So why is an HVAC career such a great choice?
First of all, you will always have the opportunity for employment. Jobs in the HVAC industry are not hard to find - they are plentiful. Secondly, you can earn a great income with a minimal investment in your education.
Let's compare an HVAC technician's education costs with those of a business analyst who received his degree from from a university. To make things simple, we'll assume no interest on the educational loans and assume that both employees land a job right out of school with average salaries as listed on www.salary.com. This comparison also assumes that the college degree received is one that has job opportunities.
Twenty-five years after attending a technical trade school, the HVAC technician still has lifetime earnings of more than the business analyst. Pretty amazing when you break down the numbers.
To become an HVAC technician, there are some skills required that most don't think about. An HVAC technician must be a problem solver, investigator, troubleshooter, electrician, gas pipefitter, welder, flue gas venting expert. He/she must understand motors, compressors, airflow, control circuits, refrigeration theory, electrical theory, gas laws, the laws of thermodynamics, and pressure temperature relationships.
Skilled HVAC technicians can work in many different areas of the industry. There are refrigeration and AC opportunities in residential, commercial, service and installation, refrigeration, supermarket refrigeration, transportation, marine industry, and process refrigeration.
There are many young workers, who either cannot afford or don't have the desire to attend college who never explore the possibility of a career in HVAC. In fact, most parents never consider education in the trades as a career option for their children.
by Ron Walker