HVAC Specialist | Salary & Job Information

Becoming a HVAC Specialist via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Penn Foster Career School, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering HVAC courses to train individuals to become top-notch hvac specialists, plumbers, hvac sheet metal installers, air conditioning technicians, heating, ventilation, air conditioning service technicians, heating, ventilation, air conditioning installers, refrigeration mechanics, refrigeration technicians, heating, ventilation, air conditioning / refrigeration technicians, etc. Mechanical engineers make on average $80,580 per year and there are about 232,660 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Penn Foster Career School that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a HVAC Specialist
  • Construction Offices
  • Industrial Sites
  • Work sites
  • Office Buildings
  • Homes
  • Out of a Van
  • Classrooms
  • Universities
  • Stadiums
  • Warehouses
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a HVAC Specialist
  • High pay
  • Good Benefits
  • Get to work with your hands
  • Educational requirement is relatively low for the income potential
  • Good job security because HVAC isn't going away
  • Opportunities to work in a large variety of locations
  • Regular travel is possible
  • Consulting opportunities
  • Wont get stuck in an office all week
  • Don't have to work with large groups of people at a time
Potential Drawbacks
  • You may have to deal with rude customers
  • You have to take a significant pay cut if you work form a firm rather than yourself.
  • Technology and products change all the time so you have to continue your education
  • You may have to work in harsh climates
  • With the wide variety of equipment installs aren't always straight forward
  • The physical nature of the job may be hard on your body
  • If you injure yourself you may have to find a new profession
  • The job gets harder with age
  • Running your own HVAC business can be difficult and time consuming
  • The health of economy can significantly effect your job security
Related Professions to Consider
  • Residential HVAC Lead Installer
  • HVAC Technician
  • Technical Professional Leader
  • Engineer-Refrigeration
  • HVAC Maintenance Technician
  • Building Systems HVAC Expert
  • Assistant Service Manager - HVAC
  • Airconditioning Engr
  • Utility Systems Repairer-Operator
  • Commercial Chiller Technicians
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a HVAC Specialist
  • How do you charge a TXV system?
  • How many Ohms in 3 feet of number 10 AUG wire?
  • If you messure 1.3 amps and FLA is .9 is that bad?
  • If a custmomer say "But I thought this was a free call" what do you do.?
  • What would you do if you had 15 service calls at 2PM in the afternoon on a friday and your wife wants to go out that evening?
  • Do you know the diffrence between a DC and AC?
  • Why do you want to work here?
  • Whats your long term goals in life?
  • Where did you learn HVAC?
  • How would you describe great customer service?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • HVAC Technician
  • Technician
  • Electrician
  • Plumber
  • Drywall Technician
  • Architect
  • Designer
  • Facility Manager
  • Facility Director
  • Product Manager
HVAC Specialist Training books HVAC Specialist (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning Specialist certificate
  • Building Environment Systems Technology program
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Construction Management
  • Hvacr Technology (aas)
  • HVACR Engineering Technology (BS)
  • Audit and Analysis of Energy Systems in HVAC Engineering
  • Advanced HVAC System Design
  • Environmental Engineering
  • HVAC engineering

HVAC Specialist Salary Information

Category: Mechanical engineers

Total # Employed in the US 232,660
Average Hourly Wage: $38.74/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$23.91 $29.43 $37.03 $46.51 $56.52
Average Yearly Salary $80,580
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$49,730 $61,220 $77,020 $96,740 $117,550
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.3% 5.2% 10.1% 11.3% 51.1% 19.5% 2.4%
Mechanical engineers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alaska $47.49/hr $98,790
Florida $47.14/hr $98,050
Connecticut $45.24/hr $94,100
Ohio $44.02/hr $91,560
Wyoming $43.31/hr $90,090
Mississippi $42.99/hr $89,410
Colorado $42.97/hr $89,370
Virginia $41.67/hr $86,670
Missouri $41.08/hr $85,450
Montana $40.52/hr $84,270
North Dakota $40.41/hr $84,060
District of Columbia $40.37/hr $83,980
Iowa $39.99/hr $83,180
Massachusetts $39.81/hr $82,800
Puerto Rico $38.31/hr $79,680
Indiana $38.29/hr $79,640
Delaware $38.11/hr $79,260
Tennessee $37.64/hr $78,300
Alabama $37.49/hr $77,970
Washington $37.42/hr $77,840
North Carolina $37.39/hr $77,770
Utah $37.31/hr $77,600
Michigan $37.2/hr $77,380
Oklahoma $36.88/hr $76,710
Arkansas $36.7/hr $76,330
Nebraska $36.63/hr $76,190
New Hampshire $36.58/hr $76,090
Idaho $36.53/hr $75,980
New York $36.07/hr $75,030
Wisconsin $35.97/hr $74,810
Oregon $35.94/hr $74,760
Hawaii $35.8/hr $74,470
Kansas $35.41/hr $73,650
Louisiana $35.19/hr $73,200
Guam $35.12/hr $73,040
South Dakota $34.08/hr $70,890
Kentucky $33.92/hr $70,550
South Carolina $33.9/hr $70,510
Maryland $33.34/hr $69,350
Pennsylvania $32.92/hr $68,480
Maine $32.49/hr $67,580
Nevada $32.08/hr $66,720
California $32.07/hr $66,710
West Virginia $31.61/hr $65,750
New Mexico $30.41/hr $63,250
New Jersey $30.09/hr $62,580


Category: Mechanical engineering technicians

Total # Employed in the US 43,580
Average Hourly Wage: $24.38/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$15.21 $18.58 $23.54 $29.32 $35.31
Average Yearly Salary $50,700
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$31,630 $38,650 $48,970 $60,990 $73,450
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
3.7% 23.5% 33.1% 22.7% 14.1% 2.3% 0.5%
Mechanical engineering technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
New York $29.08/hr $60,490
District of Columbia $28.37/hr $59,010
Ohio $28.29/hr $58,840
Tennessee $27.17/hr $56,520
Oregon $26.98/hr $56,130
Connecticut $26.84/hr $55,840
Maine $26.65/hr $55,430
Michigan $26.43/hr $54,970
Kansas $26.02/hr $54,120
Massachusetts $25.61/hr $53,260
New Hampshire $25.51/hr $53,070
Nebraska $25.47/hr $52,980
Colorado $25.4/hr $52,830
Mississippi $25.31/hr $52,640
Missouri $25.28/hr $52,580
Wyoming $24.89/hr $51,770
Montana $24.8/hr $51,580
Pennsylvania $24.58/hr $51,130
North Dakota $23.99/hr $49,890
Idaho $23.99/hr $49,910
Delaware $23.72/hr $49,350
Iowa $23.55/hr $48,990
South Dakota $23.43/hr $48,740
Washington $23.42/hr $48,710
Arkansas $23.4/hr $48,680
Louisiana $22.91/hr $47,650
Hawaii $22.91/hr $47,650
Oklahoma $22.85/hr $47,530
Wisconsin $22.79/hr $47,410
Kentucky $22.74/hr $47,300
North Carolina $22.74/hr $47,290
Utah $22.49/hr $46,780
South Carolina $22.47/hr $46,730
Guam $22.35/hr $46,480
Maryland $22.07/hr $45,910
Alabama $22.04/hr $45,840
Puerto Rico $21.85/hr $45,440
California $21.3/hr $44,310
New Jersey $21.09/hr $43,870
New Mexico $20.77/hr $43,210
Indiana $20.58/hr $42,800
Nevada $20.39/hr $42,400
Virginia $19.82/hr $41,230
West Virginia $17.33/hr $36,050


Category: Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

Total # Employed in the US 244,410
Average Hourly Wage: $21.0/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$12.38 $15.42 $19.76 $25.8 $31.53
Average Yearly Salary $43,670
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$25,750 $32,080 $41,100 $53,660 $65,580
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
13.1% 42.8% 26.9% 11.8% 4.5% 0.6% 0.3%
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $27.19/hr $56,540
Delaware $25.58/hr $53,200
Missouri $25.54/hr $53,130
North Dakota $25.32/hr $52,670
Alaska $25.31/hr $52,650
Kansas $25.27/hr $52,550
Nebraska $25.08/hr $52,170
Indiana $24.92/hr $51,820
Colorado $23.77/hr $49,440
Oklahoma $23.75/hr $49,400
Virginia $23.63/hr $49,150
Mississippi $23.57/hr $49,010
Pennsylvania $22.58/hr $46,970
New York $22.46/hr $46,710
Montana $22.33/hr $46,440
South Carolina $22.25/hr $46,290
Connecticut $22.06/hr $45,870
North Carolina $21.68/hr $45,100
Tennessee $21.64/hr $45,020
District of Columbia $20.85/hr $43,370
Michigan $20.54/hr $42,730
Maine $20.49/hr $42,610
Kentucky $20.42/hr $42,470
Utah $20.41/hr $42,460
New Mexico $20.22/hr $42,060
New Hampshire $20/hr $41,600
Arkansas $19.84/hr $41,270
Louisiana $19.76/hr $41,110
Guam $19.41/hr $40,380
Puerto Rico $19.18/hr $39,890
Oregon $18.99/hr $39,510
Hawaii $18.63/hr $38,750
New Jersey $18.6/hr $38,680
Wyoming $18.55/hr $38,590
Massachusetts $18.28/hr $38,020
Wisconsin $18.21/hr $37,880
Ohio $18.2/hr $37,860
Idaho $18.2/hr $37,850
California $17.93/hr $37,290
South Dakota $17.92/hr $37,280
Maryland $17.68/hr $36,780
West Virginia $17.66/hr $36,730
Washington $17.56/hr $36,510
Iowa $17.31/hr $36,010
Alabama $16.91/hr $35,160
Nevada $16.03/hr $33,330


Category: Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Total # Employed in the US 244,410
Average Hourly Wage: $21.0/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$12.38 $15.42 $19.76 $25.8 $31.53
Average Yearly Salary $43,670
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$25,750 $32,080 $41,100 $53,660 $65,580
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
13.1% 42.8% 26.9% 11.8% 4.5% 0.6% 0.3%


HVAC Programs by State & City