Tips for Future HVAC Technicians
Temperature and air quality in buildings are an ongoing need, creating a steady demand for HVAC technicians. Those in the HVAC industry are responsible for ensuring systems are running correctly and knowing their internal workings so problems can be diagnosed and repaired quickly.
After completing your technical education, you may wonder what a career in HVAC looks like. Below, we outline some of the most important things you need to know before starting your HVAC career.
Day To Day
As an HVAC technician, your work will likely look different each day. Whether you are working for a company or working independently, you’ll often find yourself responding to service calls. This will have you traveling from job to job to install, care for, repair, and help properly dispose of heating and air-conditioning system units.
Your day-to-day work will also include performing repairs and maintenance according to pre-set schedules and ensuring that systems are running properly according to performance standards set by local, state-wide, and federal regulations.
Depending on your certifications, you may also work with ventilation and refrigeration systems and other machinery in residential and commercial properties. These certifications are earned by passing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests.
Salary & Jobs
As an entry-level HVAC technician, you can earn between $25,000 to $60,000, with the national average wage for entry-level being $40,663. Within the industry, salaries can vary based on a few factors, such as certifications and location. The highest average wages within the U.S. are located in the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, New Jersey, and New York.
Experienced professionals will earn about two times as much as apprentices. In 2020, the median salary for HVAC professionals was $50,590, more than the national average of $41,950 for all occupations.
Between 2021 and 2031, the Bureau of Labor Statics projects a 5% job growth within the industry, creating 20,200 new jobs over ten years. The U.S. states with the highest number of HVAC techs are California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Careers in HVAC expand beyond homes and businesses, allowing workers to specialize in different areas and equipment types, including the automotive industry and energy fields.
Some of the jobs an HVAC professional can have are:
- A/C Technician
- Automotive HVAC Technician
- HVAC Engineer/Installer/Mechanic
- Refrigeration Technician
- Solar Technician
- Wind Turbine Technician
- Energy Auditor
North American Trade Schools offers HRVAC technology training designed to give students the knowledge and skills needed to succeed within the industry. After our daytime or evening classes, students will be ready to take on any entry-level position.