The HVAC career path is a promising one, as the demand for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning professionals continues to rise. If you like working with your hands, mind, and tools, and helping people, an HVAC career may be for you. HVAC technicians have active physical jobs where they use their mental skills to solve problems and diagnose, repair, and install equipment and systems.

The demand for HVAC installers and maintenance technicians is high nationwide. New home and commercial construction and upgrades are driving the work. This career has long-term stability, pays well, and has plenty of room to move up in a company.

You will find that jobs in HVAC work provide what most people want in a technical career. Study its benefits, choose the sector you want to specialize in, and become trained for a long-term secure, and stable opportunity.

What Most People Want In A Career

People want to work for a company that provides opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills. Most people have similar needs and wants in a career that also includes:

  • Ability to grow through promotions
  • Long-term stability and job security
  • Competitive salaries and employee benefits
  • Workplace wellbeing and good working conditions
  • Diversity among their co-workers

HVAC Career PathThe list is somewhat different for individual jobs. Surveys reveal that employees typically want growth, purpose, respect, trust, and work-life balance in their daily work. Employers that understand the needs and wants of workers are developing improved workplace cultures to attract employees.

An exceptional environment attracts exceptional employees and provides opportunities for them to thrive. A robust and high-performing culture helps inspire workers and allows them to apply their energies toward innovation and competitiveness. This is the type of culture the younger generation of employees desire.

Benefits Of An HVAC Career Path

The benefits of an HVAC career closely align with those that most people want in their jobs. Technicians want to work with electrical and mechanical devices, equipment, and systems. An HVAC career allows them to use their minds, skills, expertise, and tools to install and maintain heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration systems. Some specific career benefits include:

  • Advanced on-the-job training
  • Opportunities to achieve Certification
  • Working in a secure and stable industry
  • Opportunities to grow and advance
  • Residential, commercial, and industrial work
  • Nationwide work is available

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for HVAC technicians is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032. This is higher than the average for all other occupations and should provide about 37,700 new job openings each year during the same decade. The 2022 national median income for technicians was $51,390.

“The demand for HVAC installers and maintenance technicians is high nationwide.”

How HVAC Specialties Differ

When preparing for a career in HVAC work, you should be familiar with the most common job specialties. Each needs different knowledge and skills to be successful.

  • Heating – To keep homes and businesses warm, technicians install furnaces, heat pumps, and heaters. They are typically fueled with natural gas but may include propane gas, electricity, heating oil, or wood.
  • Cooling – Homes and businesses are cooled with forced central air conditioning systems, ductless systems, window units, and fans. Like heating equipment, they must be wired and installed correctly.
  • Ventilation – Air must move properly through ductwork and open work areas. It must be installed efficiently, and well insulated, and the ductwork must not leak air. The air quality should be high and the humidity level controlled.
  • Refrigeration – Businesses such as florist shops, grocery stores, blood banks, and food warehouses must have refrigeration systems to keep their products cool and safe.

HVAC Career Path Opportunities

HVAC technicians, also called mechanics, have multiple career paths to pursue during their working years. In general, their first jobs are entry-level where they are regularly supervised in residential maintenance and installation projects. With experience, they can move into more independent and advanced projects. These are the typical work and career opportunities:

  • Residential Maintenance
  • New Industrial Construction
  • Commercial Maintenance
  • Refrigeration Specialist
  • New Residential Construction
  • Sales of Equipment or Service Contracts
  • New Commercial Construction
  • Scheduler or Appoint Setter

HVAC Career PathIn larger HVAC companies, there are additional job opportunities you may want to explore:

  • Project Manager
  • Service Dispatcher
  • Technical Estimator
  • Purchasing Agent
  • Inventory Manager
  • Safety Manager
  • Shop Manager

The types of available positions depend on the companies and their specializations. Match your career goals and plans with a technical college Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Electrical Technology (AOS) program and search out companies where you may want to work. Contact us today for more information.

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