How to hire a hvac-r technician

How to hire a hvac-r technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step hvac-r technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a hvac-r technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new hvac-r technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a hvac-r technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the hvac-r technician you need to hire. Certain hvac-r technician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A hvac-r technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, hvac-r technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents hvac-r technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Hvac-R Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Hvac-R Technician	Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers—often called heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) technicians—work on heating, ventilation, cooling, and refrigeration systems that control the temperature and air quality in buildings.	$16-37
   Maintenance Helper	A maintenance helper performs basic support tasks to assist maintenance technicians in installing and repairing machines and equipment. Their responsibilities typically include gathering and handing tools, changing fixtures such as light bulbs and faucets, preparing workspaces, and cleaning work areas and equipment... Show more	$11-19
   Hvac Installer	An HVAC installer is responsible for working on office and house appliances, including heating systems, ventilation, and air conditioning units. HVAC installers follow and analyze the item's schematics and blueprints and conduct regular maintenance to ensure the efficiency of its systems... Show more	$14-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • HVAC/R
   • Ventilation
   • Plumbing
   • Hand Tools
   • Ladders
   • Safety Procedures
   • Refrigeration Equipment
   • OSHA
   • Electrical Systems
   • Strong Customer Service
   • EMS
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Chillers
   • Refrigeration Systems

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform preventative maintenance, corrective maintenance and installation of refrigeration, heating, air conditioning, and ventilation and plumbing applications.
   • Install, maintain, and repair package units, split systems, boilers and other mechanical equipment.
   • Install, repair, and maintain light commercial rooftop units, boilers, controls, and other mechanical equipment.
   • Maintain all ventilation systems including preventative maintenance tasks and rebuilding of equipment when need.
   • Perform repairs and installation on HVAC/R equipment and commercial kitchen equipment for residential and commercial customers.
   • Perform maintenance and repair of HVAC/R equipment for commercial and residential applications including commercial refrigeration equipment.

   More hvac-r technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the hvac-r technician job description is a good way to get more applicants. A hvac-r technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a hvac-r technician in Mississippi may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level hvac-r technician. Additionally, a hvac-r technician with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average hvac-r technician salary

   $53,354yearly

   $25.65 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level hvac-r technician salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

   Average hvac-r technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$78,795	$38
   2	Virginia	$67,040	$32
   3	California	$66,996	$32
   4	Maryland	$66,289	$32
   5	Pennsylvania	$63,873	$31
   6	North Dakota	$60,923	$29
   7	Montana	$59,597	$29
   8	Illinois	$58,907	$28
   9	Minnesota	$57,393	$28
   10	Ohio	$55,712	$27
   11	Missouri	$54,321	$26
   12	Colorado	$53,206	$26
   13	Arizona	$52,699	$25
   14	Wyoming	$50,830	$24
   15	Utah	$50,634	$24
   16	Georgia	$49,480	$24
   17	Wisconsin	$49,087	$24
   18	Nebraska	$48,072	$23
   19	North Carolina	$47,528	$23
   20	Florida	$45,326	$22

   Average hvac-r technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Better	$94,104	$45.24	4
   2	AstraZeneca	$85,828	$41.26
   3	Micron Technology	$83,108	$39.96	3
   4	Four Seasons	$76,640	$36.85	11
   5	Canyon Ranch	$62,651	$30.12
   6	Walmart	$62,477	$30.04	1,200
   7	E Ink	$61,935	$29.78
   8	The Systems Group	$61,789	$29.71	1
   9	Contra Costa College	$61,762	$29.69
   10	Sherwin-Williams	$61,496	$29.57	1
   11	GPAC	$61,058	$29.35
   12	Laramie County Community College	$61,047	$29.35
   13	Piper Aircraft	$60,926	$29.29
   14	VIVA USA	$60,592	$29.13
   15	TalentBurst	$58,805	$28.27
   16	Kern Community College District	$58,084	$27.93	1
   17	General Dynamics	$56,806	$27.31	52
   18	Bothwell Regional Health Center	$56,194	$27.02
   19	Remco	$55,501	$26.68	14
   20	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	$53,972	$25.95	1

4. Writing a hvac-r technician job description

   A good hvac-r technician job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a hvac-r technician job description:

   Hvac-r technician job description example

   Are you one of the few people out there that have Commercial Refrigeration experience? If so, we would love to talk to you!
   *Start immediately and get a $2000 signing bonus!
   
   Walmart is expanding our General Maintenance Team for our retail stores. We are looking to grow our team and adding top talent to join our fast-paced, friendly environment!
   
   As a HVAC/R Maintenance Technician I in our local retail store, you will work to perform reactive and routine maintenance to ensure proper functionality, operation, and safety of Walmart Stores’ HVAC/R equipment and fixtures under the supervision of the local HVAC/R Manager, following established maintenance schedules and guidelines, inspecting, cleaning, and repairing facilities, equipment, or fixtures.
   
   What are the essential functions of the HVAC/R Maintenance Technicians I: Maintain and repair Walmart facilities HVAC/R equipment and assets by utilizing commercial HVAC and Refrigeration skills and using hand tools, digital tools, power tools, and other equipment to complete jobs Utilize the work order management system to receive repair Work Orders to support Stores and Store associates and documenting repair activities Provide prompt response to emergency maintenance calls Inspecting, operating, or testing facilities, equipment, or fixtures to diagnose issues Complete all required training requirements to safely operate equipment and tools Ensures compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Environmental Protection Agency regulations and guidelines by performing work according to practices and procedures outlined in the Walmart HVAC/R safety policy and environmental guidelines
   Benefits of the HVAC/R Maintenance Technicians I position: Full Time: Starting at $27/hr** + Bonus Eligible Eligible for 8% bonus incentive 10% Walmart discount Paid Time Off that accrues Full benefits available for Health / Vision / Dental / Life 401k with company match Eligible to participate in the Associate Stock Purchase Plan FREE College through Live Better University
   HVAC/R Maintenance Technicians I Position Requirements: 18 years or older High School Diploma or equivalent Vocational or Technical HVAC/R certification and 6 months’ experience, OR 2 years total work experience, in commercial refrigeration, mechanical maintenance or construction-related field for commercial HVAC/R and building controls or related field UNIVERSAL Environmental Protection Agency Certification for Refrigerant handling Required Valid Drivers License Can lift 20 lbs frequently and 50 lbs occasionally Can Move up and down ladders frequently Comfortable working at heights frequently
   About Walmart
   What started small, with a single discount store and the simple idea of selling more for less, has grown over the last 50 years into the largest retailer in the world. Each week, over 260 million customers and members visit our 11,695 stores under 59 banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries.
   
   With fiscal year 2017 revenue of $485.9 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. It's all part of our unwavering commitment to creating opportunities and bringing value to customers and communities around the world.
   
   Walmart is an equal opportunity employer. No employee or applicant will be discriminated against in any condition of employment because of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, veteran status or any other status protected by law. We are an E-Verify Employer.
   
   *Sign on applied to external new hires only. Not applicable to rehires under 12 months.
   
   #WalHVACNewReq

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right hvac-r technician for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your hvac-r technician job on Zippia to find and recruit hvac-r technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting hvac-r technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new hvac-r technician

   Once you have selected a candidate for the hvac-r technician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new hvac-r technician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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