Anyone considering a career in HVAC field should be aware that they will be entering a flexible, fulfilling, and profitable field.
Some companies offer flexible work schedules, such as four 10-hour days per week, to assist technicians in achieving a better work-life balance. By prioritizing work-life balance, HVAC technicians can lead fulfilling and sustainable careers in the industry.
It's a serious profession that requires training and licensure in most states. The pros of being an HVAC technician are many, including a good salary and a stable career. The cons are few but should still be considered before deciding on this career path.
Meanwhile, heating and cooling mechanics and installers slide up to second for women with a divorce rate of 4.41%, and receptionists and clerks land in second for men with a divorce rate of 3.12%.
HVAC can be a stressful job at times, especially during the peak demand season from May through to September. The HVAC industry can require you to work evenings and weekends at times to meet the extra demand of broken down air conditioning systems during the summer months.
Warehousing and storage is the most stressful industry in the U.S. scoring 28.92/100. The data found that 93% of workers reported being paid hourly.
On average, HVAC technicians rate the meaningfulness of their work a 2.6/5. The majority of HVAC technicians struggle to find any sort of meaning in their work, likely resulting in less satisfaction with the career overall.
For example, if you search for jobs in the HVAC industry on HVACJobsCenter.com, you'll see that companies such as Baker Home Energy in Escondido, California are hiring candidates with a salary starting at $100k and above, if you meet qualifications.
Being an HVAC technician is a very physically demanding job. Not only do you perform hands-on work most of the time, but a lot of the work is done on rooftops and in attic spaces where the air is not conditioned.
HVAC Technicians need to be able to do some basic calculations to determine the amount of refrigerant to use in a system, translate a blueprint design, and understand the amount of electricity that a system needs. You don't have to be a mathematician, but you should feel comfortable with basic algebra.
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.
HVAC Techs are Often On-Call
As an HVAC technician, you may not have a typical 9-to-5 schedule. Depending on the job, the weather, and the emergency, you might be called into work early in the morning or late in the evening. You may be on-call for occasional weekends or holidays.
Great Retirement. Those in HVAC positions can join the local Pipefitters & Steamfitters union which provides support and access to jobs and resources. Union benefits mean that many HVAC mechanics can retire at 55 and pull their full pension from the union.
CON: HVAC Has Occupational Safety Hazards
HVAC technicians suffer more on-the-job injuries than workers in many other professions because they are often working with heavy equipment, extreme heat and/or cold, not to mention they are subjected to hazardous materials from time to time.
Marital Infidelity
More often than not, however, an extramarital affair is cause for hurt feelings, broken trust, and potentially irreconcilable differences. It is no surprise, then, that marital infidelity is a leading cause of divorce.
Ethnicity is a Factor
Caucasians are the most likely to get remarried: 60% of divorced Caucasian people have taken the plunge again at some point. Asians, however, are at the other end of the spectrum. Just 10% of currently married Asians are on their second marriage or beyond.
The thing with the HVAC industry is, safety always comes first. Your local tech wants to take care of you, but working on electrical equipment in the rain can be dangerous. It can not only endanger the safety of your technician, but it can also cause damage to your system down the road.
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.
If you are detail oriented, a good communicator, want to work in a stable industry, prefer hands-on tasks, confident in troubleshooting problems and looking for a career to grow, then becoming an HVAC technician may be the right career path for you.
It is estimated that the average age of an HVAC Technician is around 55 years old. As the HVAC industry ages, many companies are seeking to higher younger qualified workers.
Inflation and the increasing cost of raw materials, such as steel and aluminum, impact HVAC prices. Supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to material shortages and increased costs for HVAC systems.