When asked, many people struggle to think of a career path that offers benefits they’d enjoy over the long-term. If you enjoy learning new things, working with your hands, figuring out difficult problems, and knowing that you accomplished something every day, you’ll be happy to know those are just a few of the benefits which HVAC technicians enjoy throughout their careers.
Advantages of Becoming an HVAC Employee
Being an HVAC technician offers numerous advantages you simply won’t find in many other fields. One of the most notable advantages many technicians enjoy is the opportunity to establish lasting relationships with clients. While many people are nervous about having to let a stranger into their homes to look at their HVAC system when there’s a problem initially, that stress goes away when they’re comfortable with a technician they’ve known for years.
Over time, successful HVAC technicians establish a clientele base that asks for them specifically when they have an issue with their HVAC system because they’ve established a long-lasting, trusting relationship.
While establishing meaningful relationships with clients may be enough of a reason for you to pursue a career in the HVAC industry, you may be further inspired when you learn about some of the other benefits that often come with being an HVAC technician. These benefits include:
- Employment Growth: Unlike many other industries, the HVAC industry is growing in terms of the number of people it employs. According to national research, employment in this industry is projected to increase by 14 percent between 2014 and 2024, with 39,600 jobs expected to be added to HVAC company payrolls across the nation in the same time period. Approximately 331,600 individuals will be employed in the HVAC industry by 2024.
- Affordable to Pursue: Getting a start in the HVAC industry is usually more affordable than beginning a career in a lot of other industries because you don’t need a four-year degree. While an increasing number of would-be technicians are earning post-secondary degrees from technical schools or trade schools, these programs are still typically more affordable than earning a four-year degree.
Whether you earn some kind of certification or not, your career in the HVAC industry will generally begin with a paid apprenticeship program rather than an unpaid internship.
- Continuous Demand: Even if there’s not a lot of new construction in your area, the demand for HVAC services is probably constant. As a general rule, HVAC systems need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years, which means it’s simply a matter of time before homeowners and business owners need to replace the systems which heat, cool, and ventilate their locations. With energy costs rising, some consumers aren’t waiting for their current HVAC systems to die. Instead, they’re having more energy-efficient systems put into place now since the money they’ll save on energy will pay for the more efficient units over time.
With an Energy Star-rated air conditioner or heat pump able to save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs, it’s easy to see why the availability of energy-efficient equipment is partially responsible for driving the ongoing demand for HVAC services.
- Opportunities for Advancement: Depending on the company you work for, you may have plenty of opportunities to move up after you complete your apprenticeship and work a few years in an entry-level position to gain experience. It’s not unusual for field technicians to be promoted to managerial, sales, or marketing positions over time. You may have the chance to become a distribution manager or even your own boss if you decide to venture out on your own and open your own HVAC company.
If you want to be part of a field that provides the advantages discussed above and many more, learn more about careers in the HVAC industry to see if becoming a highly skilled technician is the right move for you.