When it comes to a career in the HVAC industry, one thing you won’t find is a shortage of options. Sure, there are the obvious HVAC career paths of becoming an HVAC technician or an HVAC installer once you’ve completed your education, and while both of these HVAC career paths can be very fulfilling, the HVAC career map has a much broader reach than many people realize.
The truth is getting your certification in heating and air conditioning can lead you to a wide variety of HVAC career paths, each with its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. While several of these roles in the HVAC career map will keep you in homes and businesses, there are other HVAC career paths ranging from HVAC sales and inventory to working with alternate energy sources.
If you’re wondering what HVAC career paths are there for you to explore, here are a few examples of the highest paying HVAC positions across the HVAC career map.
HVAC TECHNICIAN/INSTALLER
This is typically the first role that comes to mind when someone thinks about a career in HVAC. Simply put, this is the type of HVAC professional that people are accustomed to interacting with, as well as being one of the most common first jobs for new HVAC training graduates.
While a career as an HVAC technician or HVAC installer may be common, don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s any less important than other HVAC career paths. Technicians and installers provide an invaluable service to customers (both residential and commercial HVAC) maintaining, troubleshooting, fixing, and installing furnaces, air conditioning systems, and other heating, cooling, and comfort systems. On average, an HVAC technician typically earns between $46,000 and $68,000 per year depending on experience.
AUTOMOTIVE HVAC TECHNICIAN
Nearly every vehicle on the road right now is equipped with air conditioning and heating systems. These systems require a specific skill set to maintain and repair, creating new HVAC career paths for those interested in the automotive arena. A technician in this field would need to earn the EPA 609 certification.
So, if you’re asking yourself what HVAC career paths are there outside of the typical residential or commercial fields, this may be a great opportunity for you as part of your HVAC career map. As of this year, the average annual pay for an automotive HVAC technician in the United States is $54,185 a year, with top earners reporting salaries as high as $91,000 annually.
REFRIGERATION TECHNICIAN
Another consideration for in-demand HVAC career paths for you to consider is becoming a refrigeration technician. Restaurants, hotels, and other establishments depend on the use of large refrigeration systems to store and preserve food and beverages, making this an extremely important skillset to have as a certified HVAC technician.
Specializing in troubleshooting, maintaining, repairing, and installing these refrigeration systems has proven to be one of the highest paying HVAC positions across the country, as the current annual salary for this role is $56,415 a year, or just over $27/hour. Learn more about ammonia refrigeration training.
SOLAR ENERGY TECHNICIAN
As the world seeks to adopt more widespread use of clean and renewable energy sources, solar energy has become a primary energy source for businesses nationwide, creating a need for solar energy technicians that are trained to install, maintain, and fix these panels. Believe it or not, many of these technicians actually start their career in HVAC, adding another interesting direction to the HVAC career map.
In the United States, 3% of electricity comes from solar energy – and this figure is only going to grow. As a result, job opportunities have increased by over 167%, making this one of the HVAC career paths with the most encouraging trajectory towards the future. Currently, the average solar technician salary in the United States is $59,372 with the salary range typically falling between $50,912 and $70,555.
WIND TURBINE TECHNICIAN
Another green energy technology available for HVAC professionals to adopt along their HVAC career paths is that provided by wind turbines. The energy produced by wind turbines is clean, cost-effective, and is currently the largest source of renewable energy in the US. This has subsequently led to turbine technicians becoming one of the fastest growing and available jobs in the country and – you guessed it – one that can begin as part of the HVAC career map.
The average salary for wind turbine services technicians in the United States is around $56,260 per year, and with the availability of jobs and the growing demand, this is likely to remain as one of the highest paying HVAC positions available for years to come.
HVAC DESIGN ENGINEER
Another of the highest paying HVAC positions in the HVAC career map is that of the HVAC design engineer. HVAC engineers might work in R&D or specialize in designing systems for markets such as retail spaces, restaurants, office buildings, large residential building, or industrial applications. This job focuses on calculating the heating and cooling needs of the space and then working with customers, architects, contractors, and other team members to coordinate and implement the system design.
If you’re interested in the creative and functional side of HVAC systems, this is probably one of the most exciting HVAC career paths you’ll find. This role can be very lucrative, as well, with the average HVAC design engineer salary in the US being $92,500 per year, or $47.44 per hour.
So, what HVAC career paths are there? As you can see, the HVAC career map can take you nearly anywhere based on your interests, skill level and education. With the industry and need for qualified technicians continuing to grow (nearly a 13% increase in employment is projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2018 to 2028), now is the perfect time to begin exploring new HVAC career paths, especially Union vs. non-union HVAC positions.
From this list and beyond, you might be surprised by just how many possibilities are out there – so get started today!
