One would think that in such a large state such as New York you would need to hold a license if you want to carry out work as a HVAC technician.
However, this is not the case! It is a very large state so the salaries vary, but they are still decent.
From Big Apple to Buffalo you can expect to build a very successful and well-paying career.
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Salary
As it was mentioned, New York is quite a large state.
That, in addition to the experience, knowledge and skills you possess, makes the salaries vary greatly.
You can expect to earn anywhere from $15 to $24 per hour.
Here is a table of salaries in the ten largest cities in New York:
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of HVAC Techs in New York
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $56,541 |
| Buffalo | $44,687 |
| Rochester | $46,368 |
| Yonkers | $53,862 |
| Syracuse | $46,261 |
| Albany | $47,770 |
| New Rochelle | $45,385 |
| Mount Vernon | $53,839 |
| Schenectady | $47,304 |
| Utica | $44,747 |
Local Regulations
Even though you do not need to obtain a state-level license, you need to stay on top of rules and regulations you should abide by in your local area.
Even the New York City does not require its HVAC technicians to meet special requirements and obtain a HVAC technician license.
Buffalo, on the other hand, does license heating contractors.
If you need more information on that you can check everything with the City Hall.
Schools
While there are no special requirements regarding schooling or experience hours, you will benefit from attaining education from an official approved HVAC program that is offered in some of the New York’s schools.
They will provide both the theoretical and practical basis for your future career.
Here is a list of official HVAC training centers in New York:
24 HVAC Schools in New York
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Ashworth College | 6625 The Corners Pkwy NW #500, Norcross, GA 30092 |
| Alfred State College-School of Applied Technology Campus | S. Brooklyn Avenue, Wellsville, NY 14895 |
| Apex Technical School Inc. | 6345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10011 |
| Branford Hall Career Institute | |
| Broome-Tioga-BOCES | 565 Johnson Avenue, Bohemia, NY 11716 |
| Captial Region Career Technical School | 421 Upper Glenwood Road, Binghamton, NY 13905 |
| Career & Technical Institute/Dutchess BOCES | 1015 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12205 |
| Dutchess Community College | 61 Page Park Drive, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 |
| Harlem School of Technology | 53 Pendell Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 |
| Hudson Valley Community College | 215 W. 125th Streeet, New York, NY 10027 |
| hvacredu.net (Online Training) | 80 Vanderburgh Avenue, Troy, NY 12180 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute | Mahwah & Union NJ, NY 11111 |
| Mechanics' Institute | 20 W. 44th Street, New York, NY 10036 |
| Mohawk Valley Community College | 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica, NY 13501 |
| Monroe Community College | 1000 E. Henrietta Road, Bldg 21, Rochester, NY 14623 |
| Myers Education Center | Henning Road, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 |
| Suffolk County Community College | Grant Campus/Nesconset Bldg. 17, Long Island, NY 11111 |
| SUNY @ Delhi | 2 Main Street, Delhi, NY 13753 |
| SUNY Canton-Camino Schl of Engineering Technology | 34 Cornell Drive, Canton, NY 13617 |
| SUNY@Erie Community College-North Campus | 6205 Main Street, Williamsville, NY 14221 |
| TCI College of Technology | 320 W. 31st Street, New York City, NY 10001 |
| TCI College of Technology - HVAC & Refrigeration Technology – NYC | New York, NY 11111 |
| The Refrigeration Institute | 545 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018 |
| The School of Technical Cooperative Education | 321 E. 96th Street, New York, NY 10128 |
EPA Certification
EPA Certification is required by the federal law.
It is what enables you to work with hazardous refrigerants.
This requirement is set by the Environmental Protection Agency and is obligatory for all states.
It does not have a validity date.
That means that it cannot expire once obtained.
There are different types of EPA Certification.
To work with refrigerants you will need to obtain EPA Section 608 Certification (type I, type II, type III, or the universal certification).
While the EPA Section 608 Certification Type I is the one which you can obtain the easiest, you’d best attain at least Type II in order to have an edge over other technicians and have more flexibility.
The best-case scenario is to obtain the Universal License.
If you want to deal with air conditioning systems in motor vehicles you will need to obtain the EPA 609 Certification.
You may want to check if the EPA Type II Section 608 would cover you.
Conclusion
The landscape of New York creates a very good climate for HVAC technicians.
No matter the area – urban, suburban or rural – you will be in demand.
Therefore, complete your education, obtain your certification and begin developing your career.
HVAC Schools by City
