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Detroit career guide

How to Become an HVAC Technician in Michigan and Detroit

Michigan winters and humid summers keep HVAC techs busy all year. You can start with a college certificate in months or a paid apprenticeship. Here is the local pay, the certifications and where to train.

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  • Median pay $30.37 an hour in Metro Detroit
  • Certificates or a paid apprenticeship
  • EPA 608 certification required

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Quick facts

HVAC technician in Detroit at a glance

Pay figures cover heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025.

TopicWhat to know
Median hourly wage$30.37
Median yearly wage$63,170
Pay range (10th to 90th percentile)$20.60 to $45.97 an hour
HVAC techs working in the metro areaAbout 5,740
Typical training pathA college certificate or degree, on the job training with a contractor, or a union apprenticeship
CertificationFederal EPA Section 608 certification to work with refrigerants
Michigan licenseNo individual state license for techs. Companies need a Michigan mechanical contractor license, which requires 3 years of experience in each type of work and an exam.
Union routePipefitting Industry Training Center, Local 636, which trains HVAC service technicians
The work

What HVAC technicians do

HVAC techs install, maintain and repair the systems that heat, cool and move air through homes and buildings. In Metro Detroit that means furnaces and boilers in older homes, central air, heat pumps, rooftop units on stores and offices, and refrigeration in restaurants and grocery stores.

A typical day might include a no heat call in the morning, a system installation in the afternoon and a maintenance visit on the way home. You use gauges, meters and combustion analyzers, read wiring diagrams, braze copper line sets and handle refrigerant under federal rules.

Residential vs commercial HVAC

Residential techs work in homes, talk with homeowners and often run their own service van. Commercial and industrial techs service larger equipment such as chillers, boilers and building controls, often in plants, hospitals and office towers. Both involve on call shifts during cold snaps and heat waves, plus attics, basements and rooftops in every season.

Good fit?

Skills that help new HVAC techs get hired

  • Basic electrical know-how. Most no heat and no cooling calls come down to controls, wiring or a failed part.
  • Mechanical comfort. You will work with motors, blowers, compressors, gas valves and burners.
  • Customer skills. Residential techs explain problems and options to homeowners in plain language.
  • A valid driver's license. Service work means driving between calls all day.
  • Willingness to work in all weather. Attics in July, rooftops in January and on call shifts during cold snaps.
Step by step

How to become an HVAC technician in Michigan

  1. 1

    Finish high school or a GED

    Math, basic electricity and good reading skills help. If you need a refresher, try a free job training program in Detroit.

  2. 2

    Choose your training

    Enroll in an HVAC certificate at a community college, get hired as a helper by a contractor that trains on the job, or apply to a union apprenticeship. Compare options on our trade schools and apprenticeships pages.

  3. 3

    Earn EPA 608 certification

    Federal rules require technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants to be certified under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act. Many programs prepare you for the test.

  4. 4

    Add industry credentials

    Programs such as Oakland Community College's prepare students for credentials from groups like HVAC Excellence and NATE, which employers often look for.

  5. 5

    Build experience

    Most new techs start as installers or helpers, then move into service and troubleshooting as they learn.

  6. 6

    Consider a contractor license

    To run your own HVAC business in Michigan you need a mechanical contractor license. The state requires at least 3 years of experience in each work classification you apply for, such as HVAC equipment, ductwork or refrigeration, and an exam for each.

Where to train

HVAC schools and apprenticeships near Detroit

Programs come from each school's own website. Check start dates and admissions with the school.

ProgramTypeWhat to know
Oakland Community College HVAC/R Systems TechnologyCollege, Oakland CountyAssociate degree (64 credits) or certificates in heating, air conditioning or refrigeration. Prepares students for national certifications.
Wayne County Community College DistrictCollege, DetroitHeating, ventilation and air conditioning program, plus facility maintenance.
Henry Ford CollegeCollege, DearbornTrade and Apprentice Education with an air conditioning and refrigeration concentration for working apprentices.
Pipefitting Industry Training Center, Local 636Union apprenticeshipFive year program covering pipefitting, welding and HVAC service, with certifications that include CFC removal.
Pay

HVAC technician salary in Detroit

The median HVAC technician in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area earned $30.37 an hour, or $63,170 a year, in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest paid 10 percent earned under $20.60 an hour and the top 10 percent earned more than $45.97.

New helpers start near the low end. Pay usually grows with service and troubleshooting skills, commercial or refrigeration experience, on call and overtime work, and union membership. See how HVAC compares with other trades on the Detroit trade jobs page.

Costs and funding

What HVAC school costs, and how to pay less

Community college certificates are usually the most affordable school route, and several Michigan programs can make them tuition free:

  • Michigan Reconnect covers in-district community college tuition for eligible adults 21 and older without a degree.
  • Detroit Promise helps Detroit high school graduates attend Henry Ford College, Schoolcraft, Macomb, Oakland Community College or WCCCD.
  • Apprenticeships pay you while you train.

See the full list in our trade school funding guide. Budget for hand tools, gauges and a meter, since many employers expect techs to bring basic tools.

Career ladder

Where an HVAC career can go

Helper or installer

Learn equipment, ductwork and safe installs alongside a senior tech.

Service technician

Diagnose and repair systems on your own.

Commercial or industrial tech

Chillers, boilers, controls and refrigeration.

Industrial HVACR guide →

Contractor or manager

Earn a mechanical contractor license and run a shop, or move into energy management.

Energy manager guide →
Now hiring

Companies hiring HVAC technicians

Employers shown here pay to appear and are labelled. Rebuild Detroit does not rank or endorse employers. Browse more on the companies hiring in Detroit page.

Talent Network

Get HVAC training and job alerts

Join free and tell us where you are, from first class to seasoned service tech. We will share HVAC training, apprenticeships and jobs in Metro Detroit that fit.

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Questions

Becoming an HVAC technician in Michigan FAQ

It depends on the route. Oakland Community College offers HVAC certificates that part-time students can finish in about two years and a full associate degree. Union apprenticeships such as Local 636 run five years but pay you throughout.
The median HVAC technician in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area earned $30.37 an hour, or $63,170 a year, in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Michigan does not license individual HVAC technicians, but businesses that do mechanical work need a state mechanical contractor license. Anyone handling refrigerants needs federal EPA 608 certification.
It is a federal certification required under the Clean Air Act for technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants.
Yes. The Pipefitting Industry Training Center, Local 636, trains HVAC service technicians in a five year apprenticeship, and some contractors sponsor registered apprentices with college classes.
Many people can. Michigan Reconnect and Detroit Promise can cover community college tuition for those who qualify. See our funding guide for details.

Start your HVAC career in Detroit

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Sources

Updated September 2026. Rules and procedures change; confirm with the responsible office before a decision.

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