Heating & Air Conditioning at San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario
with a smaller student body of 1,022 in Ontario, CA.
Program Analysis
Graduates earn $40,368/yr, edging above the $36,779 national average for Heating & Air Conditioning — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.
Career paths for Heating & Air Conditioning carry above-average AI exposure (11% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.
At $13,000 in median debt against $40,368 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.
A #114 ranking among 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs places San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
The $40,368-to-$67,788 earnings arc over five years reflects a 68% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.
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.