A registered HVAC apprenticeship in Kansaspays you a full wage from day one while you train. Here's what you'll earn, who runs the programs, and how to get in.
Key Takeaways
A registered HVAC apprenticeship in Kansas pays from day one — typically about $11.13/hr to start, rising to roughly $18.93/hr on the way to the $46,320 journeyman median — over about four years of paid work plus classroom training.
A registered HVAC apprenticeship in Kansas is a paid, full-time job built around the federal training standard: roughly 2,000 hours of supervised on-the-job learning plus at least 144 hours of classroom instruction each year, over about 4 years (8,000 field hours in total). Because federal rules tie apprentice pay to the local journeyworker wage, a Kansas apprentice typically starts near $11.13 an hour (about $23,160 a year) and steps up to roughly $18.93 an hour by the final period — on the way to the Kansas journeyman median of $46,320.
Kansas runs its own recognized State Apprenticeship Agency which registers and audits HVAC/R programs alongside the U.S. Department of Labor. Either way, a "registered" program is the one to look for: it guarantees the wage progression, EPA Section 608 prep, and a nationally recognized Certificate of Completion, and it makes veterans eligible to draw GI Bill housing money on top of their wages.
Demand backs the path up: Kansas employs roughly 4,210 HVAC technicians, with the top 10% earning more than $66,350 a year (BLS OEWS). Aging equipment and the R-410A/A2L refrigerant transition keep service and replacement work steady, so sponsors need apprentices in the pipeline.
Kansas does not mandate a statewide HVAC contractor license, though local permits may apply — apprenticeship completion still signals verified, documented competence to employers. EPA Section 608 certification is federally required nationwide and is built into registered programs.
| Period | % of journeyman | Approx. hourly | Approx. annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 · 1st half | 50% | $11.13 | $23,160 |
| Year 1 · 2nd half | 55% | $12.25 | $25,476 |
| Year 2 · 1st half | 60% | $13.36 | $27,792 |
| Year 2 · 2nd half | 65% | $14.48 | $30,108 |
| Year 3 · 1st half | 70% | $15.59 | $32,424 |
| Year 3 · 2nd half | 75% | $16.70 | $34,740 |
| Year 4 · 1st half | 80% | $17.82 | $37,056 |
| Year 4 · 2nd half | 85% | $18.93 | $39,372 |
| Kansas journeyman (100%) | 100% | $22.27 | $46,320 |