Heating & Air Conditioning
What Heating & Air Conditioning Graduates Do
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.
With a few years of experience, your path and earnings expand significantly. You might become a journeyman installer leading a crew on new construction projects, or specialize in high-demand areas like commercial refrigeration for grocery stores. The strong and growing demand for skilled technicians means steady work and increasing pay as you gain certifications. Many experienced pros eventually go on to launch their own successful contracting businesses, setting their own hours and maximizing their income potential.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 15 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Heating & Air Conditioning. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Air & Hydronic Balancing Technician
RAPIDS 990 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic (Existing Title: Heating & Air-Conditioner Install/Ser)
RAPIDS 0637R |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Environmental Control Syst. Install/Services (Hvac)
RAPIDS 0637R2 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Furnace Installer
RAPIDS 794 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Furnace Installer & Repairer
RAPIDS 678 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Heating & Air Conditioning Mechanic & Installer
RAPIDS 0637R1 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Heating & Air-Conditioner Install/Ser
RAPIDS 637 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Heating & Air-Conditioner Install/Ser
RAPIDS 0637CL |
8500-10000 hrs | Hybrid | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (Ex. Tit: Heating&Air Cond. Inst/Ser)
RAPIDS 0637HY |
8500-10000 hrs | Hybrid | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (Ex. Tit: Heating&Air Cond. Inst/Ser)
RAPIDS 0637R |
8500 hrs
~4.2 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Oil Burner-Servicer & Installer
RAPIDS 966 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Refrigeration & Air Condition Mechanic (Existing Title: Refrigeration Maint)
RAPIDS 0666HY |
7480-8800 hrs | Hybrid | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Refrigeration And Air Conditioning Maintenance (Existing Title: Refrigeration Mechanic)
RAPIDS **0666R |
7328 hrs
~3.7 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Refrigeration Mechanic (Any Ind)
RAPIDS 666 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
|
Refrigeration Unit Repairer
RAPIDS 918 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $59,810 – $75K | 8.1% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Heating & Air Conditioning
Top 20 of 260 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN |
71 70–71 |
$57,178/yr | 127.1x |
| 2 | Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston, GA |
71 69–71 |
$49,346/yr | 155.4x |
| 3 | Davidson-Davie Community College Thomasville, NC |
71 69–71 |
$46,491/yr | 234.0x |
| 4 | Western Technical College La Crosse, WI |
70 69–70 |
$52,820/yr | 111.0x |
| 5 | Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City Kansas City, MO |
70 67–70 |
$44,715/yr | 165.6x |
| 6 | Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC |
69 66–69 |
$46,803/yr | 122.6x |
| 7 | Athens Technical College Athens, GA |
69 68–69 |
$45,356/yr | 142.0x |
| 8 | Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GA |
69 66–69 |
$41,978/yr | 176.0x |
| 9 | Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC |
68 67–68 |
$50,802/yr | 96.0x |
| 10 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, MN |
68 64–68 |
$46,285/yr | 105.7x |
| 11 | Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KS |
68 67–68 |
$43,010/yr | 135.5x |
| 12 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL |
68 67–68 |
$42,882/yr | 158.5x |
| 13 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN |
67 65–67 |
$65,592/yr | 65.7x |
| 14 | Century College White Bear Lake, MN |
67 67–67 |
$52,870/yr | 84.5x |
| 15 | Dakota County Technical College Rosemount, MN |
67 66–67 |
$52,079/yr | 80.1x |
| 16 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE |
67 64–67 |
$49,666/yr | 84.7x |
| 17 | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green, KY |
67 66–67 |
$46,451/yr | 98.8x |
| 18 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL |
67 66–67 |
$41,239/yr | 153.3x |
| 19 | Charlotte Technical College Port Charlotte, FL |
67 66–67 |
$40,977/yr | 131.2x |
| 20 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA |
66 66–66 |
$52,345/yr | 76.2x |
Highest Earning Heating & Air Conditioning Programs
Schools where Heating & Air Conditioning graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Hennepin Technical College | $65,592/yr | 67 |
| Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology | $58,336/yr | 62 |
| Perry Technical Institute | $57,782/yr | 57 |
| Ivy Tech Community College | $57,323/yr | 64 |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College | $57,178/yr | 71 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | $56,191/yr | 64 |
| Monroe Community College | $54,241/yr | 60 |
| Century College | $52,870/yr | 67 |
| Western Technical College | $52,820/yr | 70 |
| Iowa Western Community College | $52,345/yr | 66 |
Best ROI for Heating & Air Conditioning
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Heating & Air Conditioning.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson-Davie Community College | 234.0x | $46,491/yr | 71 |
| Dallas College | 200.8x | $28,849/yr | 61 |
| Lone Star College System | 176.1x | $32,070/yr | 63 |
| Chattahoochee Technical College | 176.0x | $41,978/yr | 69 |
| Central Georgia Technical College | 173.0x | $34,320/yr | 64 |
| Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City | 165.6x | $44,715/yr | 70 |
| Palm Beach State College | 158.5x | $42,882/yr | 68 |
| San Jacinto Community College | 158.3x | $30,189/yr | 61 |
| Georgia Piedmont Technical College | 155.4x | $49,346/yr | 71 |
| Indian River State College | 153.3x | $41,239/yr | 67 |
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