Trades
Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration Mechanics & Installers
Construction

HVAC Tech

Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers, also called HVACR mechanics, install, service, and repair heating and air conditioning systems in homes, businesses, and other buildings.
HVAC Tech
Do you love saving the day by helping people cool and heat their houses? HVAC can
Why Should You Consider This Career?

HVAC techs can get lots of overtime work since many people require fixes and upgrades during the summer and winter months. The shortage of HVAC techs means there are more opportunities than ever in this space!

TYPICAL SALARY
$80k
That's $3,300 per bi-weekly paycheck
CAREER OUTLOOK
Growing
That's 2000 new jobs in Utah per year (30% growth)
Less Physical                                         More Physical
—————|————
Less Training                                          More Training
—————|————
More Structure                                     Less Structure
—————|————
ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:
A/C Tech (Air Conditioning Technician), HVAC Installer (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Installer), HVAC Mechanic (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Mechanic), HVAC Specialist (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Specialist), Refrigeration Mechanic, Refrigeration Operator, Refrigeration Technician (Refrigeration Tech), Service Technician (Service Tech), Systems Mechanic, Transportation Refrigeration Technician (Transportation Refrigeration Tech

Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.

At A Glance in US
2028 JOB GROWTH
Wage loader
398,000 (35%)
SALARY RANGE
This is some text inside of a div block.
AVG. JOBS / YEAR
398,000 (35%)
TIME TO JOURNEYMAN
398,000 (35%)
ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:
A/C Tech (Air Conditioning Technician), HVAC Installer (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Installer), HVAC Mechanic (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Mechanic), HVAC Specialist (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Specialist), Refrigeration Mechanic, Refrigeration Operator, Refrigeration Technician (Refrigeration Tech), Service Technician (Service Tech), Systems Mechanic, Transportation Refrigeration Technician (Transportation Refrigeration Tech
A Typical Day Icon

Your Typical Day:

  • Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.
  • Repair or replace defective equipment, components, or wiring.
  • Discuss heating or cooling system malfunctions with users to isolate problems or to verify that repairs corrected malfunctions.
  • Connect heating or air conditioning equipment to fuel, water, or refrigerant source to form complete circuit.
  • Install, connect, or adjust thermostats, humidistats, or timers.
  • Comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area.
  • Study blueprints, design specifications, or manufacturers' recommendations to ascertain the configuration of heating or cooling equipment components and to ensure the proper installation of components.
  • Install auxiliary components to heating or cooling equipment, such as expansion or discharge valves, air ducts, pipes, blowers, dampers, flues, or stokers.
  • Braze or solder parts to repair defective joints and leaks.
  • Lay out and connect electrical wiring between controls and equipment, according to wiring diagrams, using electrician's hand tools.
wage icon

Wages in the US:

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
$
38.86
Per Hour Base Income
$TBD
Total Compensation
Your Responsibilities Icon

Your Responsibilities

  • Test electrical circuits or components for proper functioning.
  • Service heating, ventilation or air-conditioning (HVAC) systems or components.
  • Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
  • Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
  • Confer with customers or users to assess problems.
  • Install heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment.
  • Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
  • Determine operational compliance with regulations or standards.
  • Interpret blueprints, specifications, or diagrams to inform installation, development or operation activities.
  • Braze metal parts or components.
Your Knowledge Icon

Knowledge You Will Learn

  • Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. 88/100

  • Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. 75/100

  • Building and Construction

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads. 62/100

  • Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. 61/100

  • Physics

Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes. 60/100

  • English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 58/100

  • Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. 57/100

  • Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. 54/100

  • Design

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models. 54/100

  • Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. 52/100

Tools of the Trade Icon

Tools of the Trade

  • Pressure indicators
  • Voltage or current meters
  • Levels
  • Power drills
  • Refrigerant compressors
  • Air velocity and temperature monitors
  • Flowmeters
  • Screwdrivers
  • Flow sensors
  • Razor knives
  • Soldering iron
  • Power saws
  • Hacksaw
  • Pipe or tube cutter
  • Hex keys
  • Multimeters
  • Hygrometers
  • Ammeters
  • Ohmmeters
  • GFI circuit testers
  • Vacuum pumps
  • Hammers
  • Vacuum cleaners
  • Platform lift
  • Temperature humidity testers
  • Handheld thermometer
  • Capacitance meters
  • Punches or nail sets or drifts
  • Threading die hand tool
  • Portable data input terminals
  • Calibrated resistance measuring equipment
  • Thermocouples
  • Safety harnesses or belts
  • Metal cutters
  • Single gas monitors
  • Frequency calibrator or simulator
  • Leak testing equipment
  • Oxygen gas analyzers
  • Stripping tools
  • Carbon monoxide analyzer
  • Dial indicator or dial gauge
  • Wattmeters
  • Fish tape
  • Lifelines or lifeline equipment
  • Anemometers
  • Smoke detectors
  • Pipe bending tools
  • Drill press or radial drill
  • Resistance thermometers
  • Scanners
  • Infrared imagers
  • Calipers
  • Tension testers
  • Welder torch
  • Speed sensors
  • Shackle
  • Heat tracing equipment
  • Psychrometers
  • Pry bars
  • Phasemeters
  • Blow torch
  • Tachometers
  • Surface thermometers
  • Sheet metal pliers
  • Temperature gauge
  • Liquid leak detectors
  • Circuit tester
  • Medical acoustic stethoscopes
  • Notebook computers
  • Sound measuring apparatus or decibel meter
  • Socket sets
  • Welding masks
  • Slip or groove joint pliers
  • Depth indicators
  • Handheld refractometers or polarimeters
  • Blocks or pulleys
  • Gas detectors
  • Hydraulic pumps
  • Explosimeters
  • Moisture meters
  • Hand trucks or accessories
  • Telescoping boom lift
  • Goggles
  • Diagonal cut pliers
  • Specialty wrenches
  • Inspection mirror
  • Oil pumps
  • Vibration testers
  • Longnose pliers
  • Electrical frequency meters
  • Label making machines
  • Tube bending machine
  • Pressure or steam cleaners
  • Electronic measuring probes
  • Chemical test strips or papers
  • Drill bit set
  • Vacuum gauges
  • Shears
  • Threading taps
  • Caulking guns
  • Ultraviolet UV lamps
  • Temperature calibrator or simulator
  • Water samplers
  • Plotter printers
  • Scales
  • Straight edges
  • Alignment jig
  • End cut pliers
  • Pressure sensors
  • Hand reamer
  • Winches
  • Manual wire straighteners
  • Oil gun
  • Wire lug crimping tool
  • Claw hammer
  • Microcontrollers
  • Power flaring tool
  • Level sensors or transmitters
  • Magnetic tools
  • Metal band sawing machine
  • Screw extractors
  • Sampling manifolds
  • Thermocouple probes
  • Water analyzers
  • Tinners snips
  • Pipe reamer
  • Two way radios
  • Lug crimping tool dies
  • Ladders
  • Micrometers
  • Air compressors
  • Tape measures
  • Cold chisels
  • Grease guns
  • Manometers
  • Wire cutters
  • Slings
  • Respirators
  • Awls
  • Scaffolding
  • Hoists
  • Nut drivers
  • Safety glasses
  • Bolt cutters
  • Jacks
  • Pullers
  • Hold down clamps
  • Scribers
  • Spectrometers
  • Utility knives
  • Conduit benders
  • Forklifts
  • pH meters
  • Squares
  • Hand sprayers
  • Potentiometers
  • Tongs
  • Chalk lines
  • Rulers
  • Power grinders
  • Circuit tracers
  • Laser printers
  • Torque wrenches
  • Open end wrenches
  • Chart recorders
  • Hole saws
  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Desktop computers
  • Swaging tools
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Wire brushes
  • Feeler gauges
  • Strap wrenches
  • Personal computers
  • Pipe wrenches
  • Megohmmeters
  • Glue guns
Related Careers Icon

Helpful Career Links

Questions About this Career Path?