Are you looking for a job that doesn’t require a college degree, but still offers excellent earning potential AND the opportunity to be self-employed?
Are you someone who works well as part of a team and thrive of practical, hands-on work?
Well, HVACR technicians are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and refrigeration systems. And if you answered YES to the above questions… it may just be the career for you!
The HVAC field is a diverse one that offers a multitude of job opportunities. With job availability comes job security and larger salaries for technicians.
| ID | Job Title | Gender | Age | Earnings | City & State | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33713 | Engineer/Technician | Male | 46 | $90,000 | ALLSTON, MA | 01/01/2010 |
HVACR technicians are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and refrigeration systems. Typically, technicians will select an area of specialization and may obtain certification and training in that particular field. Regardless of their specialization, HVACR technicians can expect to do tasks such as:
Nearly all buildings will need heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems to be safely installed and maintained. From high rise offices to community centres and new homes, HVACR technicians have the skills and knowledge to ensure that the necessary systems are safe and effective. Without HVACR technicians, the buildings we need to support our growing population would not be heated, ventilated and cooled correctly.
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of HVACR technicians is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations.
This growth is expected because the growing population is creating a demand for new construction. This new construction will require HVACR technicians to fit sophisticated climate control systems. Similarly, the growing emphasis on energy efficiency is likely to increase the demand for HVACR technicians as climate-control systems are retrofitted, upgraded and replaced.
The fitting of HVACR systems is becoming increasingly complexed. Based on this, many HVACR technicians attend a postsecondary institution, such as a technical and trade school or a community college. They will complete programs here in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration. In order to get accepted onto these courses, you should take high school courses such as maths and physics.
When you land your first HVACR job, you’ll typically begin by working alongside an experienced technician. You will start by performing really basic tasks, but as you get more experience you will begin to perform more complexed tasks.
Alternatively, you could become a qualified HVACR technician by completing an apprenticeship. Apprenticeship programs usually last 3 to 5 years and over the course of this time, apprentices learn all the skills they need.
Although some HVACR technicians are independent contractors who work for themselves, many HVACR technicians typically work for air conditioning contractors, heating contractors, and plumbing companies.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for HVACR technicians was $48,730 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,610, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $77,920.
The top paying industries was the wholesale trade, where the median annual salary was $52,430. This was followed by educational services ($52,260), retail trade ($48,620) and plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors ($47,380).
The level of autonomy and flexibility for a HVACR technician will vary depending on the amount of experience they have. For instance, a HVACR technician with 10 years experience will have more control over their decisions than an apprentice. Similarly, a contractor is likely to have more flexibility than those who work for a large company.
According to Zippia, the best states to be a HVACR, based on average annual salary and number of jobs available, are:
The worst states to be a pipefitter, according to Zippia, are Florida, Arkansas, North Carolina, Georgia and Washington.
The largest employer of HVACR technicians in the United States is plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors, which employs 66% of HVACR technicians. 7% are self-employed workers, 4% are employed by the wholesale trade, 3% by educational services and 3% by the retail trade.
HVACR technicians work mostly in homes, schools, stores, hospitals, office buildings and factories. Normally, HVACR technicians will work in different locations daily. Technicians often work in awkward or cramped spaces, and some work in buildings that are uncomfortable because the air conditioning or heating system is not working properly. HVACR technicians have one of the highest rates of injury and illness. This is because they are exposed to hazards that may cause electric shocks, burns, muscle strain and injuries from lifting heavy equipment.
Which personalities tend to succeed and thrive in HVACR Technician careers? Based on our research, there is a relatively strong positive correlation between the following personality types and HVACR Technician career satisfaction. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t many exceptions, of course, but if you fit into one of the following personality types then we suggest you give strong consideration to a career in HVACR Technician.
Like most construction trades, there has been no scientific exploration into exactly what personality types will make a successful HVACR technician. However, the Myers Briggs personality type of ISTP, or otherwise known as ‘the craftsperson’, is likely to be a successful HVACR technician. This is because these types have the unique mechanical ability to be able to fix problems. They enjoy making and fixing things and normally display excellent attention to detail, are adaptable and self-directed. All of these skills are key for HVACR technicians, who will need to notice the smallest of problems in order to fix systems and will have to work independently.
As HVACR technicians can learn all the skills they need in a relatively short space of time, they can feel accomplishment rather quickly. Mastery will come later, as HVACR technicians will spend their whole career developing their skills and progressing their knowledge. After gaining experience in the occupation, HVARC technicians may then have opportunities to advance to become a supervisor or to start their own business, which increases the amount of accomplishment and mastery they feel.
HVACR technicians massively contribute to the progression of society. Without them, the buildings we use would have poor climate control and would not be satisfactory places to live. If you were seeking a career that truly helps the lives of others, then you could use your skills to travel to poorer places and help build developments there.
HVACR technicians can work for themselves as independent contractors or for numerous types of organizations. Regardless of where they work, they tend to work full time hours. Sometimes, they may be on call for emergencies and have to work evenings and weekends.
One of the most important qualities a HVACR technician can have is to be physically fit as they will have to carry heavy materials and kneel down for long periods of time. Those with strong communication skills are likely to thrive as HVACR technicians, as they will have to communicate ideas clearly to other construction workers. Finally, the ability to pay attention to detail is essential, as a HVACR technicians will have to spot the tiniest problems when fixing systems and installing them.
You are are likely to struggle with working as a HVACR technician if you are physically unfit, as this means you won’t be able to carry the heavy material that is required for the job. Those who do not like ‘getting their hands dirty’ will perhaps struggle as a HVACR technician, as the work is practical and requires you to get stuck in. Those who cannot communicate well with others and can’t work as part of a team may also struggle, as a lot of the work will involve communicating and working closely with others.
HVACR technicians learn many of the skills they need through education and on-the-job training. However, it is also important to have skills such as:
Many HVACR technicians attend a postsecondary institution, such as a technical and trade school or a community college. Here, they will complete programs here in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration. In order to get accepted onto these courses, you should take high school courses such as maths and physics.
Alternatively, you could become a qualified HVACR technician by completing an apprenticeship. Apprenticeship programs usually last 3 to 5 years and over the course of this time, apprentices learn all the skills they need.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all technicians who buy, handle, or work with refrigerants to be certified in proper refrigerant handling. Many trade schools, unions, and employer associations offer training programs designed to prepare students for the EPA certification exam. In addition, some states and localities require HVACR technicians to be licensed; check with your state and locality for more information.
HVACR technicians are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and refrigeration systems. It is an accessible career, which is set to offer many employment and development opportunities over the coming years.
As with all building trades, the more experience you have, the better. Therefore, if becoming a HVACR technicians sounds like something you would like to do, we recommend trying to get some general construction work to gather some experience. High school students interested in becoming an HVACR technician should take courses in vocational education, math, and physics.
There are two ways to become a HVACR technician. You can either attend a postsecondary institution and complete programs heating, air conditioning and refrigeration. Alternatively, you could complete an apprenticeship, which usually last 3 to 5 years.
HVARC technicians learn many of the skills they need on-the-job by shadowing advanced technicians. Later in their career, they may specialize in a certain area. This will require more training and will further develop their skills.
Have a question about HVACR Technician careers? If so, our mentors would love to help! Just click on a mentor’s profile below and then fill out the “Ask a Question” form on that page. Your question will then be emailed to the mentor, who can then email you a reply.
| ID | Job Title | Gender | Age | Earnings | City & State | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33713 | Engineer/Technician | Male | 46 | $90,000 | ALLSTON, MA | 01/01/2010 |
