Is HVAC a Good Career?

Trade school, particularly for a career path such as air conditioning maintenance, doesn’t seem like the most appealing or lucrative job. It may surprise you to learn that HVAC jobs are actually always in high demand and provide stable employment for many people. Even with little experience, HVAC techs have little trouble finding job opportunities.

Many people have turned HVAC work into a full-time, stable career. While this work is not for everyone, choosing a career in HVAC can certainly provide you with enough job prospects and income to support yourself.

The #HVAC industry is perfect for anyone looking for stable employment and easy certification! See if it’s right for you. Click To Tweet

Fast Training and Certification

In as little as fourteen weeks, you could complete a training course and become a certified HVAC tech. However, learning wouldn’t stop there. You’d also want to invest time to shadow experienced techs on their jobs, network with other professionals, and continue to self-study on anything that gives you trouble. Your formal training may be mercifully fast and inexpensive, leaving you with few student loans, but you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss out on any crucial knowledge.

Stable Employment

Millions of Americans have an AC unit in their home. In Houston, a cooling system is a necessity to beat the near-constant heat. In the HVAC field, you’ll never have trouble finding someone whose AC or heating system needs repairs or maintenance work.

Pro Tip: Though exact numbers vary, an estimated 97% of southern Americans have and regularly use a home AC system. Imagine how many need regular work at any given time!

Expanding Career Field

As the previous generation of HVAC techs retire and the overall employment rate rises, the stage is set for entry-level technicians to corner the market. You’ll rarely be short on opportunities to work, and more and more jobs are opening up. The HVAC career field is thriving and ready for new recruits! It is certainly no secret that people will be using refrigerators, heating systems, and air conditioners into the foreseeable future. Because of this fact, the employment prospects of HVAC technicians are expected to burn brightly for quite some time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, HVAC technician employment is expected to increase by 15 percent through 2026. 

Excellent Salary

In September 2020, ZipRecruiter estimated that an HVAC technician makes approximately $43,000 annually on a full-time schedule. Between overtime and individual high-paying jobs, you could easily turn this into $50,000 or more every year. AC repair is a big business! Just remember that this salary applies to experienced techs–at an entry-level job, you’ll likely start out closer to $30,000.

Choose Your Workspace

Businesses, office buildings, warehouses, private homes, and more all require regular maintenance work on their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. This grants you plenty of flexibility to choose your ideal work environment. Do you enjoy meeting new people, seeing new places, and providing excellent customer service? Focus on in-home repairs, where you can visit multiple homes per day to do your job. If you prefer a more stable and private work environment, consider tackling a multiple-day-long job like an office building’s AC system. You’ll have more privacy and complete the job in less of a rush.

Interested in HVAC Certification?

HVAC professionals and service technicians, even entry-level ones, will rarely struggle to find work in the southern US. The job is certainly physically demanding and not for everyone. But those who do choose it can expect a long-term, stable career with a good salary.

Thinking about becoming HVAC-certified yourself? Join the conversation to find classes and more information on your new career.