HVAC

There are many factors that go into picking a career, but one of the top ones is financial viability. If you’re thinking of entering the HVAC field, it makes sense to find out if there is a demand for people to fill HVAC jobs, and fortunately, there is plenty of demand for HVAC professionals.

How Much Money Can You Make in HVAC?

There are several factors that influence how much you can make as an HVAC technician. If you’re someone else’s employee and you’re at the technician level, ZipRecruiter says that you’re looking at an average of just over $50,000 per year. However, if you gain a managerial-level position in the industry, the pay can jump to over $70,000 per year.

Your location will play a huge part in how much money you can make in this field. The state isn’t the only thing to consider here; the specific city or town is also important. You should also keep in mind that some of the areas that pay the most, such as Los Angeles, California, also have the highest costs of living. Meanwhile, an area that doesn’t seem to pay much may also have some of the lowest costs of living.

Finally, it can be easy to start up your own shop as an HVAC professional. Then, you may find that your earnings are nothing like the averages. In this case, your business sense, how much competition you have, the size of your company, and how long you’ve been in business will all factor in. When making plans, keep in mind that it often takes a few years for a new company to be profitable. Make sure to have enough savings to cover this period if you’re planning on going directly to owning your own shop.

What Drives Demand for HVAC Professionals?

Even though existing HVAC systems need maintenance and repairs, the main driver for jobs is new construction. Almost every warehouse, apartment building, house, factory, or other building needs an HVAC system. Builders typically have the initial system installed during the construction phase to avoid the need for expensive retrofitting later.

Of course, there is also great demand for maintenance and repair technicians. The more buildings an area has, the higher this demand will be.

What is it Like to Work in HVAC?

As an HVAC technician, you can find yourself in a variety of environments. Regardless of your specialization, you can be out in extreme weather. In hot states like Texas, this can mean enduring temperatures over 90 degrees. In cold places like New York State, you might be out in subzero conditions. Heavy physical labor may also be required, especially if you’re doing installations. Because of these factors, you’ll find HVAC work more suited to you if you are physically fit.

Other factors that affect your work experience include your job focus. If you do repairs and maintenance, you might be called to a job at any time. In some cases, you might even work on an on-call basis. On the other hand, if you do installations, you’ll typically have a steadier schedule – one that often follows the business hours of your clients.

Most who work in HVAC find it enjoyable because they aren’t stuck in an office all day. They also typically go from client to client, so they see new people and new surroundings all the time. Also, HVAC technicians, like other home repair and improvement people, often find that their clients are glad to see them.

Where are HVAC Jobs Available?

Thanks to the connection between new construction and HVAC installations, the states that are seeing the most construction have the most HVAC jobs open. California and Texas are among those with the highest demand.

Not all high-construction states are seeing high population growth. Instead, construction – or more often, reconstruction – can be driven by natural disasters or the need to replace or update old buildings. California suffers wildfires on a regular basis, and Texas has plenty of old buildings that need to be brought up to modern specs.

Sometimes, a combination of population growth and disasters fuels the need for HVAC professionals. Florida, for example, has seen a large population boom over the last couple of years. It is also regularly hit by hurricanes. These are two strong sources of demand that ensure that HVAC work will be in demand for the foreseeable future.

Get Started with Your HVAC Career

Getting started as a technician or other HVAC professional requires gaining the credentials required by your state of operation. Typically, this involves graduating from a program like VTI’s HVAC Technician Training Program.

VTI’s program includes a variety of courses that impart the knowledge and skills needed to become a certified HVAC technician. Both classroom learning and hands-on experience are included.

We’re located in Phoenix, AZ, so it’s the perfect school for those who intend to work in this area. To learn more about the HVAC program or the college itself, contact us today.