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Heating or Air Conditioning Mechanic/Installer

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AVG. SALARY

$63,720

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EDUCATION

Post-secondary training +

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JOB OUTLOOK

Increasing

Interviews

Insider Info

"Having an exciting job where every day is different has been the best part of this career," says Cliff Wheeler, an air conditioning technician in Arizona.

Wheeler first learned the trade when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Today he's with an installation and repair company.

The work is challenging, but that's what makes it rewarding. Some days are filled with so much work he doesn't even have time to stop and take a breath. Other days aren't as hectic, but they are filled with complicated technical problems. "Every day brings something new."

In air conditioning and heating, people skills are almost as important as technical ability. And because just about every home and business needs the service, technicians meet all kinds of people.

"I've met movie stars and other notable people," says Wheeler. "They make the work interesting."

But being able to get the job done counts for a lot too. "Get formal training. Don't try to learn it on the job."

The military, community colleges and trade schools all offer good training programs.

Academic preparation is important, especially math. Mathematical formulas are the backbone of electronics, which is a big part of a technician's work. Wheeler also recommends taking a shop class or two so you can handle tools.

"I've had kids come in here and say they know how to do the job, and they don't even know which end of a screwdriver to hold! If you start yanking wires without checking power supplies, you've got a problem."

Being a good sport also helps.

"There's a lot of teasing going on out there. It's not all because I'm a woman -- just mostly. But it's all in good fun," says Sharon Stephenson, a pipe insulator in Phoenix, Arizona. Stephenson was the first female technician ever hired at her company.

"You really need mechanical ability. You can't mind getting dirty and sometimes have to do some heavy lifting -- like a water heater. Not many women are OK with all that."

Stephenson grew up fixing things around her family's farm and decided she was good enough at it to make a living. She spent five years in training at a local journeyman's union, getting hands-on and academic training.

The life of a heating and cooling technician isn't glamorous, but it's a job that makes you feel good at the end of the day. "It's about giving people comfort and sometimes about keeping them alive -- not everyone can tolerate extreme heat or cold," says Wheeler.

Gordon Arnott, a technical manager at the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute, says the variety in the industry keeps it exciting. "I enjoy the people and the diversity," says Arnott.

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

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