HVAC estimators are professionals who examine HVAC installation and repair jobs and provide technicians and clients with a cost estimate. They work in many industries, including specialty trades, building construction, manufacturing , civil engineering, automotive repair and maintenance businesses.
Commercial HVAC estimating is a detailed and critical process that can significantly impact the profitability of a project. By carefully analyzing project specifications, conducting thorough site surveys, calculating accurate loads and meticulously preparing cost estimates, you can create reliable and competitive bids.
HVAC Estimation Engineer who will study carefully any project tender documents (Bill of quantities, specifications, design drawings and contract conditions) in order to estimate the dry cost of each contractual item in the Bill of quantities to get the final price including overhead & profit.
Is HVAC Engineer a Good Career? Working as an HVAC engineer is a good career if you enjoy solving technical problems with innovative solutions. As an HVAC engineer, you get to apply your knowledge of physics, math, and engineering to real-world heating, cooling, and refrigeration problems.
Experience with estimation software is a plus. Excellent knowledge of cost estimation principles and techniques. 1-3 years of experience in cost estimation, preferably in the construction industry…
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.
Certification or Licensing
Although it is not required, many cost estimators find it helpful to become certified to improve their standing within the professional community. Obtaining certification proves that the estimator has adequate job training and education.
The typical process for developing an HVAC estimate varies widely from one company to the next. Most HVAC companies will be in and out of your home in no more than 15 minutes to half an hour. The technician will take a look at your current system to get a sense of what your home already has.
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.
To estimate your HVAC labor costs, take the amount of money you'd like to earn every week and divide it by the number of billable hours you work. For example, let's say you want to make $800 in a 40-hour work week. Out of those 40 hours, only about 55% will be billable.
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.
Successful HVAC estimating is the first vital step and cornerstone for successful HVAC contracting. An accurate estimate should include a detailed listing of the direct costs for materials, labor, equipment, sub contractor costs (insulation etc.), indirect overhead, taxes, permits and profit.
How Much Does a Cost Estimator Make? Cost Estimators made a median salary of $74,740 in 2023. The best-paid 25% made $96,740 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $57,130.
Those interested in estimating manufacturing costs typically need a bachelor's degree in engineering, physical sciences, mathematics, or statistics. Construction cost estimators generally need a bachelor's degree in an industry-related field, such as construction management or building science.
Estimators face a lot of pressure - just a couple of mistakes can cost an owner tens of thousands of dollars. Just like the first point, there's really nothing surprising here. Between juggling design teams, subcontractors, project owners and more, estimators face a lot of pressure from all sides.
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.
The short answer is yes. 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.
Find the digit in the place we want to round to. Observe the digit to its right to decide how to round: If the digit to the right is 0-4 i.e., 0, 1, 2, 3, 4: we leave the digit alone (round down). If the digit to the right is 5-9 i.e., 5, 6, 7, 8, 9: we increase the digit by 1 (round up).
The role of construction estimator relies on your education and experience. So, you'll need a bachelor's degree, which usually takes 4 years, along with at least one year of experience in a related field. Both together contribute to a total of 5 years. How much does a construction estimator make?