A registered HVAC apprenticeship in New Hampshirepays 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 New Hampshire pays from day one — typically about $12.29/hr to start, rising to roughly $20.89/hr on the way to the $51,120 journeyman median — over about four years of paid work plus classroom training.
A registered HVAC apprenticeship in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire apprentice typically starts near $12.29 an hour (about $25,560 a year) and steps up to roughly $20.89 an hour by the final period — on the way to the New Hampshire journeyman median of $51,120.
In New Hampshire, programs are registered directly through the U.S. DOL Office of Apprenticeship rather than a separate state agency. 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: New Hampshire employs roughly 1,960 HVAC technicians, with the top 10% earning more than $73,040 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.
New Hampshire 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% | $12.29 | $25,560 |
| Year 1 · 2nd half | 55% | $13.52 | $28,116 |
| Year 2 · 1st half | 60% | $14.75 | $30,672 |
| Year 2 · 2nd half | 65% | $15.97 | $33,228 |
| Year 3 · 1st half | 70% | $17.20 | $35,784 |
| Year 3 · 2nd half | 75% | $18.43 | $38,340 |
| Year 4 · 1st half | 80% | $19.66 | $40,896 |
| Year 4 · 2nd half | 85% | $20.89 | $43,452 |
| New Hampshire journeyman (100%) | 100% | $24.58 | $51,120 |