas's extensive food service industry
- Building Maintenance Technicians: Maintain HVAC systems in universities, government buildings, data centers, and industrial facilities
Specialized Positions
- HVAC Project Managers: Oversee complex installation projects from design through completion in Texas's robust construction market
- HVAC Foremen: Lead installation crews and coordinate multiple jobsite activities across large-scale developments
- Sales Engineers: Combine technical expertise with customer service to design custom HVAC solutions for Texas's diverse climate zones
- Controls Specialists: Program and maintain building automation systems and smart HVAC technology in commercial buildings
- Industrial HVAC Technicians: Service high-performance equipment in Texas's energy, petrochemical, and manufacturing sectors
- Data Center HVAC Specialists: Maintain critical cooling systems for Texas's growing tech infrastructure
Major Employment Hubs Across Texas
Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
With over 9,900 HVAC workers employed and more than 22 million square feet of industrial construction underway, Dallas-Fort Worth represents Texas's largest and most dynamic HVAC job market. The metro area hosts numerous major employers including Trane Technologies, Lennox International, and hundreds of established contractors. With consistent commercial development, residential construction, and a thriving business environment, DFW offers unparalleled career opportunities and advancement potential.
Houston Metropolitan Area
As Texas's largest city and the energy capital of the world, Houston offers exceptional HVAC career opportunities across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. The metro area's petrochemical industry, medical center complex, and port operations create unique opportunities for industrial HVAC specialists and refrigeration technicians. Major employers include Air Comfort Solutions, Texas Air Systems, and numerous regional contractors.
Austin Metropolitan Area
Austin's explosive tech-driven growth has created extraordinary demand for HVAC professionals. The city's data center boom, commercial construction, and residential expansion provide diverse opportunities across all specializations. Austin offers particularly strong opportunities for technicians interested in smart building technology and energy-efficient systems.
San Antonio Metropolitan Area
San Antonio's military installations, healthcare facilities, and tourism industry create consistent demand for HVAC professionals. The city offers excellent opportunities for technicians interested in commercial and institutional work, with particular demand in healthcare facility maintenance and large-scale system installations.
Other Major Markets
- El Paso: Border city with unique commercial opportunities and growing residential market
- Corpus Christi: Coastal market with petrochemical industry and strong commercial sector
- Lubbock: Agricultural hub with commercial and residential opportunities
- Midland-Odessa: Energy sector driving high wages and consistent demand
- The Woodlands, Plano, Frisco: Rapidly growing suburbs with abundant residential work
Licensing and Certification Requirements in Texas
Understanding Texas's comprehensive licensing structure administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is essential for career advancement:
Texas's State Licensing System
Contractors who install, repair, or maintain systems related to air conditioning, refrigeration, or heating must have a TDLR license, and companies must employ a licensed contractor at each permanent location.
Registered Technician (Entry Level)
Texas requires anyone working as an A/C and Refrigeration technician to register with the state by submitting an online application and paying a $20 registration fee. This allows you to work under a licensed contractor's supervision while gaining experience.
Requirements:
- Minimum age: 16 years old (with Career and Technology Education participation) or 18 years old
- Employment with a licensed contractor
- Completed application and $20 fee
- No experience required to start
Certified ACR Technician
After working on a jobsite for 24 months under a licensed contractor's supervision, Texas HVAC techs can become a Certified ACR Technician by completing a 2,000-hour certification program and paying a $50 application fee.
Requirements:
- 2,000 hours of TDLR-approved training (combination of instruction and practical experience)
- Completed within the past four years
- Pass TDLR competency examination
- $50 application fee
- Valid for one year, renewable annually
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License
To operate independently or run your own HVAC business in Texas:
Experience Requirements (choose one path):
- At least 48 months of practical experience in air-conditioning and refrigeration-related work under the supervision of a licensed contractor in the past 72 months, OR
- Held a technician certification for the past 12 months and have at least 36 months of practical experience under a licensed contractor in the past 48 months, OR
- Qualify for an experience exemption based on education or training
License Classifications:
- Class A License: Allows you to work on any size unit
- Class B License: Allows you to work on cooling systems of 25 tons and under, and heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs/hour and under
License Endorsements:
- Environmental Air Conditioning: Treating air to control temperature, humidity, cleanliness, ventilation, and circulation for human comfort
- Commercial Refrigeration: Use of mechanical or absorption equipment to control temperature or humidity for specific space requirements
Application Process:
- Document required experience hours
- Submit completed application with $115 application fee
- Schedule and pass licensing examination through PSI Exams (70% passing score required)
- Provide proof of insurance (minimum $50,000 general liability coverage)
- Obtain $5,000 surety bond (for contractors)
- Register business with Texas Secretary of State
- Receive license (valid for one year from date of issue)
Renewal Requirements:
- Annual renewal with $65 fee
- Maintain required insurance coverage
- Update any business information changes
EPA Certification (Federally Required)
- EPA Section 608 Certification mandatory for all work involving refrigerants
- Required for both technicians and contractors
- Types: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure), Type III (low-pressure), Universal (all types)
- Available through multiple testing providers throughout Texas
Additional Valuable Certifications
- NATE Certification (North American Technician Excellence) - highly valued by