HVAC Profession: Expectations vs. Reality
For anyone interested in an HVAC career, the job outlook is generally very positive. HVAC professionals have a high earning potential, a near-constant stream of work, and the ability to choose their clients. However, don’t forget that just like any other job, HVAC has its pros and cons.
Working in the HVAC field presents its own set of challenges. Don’t expect to make your full salary immediately or establish yourself without a lot of hard work. With years of experience, you can make your new HVAC career lucrative and rewarding.
Not sure what to expect from a career in the HVAC industry? Let’s look at expectations vs. reality. Click To Tweet
Salary
If you apply yourself straight out of classes and constantly promote yourself and gain experience, you can expect to start earning $30-$40K not long after you graduate. As months pass and you get more successful repairs on your record, you could easily achieve $70K between new clients and regular repair visits. The main factor is your own effort. How much work will you put in to promote yourself and gain more experience?
Pro Tip: Your first jobs as an HVAC tech will require you to charge less since you have less experience. As you improve and become more widely known and trusted, you can raise your prices.
Job Opportunities
Considering the high percentage of Americans with both air conditioning and heating systems in their homes, most HVAC professionals won’t have trouble finding work. Someone will virtually always need work on their home ventilation. Summer can be a particularly lucrative season as Houstonians don’t like to go without their air conditioning during the hot months. You’ll probably also find yourself doing pre-summer maintenance and repairs to make sure the HVAC units can handle the upcoming heat. Winter may be a bit slower, but with opportunities to work in commercial as well as residential settings, you’ll still have plenty of jobs.
Training
Chris Walters’ method can make you a certified HVAC tech in as little as 14 weeks, but don’t mistake that training period for a typical 14 weeks of school. Prospective students should prepare for plenty of hands-on projects, installation practice, and in-depth training programs to prepare them for the HVAC field. The training time won’t be easy. However, successful graduates will know their education was worth it and maintain an HVAC job for years to come.
Entering the HVAC Industry
Working on heating and air conditioning can be a very rewarding profession, both personally and financially, but only if you put in the right work. Don’t expect success to come to you easily. Experience, effective marketing, successful repairs and installations, and more are required to truly establish yourself in the field.
If you’d like to learn more about the Chris Walters Method or upcoming 2019 classes, connect with us to see how we can help you start your new career.