Job Outlook-HVAC Technicians
HVAC Technicians have been critical in the overall comfort of our everyday lives. Today many of us take for granted comfortable indoor clients due to over a century of innovation in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industries. HVAC Technicians have been at the forefront through all of it, and continue to evolve as technology rapidly integrates into the products and service they repair and install.
History of the HVAC Industry
When Dr. John Gorrie began experimenting on ways to cool hospital rooms with large blocks of ice to combat tropical diseases in the 1830’s, he probably had no idea his ideas would eventually turn into a 90 billion dollar industry today. Gorrie’s fundamental ideas eventually paved the way for Willis Carrier’s breakthrough “Apparatus for treatment of air” machine in 1902. Needless to say, the concept took off and the rest is history. Today, over 87% of all homes in the US have some sort of HVAC system installed in their home.
Job Growth for HVAC Technicians Continue to Outpace the Rest of the US Workforce
As demand for HVAC service continues to remain at high levels, with no reduction in sight, supply for HVAC Technicians continue to decrease. It is estimated that the average age of an HVAC Technician is around 55 years old. As the HVAC industry ages, many companies are seeking to higher younger qualified workers. The problem many HVAC contracting companies face is the amount of qualified technicians entering the HVAC industry is not matching the amount of HVAC Technicians retiring. This is leaving a significant supply and demand gap for qualified HVAC Technicians. So what does that mean to someone that is considering entering the HVAC workforce? If we apply basic economics where low supply meets higher demand, that leaves us with higher than average growth for wages among HVAC Technicians and Installers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014, the 10 year job growth for HVAC installlation, maintenence, and repair technicians was estimated around 14%. That is compared to the 7% estimated for all occupations during the same time period. What is arguably most remarkable is that installation, maintenance and repair occupations in general are only suppose to grow by 6% from 14-24, so HVAC job growth is projected to more than double that of similar labor fields from now until 2024.
Other Factors Driving Growth for HVAC Service Technicians
- New, energy efficient air conditioning systems and furnaces are increasing demand for HVAC system replacements and HVAC system installation.
- Many other household services are being provided by heating and cooling contractors such as home automation installation, air purification system installation, and air duct cleaning.
- Geothermal technology has become more efficient, and with rebates and incentives, geothermal systems are now also more affordable.
Common Characteristics of Successful HVAC Technicians
Whether you are an HVAC Service Repair Technician, an HVAC Installer, or an HVAC Mechanic, every type of successful HVAC Technician generally shares a lot of the same qualities such as:
- Good with working with your hands
- Have an interest in fixing things
- Great people skills and can communicate with customers.
- Basic sales skills.
Considering Becoming an HVAC Technician?
If you believe being an HVAC Technician might be the right career path for you and are interested in learning more, contact a local trade or tech school to get information on HVAC training programs. With growth trends as significant as what the data suggests, there will be plenty of demand for your services once you have graduated. Let us know if you have any questions or if we can help.