TRADES

HVAC Technician

$48,000 – $85,000/yr

HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems in homes and commercial buildings.

JOB OUTLOOK

Strong — climate change driving increased demand for heat pumps and cooling

Day in the Life

Days are hands-on — diagnosing faults, replacing components, running refrigerant lines, and working with electrical systems. Lots of variety, often customer-facing.

How to Become a HVAC Technician

1Take CTE (Career Technical Education) classes in high school

2Complete an HVAC vocational program (6–12 months)

3Apprenticeship with a licensed contractor (2–5 years)

4Get EPA 608 certification

Useful High School Subjects

Engineering / TechPhysicsMath

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