Heating & Air Conditioning at CET-Coachella

Coachella, CA · Private nonprofit · Certificate · Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)

a compact campus enrolling 84 students in Coachella, CA.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,970/yr, roughly in line with the $36,779 national median for Heating & Air Conditioning. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 27% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Heating & Air Conditioning career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

With first-year pay of $35,970 far exceeding the $6,160 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #149 ranking among 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs places CET-Coachella in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 35% earnings increase from $35,970 to $48,636 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

The 15 apprenticeship pathways connected to Heating & Air Conditioning reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

49 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
47
Low End
49
Score
49
High End
Earnings $35,970/yr (-2% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (89% shielded)
Job Market Large (40,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$517K
7.8% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
1 of 1
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Median Debt at Graduation
$6,160
2.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,636
35% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers $59,810 +8.1% 89%
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
$59,810
+8.1% growth 89% AI-proof

About Heating & Air Conditioning Careers

Your career in HVACR begins with your hands on the tools. As an apprentice, you’ll work alongside a senior technician, learning to use pressure gauges on a residential AC unit or a multimeter to diagnose a faulty furnace circuit board in a chilly basement. Soon, you'll be driving the service van, independently tackling everything from routine maintenance to emergency repairs on commercial rooftops. This is skilled, physical work that requires you to be on-site—it can’t be automated or outsourced.

Read the full Heating & Air Conditioning career guide →

Compare & Explore

Heating & Air Conditioning Overview

Heating & Air Conditioning at Other Schools

Other Majors at CET-Coachella

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Heating & Air Conditioning at CET-Coachella?
This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Heating & Air Conditioning. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How AI-proof is a career in Heating & Air Conditioning?
Highly resilient. Heating & Air Conditioning careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 1 of 1 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
How affordable is Heating & Air Conditioning at CET-Coachella?
Median debt of just $6,160 against $35,970/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates?
Yes — 15 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Heating & Air Conditioning career paths, including Air & Hydronic Balancing Technician. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →