HVAC Technician

Career Overview

HVAC technicians install, maintain, and fix heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.

Education

Completing a program in air conditioning and refrigeration technology or a related field may be necessary to obtain these positions. HVACR systems have become increasingly complex, employers generally prefer applicants with postsecondary education or those who have completed an apprenticeship. Some states and localities may require technicians to be licensed.

Future Outlook

Employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Commercial and residential building construction is expected to drive employment growth.

Work Environment

HVACR technicians work mostly in homes, schools, hospitals, office buildings, or factories. Their worksites may be very hot or cold because the heating and cooling systems they must repair may not be working properly and because some parts of these systems are located outdoors. Working in cramped spaces and during irregular hours is common.

Recommended High School Courses

Math
Electronics
Physics
Trade-related courses

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Extent Flexibility - The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speed of Closure - The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Repair pipes to stop leaking.
Test electrical circuits or components for proper functioning.
Service heating, ventilation or air-conditioning (HVAC) systems or components.
Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
Confer with customers or users to assess problems.
Install heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment.
Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
Interpret blueprints, specifications, or diagrams to inform installation, development or operation activities.
Connect electrical components or equipment.
Document operational activities.
Inspect systems to determine if they are operating properly.
Install energy-efficient heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment.
Advise others on issues related to repairs, installation, or equipment design.
Drill holes in parts, equipment, or materials.
Cut materials according to specifications or needs.
Measure distances or dimensions.
Assemble mechanical components or machine parts.
Position equipment using hand tools, power tools, or heavy equipment.
Fabricate parts or components.
Install insulation in equipment or structures.

Schools

Alaska Vocational Technic...

Alfred State College

American River College

Arizona Western College

Arlington Career Institut...

Atlanta Technical College

Atlantic Technical Colleg...

Austin Community College...

Bakersfield College- Pano...

Brazosport College

Central New Mexico Commun...

Chippewa Valley Technical...

Clover Park Technical Col...

College Of Business And T...

College Of Dupage

Columbus State Community...

Dakota County Technical C...

Daytona State College

Delaware Technical And Co...

Diablo Valley College

El Camino College

Emily Griffith Technical...

Ferris State University

Florida State College At...

Forbes Road Career And Te...

Fortis College- Dothan Ca...

Fresno City College

Gateway Community College...

Georgia Piedmont Technica...

Harrisburg Area Community...

Indian River State Colleg...

Interior Alaska Campus

Iowa Central Community Co...

Johnson County Community...

Lake Technical College- E...

Lewis And Clark State Col...

Matanuska-susitna College

Minneapolis Community And...

Moraine Valley Community...

North Central Texas Colle...

Northeast Wisconsin Techn...

Northwest Louisiana Techn...

Oakton Community College-...

Palm Beach State College-...

Pikes Peak Community Coll...

Pitt Community College

Red Rocks Community Colle...

Rosedale Technical Colleg...

Salt Lake Community Colle...

San Bernardino Valley Col...

San Joaquin Valley Colleg...

Southern Technical Colleg...

St. Philip’s College- Mar...

Thaddeus Stevens College...

Tidewater Community Colle...

Tidewater Tech Trades

University Of Northwester...

Vista College- El Paso Ca...

Wake Technical Community...

Waubonsee Community Colle...

Western Technical College

Westmoreland County Commu...

William R. Moore College...

Academy Canada- St. Jo...

Cambrian College

Conestoga College- Wat...

Durham College- Oshawa...

Durham College- Whitby...

Fleming College- Suthe...

George Brown College-...

Holland College

North American Trade S...

North American Trades...

Northern Alberta Insti...

Nova Scotia Community...

St. Claire College- Wi...

Stanford International...

Vancouver Island Univer...

Potential Scholarships

5 Strong Scholarship

Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...

Curt Pozan Trades Scholar...

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:

Low End:

$30,610.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$48,730.00 /yr

High End:

$77,920.00 /yr

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References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.