Job Responsibilities: HVAC technicians focus on climate control systems, while electricians work with electrical systems. Training: HVAC technicians often attend technical schools, whereas electricians typically complete apprenticeships. Career Prospects: Both fields offer strong job growth and competitive salaries.
Since they work with similar equipment, the type of tools they use may overlap. For example, sometimes HVAC technicians work with electrical equipment, and sometimes electricians need to work with HVAC systems.
Many of the parts of an HVAC unit are considered electrical components. We've mentioned the important work of relays. Here are some of the electrical units that can be considered to work similarly to and with relays and will be explained in detail during HVAC training—Compressors, Motors, and Capacitors.
Salary, Opportunities, and Growth
Both HVAC technicians and electricians earn similar compensation, though the average annual salary for electricians is about $5,000 higher than that of HVAC techs. Both have a large disparity in pay between the highest and lowest-earning ten percent of professionals.
For instance, an electrical engineer can work in power distribution design, planning, implementation, commissioning in a large HVAC project for instance.
Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Mechanical engineers who specialize in HVAC do a lot more than keep us cool in the summer and warm in the winter!
HVAC is an acronym that stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. A residential HVAC system is a complete home comfort system that can heat and cool your home, as well as provide improved indoor air quality and humidity control. There are many different types of HVAC systems.
With the right training, experience, and communication skills it's very possible to make over $100,000 per year as an HVAC tech. In 2024, the HVAC technician salary range for the HVAC trade was between $30 per hour, and $43 per hour depending upon certification and HVAC training.
Two of the trades generally considered to be the most difficult to learn are electricians and plumbers.
HVAC Meaning: What is HVAC? HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. This system is responsible for heating and cooling your home and includes products like furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps as well as ductwork, thermostats and other home comfort controls.
Electrical supply considerations
However, it's likely that an MCS registered installer will carry out the HP installation, and you should be aware that MCS standards need to be adhered to.
As long as there are no sharp edges in the chase that might physically damage the cable, there's no code violation if Romex touches metal hvac supply or return ducts.
Some trades that are generally considered easy to learn include HVAC, plumbing, phlebotomy, and medical assisting.
One of the best pros of being an electrician is the high demand for skilled professionals in this field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (i.e. BLS) projects 6% growth in electrician jobs from 2022 – 2032, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
Some of you may be asking, “Why would I call a professional if the installation instructions are right here on the box?” Hiring a professional is ensuring that the job is done right. Also, the electrician will do more than just install the new thermostat, move it to a new location, and/or add new wiring.
Careers in the medical field, computer programing, university research positions, and engineering are among the ones with the highest requirements to be smart and have a high IQ. Concentrating on the linked thoughts, facts, and knowledge to aid in problem-solving is the result of intelligence at work.
The Quickest Trade to Learn: HVAC Technician
One of the quickest trades to learn is becoming an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) technician.
Within the HVAC industry, fields that offer the highest pay include commercial HVAC service, system design, and specialized cooling and refrigeration systems. HVAC techs in these areas, especially those in the highest paying states, can earn significantly more than the industry average.
Yes, HVAC does require a certain amount of math. HVAC professionals need to use mathematical concepts for various tasks such as calculating heating and cooling loads, determining the size of HVAC equipment, measuring airflow, and understanding the principles of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.
The average cost of an HVAC service call is about $100 to $250, depending on the problem. The total hourly rate for an HVAC technician ranges from $65 to $150+ per hour, with additional parts costing anywhere from $40 to over $1000.
HVAC Technicians are not electricians. HVAC technicians specialize in installing, maintaining, and repairing air condition, heating, and refrigeration systems, while electricians specialize in electrical systems.
Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM) is a measurement of airflow volume, determined by how many cubic feet of air pass by a stationary point in one minute. Larger homes circulate more air (since there's more space for it to move around), so they will have a higher CFM.
British thermal unit (Btu) is a measure of the heat content of fuels or energy sources. One Btu is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of liquid water by 1° Fahrenheit (F) at the temperature that water has its greatest density (approximately 39° F).