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If you would like to get trained for a technical job, an HVAC career may be the right career move for you.
If you live in Pennsylvania, let’s look at what you need to do in order to break into the industry and become a successful tech.
Article Table of Contents
HVAC Training
During your training, you will learn how to install, maintain and repair air conditioning systems, heating systems, and perhaps refrigerants.
You will also be taught the local, state and federal guidelines and how to adhere to these.
Some of the other topics covered in classes are natural gas piping, ACR tubing, sheet metal operation, duct sizing, ergonomics, mechanical code, refrigerants, ergonomics, best practices, and customer relations.
Vocational schools and programs
The Brightwood Career Institute offers HVAC/R training in Pittsburgh, Broomall, Harrisburg, Franklin Mills, and Philadelphia.
You can also check out the YTI Career Institute, which provides courses lasting between 9 and 21 months.
They also provide a Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology specialization and are located in Altoona, York, and Lancaster.
All State Career School is situated in Pittsburg and provides specialized HVAC training.
Another option is Fortis College in Erie, Forty Fort, and Scranton.
This school also offers reliable HVACR training.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| All-State Career School | 1200 Lebanon Road West Mifflin, Pennsylvania 15122 |
| Berks Career and Technology Center | 1057 County Welfare Rd Leesport, Pennsylvania 19533 |
| Bucks County Technical High School | 610 Wistar Rd Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania 19030 |
| Butler County Area Vocational Technical School | 210 Campus Ln Butler, Pennsylvania 16001 |
| Butler County Community College | College Drive Oak Hills Butler, Pennsylvania 16003 |
| Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology | 540 N Harrison Rd Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania 16823 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | 800 Allegheny Ave Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233 |
| Dean Institute of Technology | 1501 W Liberty Ave Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15226 |
| Delaware County Community College | 901 S Media Line Rd Media, Pennsylvania 19063 |
| Forbes Road Career and Technology Center | 607 Beatty Rd Monroeville, Pennsylvania 15146 |
| Fortis Institute | 5757 W 26th St Erie, Pennsylvania 16506 |
| Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center | 1500 Fourth Avenue Altoona, Pennsylvania 16602 |
| Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center | 445 Schoolhouse Rd Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15904 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College-Harrisburg | 1 HACC Dr. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110 |
| Indiana County Technology Center | 441 Hamill Rd Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701 |
| Johnson College | 3427 N Main Ave Scranton, Pennsylvania 18508 |
| Kaplan Career Institute | 1991 Sproul Road Suite 42 Broomall, Pennsylvania 19008 |
| Lancaster County Career and Technology Center | 1730 Hans Herr Dr Willow Street, Pennsylvania 17584 |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | 4525 Education Park Dr Schnecksville, Pennsylvania 18078 |
| Luzerne County Community College | 1333 South Prospect Street Nanticoke, Pennsylvania 18634 |
| McCann School of Business and Technology | 2650 Woodglen Road Pottsville, Pennsylvania 17901 |
| New Castle School of Trades | 4177 Pulaksi Road New Castle, Pennsylvania 16101 |
| North Montco Technical Career Center | 1265 Sumneytown Pike Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446 |
| Northampton County Area Community College | 3835 Green Pond Rd Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18020 |
| Orleans Technical Institute | 2770 Red Lion Road Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19114 |
| Penn Commercial Business/Technical School | 242 Oak Spring Road Washington, Pennsylvania 15301 |
| Pennco Tech | 3815 Otter St Bristol, Pennsylvania 19007 |
| Pittsburgh Technical College | 1111 McKee Road Oakdale, Pennsylvania 15071 |
Do you need certification?
Overall, you don’t need a contractor’s license to work in Pennsylvania.
Some particular cities do require a license, and the most common ones are:
- Manufactured Housing Installers Certification,
- Home Improvement Contractors Registrations,
- Crane Operators Licensure,
- Asbestos and Lead Removal Certification,
- Municipal Certification and Licensure.
The median salary for an HVAC tech
Pennsylvania’s median salary is around $46,638 a year, while top HVAC techs in this state can earn as high as $52,845 yearly.
The national median salary is around $46,731 per year, making it almost on par with the salaries in Pennsylvania.
At the national level, top HVAC techs make around $52,951 per year.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $50,199 |
| Pittsburgh | $46,030 |
| Allentown | $46,591 |
| Erie | $43,165 |
| Reading | $46,353 |
| Scranton | $43,133 |
| Bethlehem | $46,591 |
| Lancaster | $45,782 |
| Harrisburg | $45,497 |
| York | $45,577 |
Regional Salary in Pennsylvania
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 1,040 | $56,600 | $27.21 | $79,890 | $37,880 |
| Altoona, PA | 150 | $44,420 | $21.36 | $60,170 | $31,250 |
| Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA | 100 | $47,800 | $22.98 | $60,010 | $35,000 |
| Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA | 280 | $48,780 | $23.45 | $66,280 | $34,610 |
| East Stroudsburg, PA | 170 | $52,760 | $25.36 | $66,520 | $36,520 |
| Erie, PA | 270 | $52,240 | $25.12 | $76,050 | $36,210 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 100 | $50,450 | $24.26 | $64,380 | $33,100 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 1,020 | $58,670 | $28.21 | $81,560 | $37,600 |
| Johnstown, PA | 140 | $42,480 | $20.43 | $58,460 | $30,300 |
| Lancaster, PA | 1,210 | $53,720 | $25.83 | $74,150 | $37,060 |
| Lebanon, PA | 160 | $52,240 | $25.12 | $71,950 | $37,010 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 7,800 | $61,830 | $29.73 | $91,990 | $37,670 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 3,140 | $55,400 | $26.63 | $80,200 | $36,490 |
| Reading, PA | 600 | $52,140 | $25.07 | $68,700 | $36,830 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA | 730 | $51,330 | $24.68 | $69,760 | $36,080 |
| State College, PA | 310 | $48,100 | $23.13 | $60,360 | $32,910 |
| Williamsport, PA | 190 | $51,060 | $24.55 | $63,150 | $35,350 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 670 | $54,630 | $26.26 | $79,750 | $36,700 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Conclusion
Pennsylvania’s weather is hot in summer but also cold in winter, which results in more people relying on air conditioning and heating systems.
This state is a good place to start an HVAC career in, due to the high demand of technicians.
Read the full guide: How to Become an HVAC Technician
HVAC Schools by City
HVAC Schools by State