Heating & Air Conditioning at Perry Technical Institute
a compact campus enrolling 973 students in Yakima, WA.
Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $57,782 put Perry Technical Institute's Heating & Air Conditioning program 57% above the national median of $36,779 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
The 19% 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 $57,782 far exceeding the $17,146 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Perry Technical Institute ranks #55 among 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
A 24% earnings increase from $57,782 to $71,486 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.
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.