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You see them in office buildings, schools, hospitals and just about any indoor space that requires heating, cooling and refrigeration. They may have even visited your home!
HVACR technicians are essential workers. Without proper heating or cooling, people could experience unsafe conditions. Food could spoil. Medicine could be damaged. Lifesaving equipment and items like a human heart that’s being stored for a transplant could be destroyed.
HVACR technicians to the rescue! Learn more about an HVAC technician job description, HVAC technician requirements, HVACR technicians salary info and more.
While HVAC is a common term in the industry, when we add the R to HVAC, HVACR stands for:
Typically, an HVACR technician will train in all of the above areas. They might work on a variety of technologies each day, from a heater/cooler to a refrigerator. They may also specialize in installing, maintaining or fixing specific types of equipment.
What is an HVAC technician? The answer to that question, as well as to what do HVAC techs do, depends on the tech’s employer and the industry in which they work.
Generally, HVACR technicians work on the machines that control air quality and temperature indoors, including refrigeration, heating, cooling and ventilation systems. Some HVACR technicians specialize in specific HVACR areas, like solar panels, commercial refrigeration or radiant heating systems.
Some HVACR technicians travel to multiple clients within a single day. Others work on projects as part of larger teams that can include electricians, plumbers, boilermakers and sheet metal workers.
How does HVAC work? A typical day of HVACR work might include the following duties:
How much can you make as an HVACR technician? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the United States was $48,630 in May 2021.58 This means half earned more and half earned less. Keep in mind that salary depends on several factors, including experience, employer, demand and cost of living in the area.
HVACR technicians are on their feet for much of their workdays, and they use their hands to get the job done. The BLS reports today’s HVACR employers generally prefer candidates to have completed postsecondary HVACR education or an apprenticeship.
HVACR techs must be certified to handle, work with or buy refrigerant. There may also be licensing and background-check requirements for this field.
In addition to the proper education, training and licensing, HVACR technicians typically use these skills:
One advantage of going to trade school for an HVACR role is that you can learn these skills during your training. If you’re new to or rusty on one or more of these skills, don’t worry — you can get up to speed in HVACR school.
Wondering whether training to become an HVACR technician fits you? Consider these HVAC pros and cons.
You can train to become an HVACR technician in less than a year. Here are the steps you can take to begin the journey toward an HVACR tech career.1
As mentioned, the BLS reports that most employers prefer candidates who have completed training or, at the very least, an apprenticeship. Training can provide safety knowledge, technical and equipment knowledge, and other skills that can help prepare students to enter the field.
In our HVACR program, you can learn skills that include:
According to Jessica Hart, a recruiter at Thornton & Grooms Residential Heating, Cooling and Plumbing, completing a training program “is always going to put you a step ahead of somebody else. It shows you can learn.”6
Different states may have specific licensing and certification requirements. You can typically find these by searching online for “HVACR requirements in (state)”.
A common HVACR technician certification is the Section 608 Technician Certification, which is required for technicians who dispose of, maintain, repair or service equipment with refrigerants. If you work in the refrigeration side of HVACR, you’ll likely need to get this certification. An HVACR training program that covers refrigeration fundamentals and commercial refrigeration can help prepare you to test for this certification.
You can also check job descriptions in different states while you’re training, so you can research what’s required to apply. You can also talk with your instructors or reach out to Career Services for more information on licensing and/or certification requirements.
Program graduates are ready to apply for entry-level positions in the HVACR field. Students can connect with Career Services, which can help them find jobs that match their interests and skill sets.2
HVACR technician work is cool (literally, sometimes!) because you get to work with your hands in a physical job while you bring joy and relief to customers’ lives almost every day.
If you’re interested in training to become an HVACR tech, we offer the program at several campus locations. Request info on HVACR, and we’ll send you details on start dates, course descriptions and more.
MIAT College of Technology is joining UTI’s family of schools! MIAT offers training for 8 additional industries.
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1) UTI and MIAT are educational institutions and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
2) For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures for UTI and www.miat.edu/disclosures for MIAT.
6) UTI and MIAT graduates’ achievements may vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on personal credentials and economic factors. Work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer and their compensation programs affect wages. UTI and MIAT are educational institutions and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
58) The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) program prepares graduates for entry-level positions using the provided training, primarily as HVACR technicians. Estimated annual salary is for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers as published in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2021 Occupational Employment and Wages. Entry-level salaries are lower for graduates. UTI and MIAT are educational institutions and cannot guarantee employment or salary. Graduates’ achievements vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on economic factors, personal credentials, work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer, and their compensation programs. Some graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than as HVACR technicians, such as installation technicians and refrigeration technicians. Salary information for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: The average annual entry-level salary range for persons employed as Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (49-9021) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $42,100 to $58,670 (Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development, May 2020 data https://lmi.dua.eol.mass.gov/lmi/OccupationalEmploymentAndWageSpecificOccupations#). Salary information for North Carolina: The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the hourly median wage for skilled HVACR technicians in North Carolina is $22.76 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, May 2021 Occupational Employment and Wages, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers). The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish entry-level salary data. However, the 25th and 10th percentile of hourly earnings in North Carolina are $17.96 and $14.56, respectively.
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois, Inc. is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
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