Heating & Air Conditioning at Manhattan Area Technical College
a compact campus enrolling 328 students in Manhattan, KS.
Program Analysis
Manhattan Area Technical College's Heating & Air Conditioning graduates start at $39,131/yr — above the $36,779 national average, though not by a wide margin.
The 59.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 11% task exposure — and the 26% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates.
Ranked #50 out of 260 programs, Manhattan Area Technical College's Heating & Air Conditioning program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $39,131 to $52,420 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
With 15 registered apprenticeships mapped to Heating & Air Conditioning, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
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% |
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.