Is HVAC A Good Career?
Everyone wants a career with job security. If you are looking for a great career that does not require a college degree to make great money, consider HVAC. Nearly every commercial building today has some type of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC). That will not change anytime soon. So is HVAC a good career choice? If you are looking for something challenging in the construction industry that allows you to work with your hands, then yes! HVAC is a great career choice. Keep Reading below to see my 5 reasons why HVAC is a promising career.
The HVAC Job industry is growing and will continue to grow more than ever. The occupational outlook handbook has job growth in the HVAC industry is forecast to grow 13% between 2018 and 2028. That’s an additional 46,300 jobs. Much faster growth than average.
The skilled building trades are experiencing a workforce shortage, primarily due to baby boomers retiring. The HVAC industry jobs have been dominated by the baby boomer generation, who are quickly all retiring. The up-and-coming generations are smaller and have much less interest in working in the building trades. A college education is being pushed upon the youth as the only viable option to find a successful career, which results in a severe shortage of applicants to fill professional HVAC roles. Florida is expected to have the highest number of new openings for HVAC mechanics and installers.
If you are considering pursuing a career in HVAC, my advice would be to do it! Can you imagine yourself sitting in a cubicle 9-5, entering data, filing reports for your supervisor, and performing the same monotonous tasks daily? No? HVAC sounds like a great option if you like working with your hands, have a knack for being mechanical, and would prefer some versatility and variety in your job.
5 reasons why HVAC is a good Career Choice.
1. YOU ARE NOT STUCK IN AN OFFICE.
If you are considering a career in the building trades, I’d be willing to assume that being stuck in an office scares you. One of the best parts about working in the service portion of the trade is the change of pace almost every day. Rarely do I go to the same job site multiple days in a row, and no day is ever the same. Some jobs may be similar, but they always present a new set of problems and challenges.
Working in New construction, you may go to the same job for a while, but eventually, the job will reach completion, and you will move on to the next big project. No matter which portion of the trade you find yourself in, the time spent in the office will be minimal, and that sounds amazing to most of us.
2. THERE IS VARIETY.
As we just discussed, every day is different when you work in the HVAC career field, meaning plenty of variety.
Equipment ranging from residential furnaces, air conditioning, mini-splits, boilers, variable refrigerant VRF, large boxcar rooftop units, geothermal loops, chilled water, package units, air filtration, duct systems, humidifiers, and data room equipment are all types of systems that an HVAC technician can expect to work on. Servicing, repairing, and installation of this equipment is all part of the job.
This variety of equipment that falls under the HVAC trade allows the job to have more diversity than most building trades. One day you may install a mini-split in a server closet; the next, you may replace a compressor on a 500-ton chiller serving a surgery center.
To me, this is what keeps the job fun, exciting, and challenging. Even after working in the trade for so long, you still run into new scenarios and challenges requiring you to think outside the box.
3. HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING CAREERS ARE ALL ABOUT PROBLEM-SOLVING.
You will continually hear one thing to be successful, you must possess the skills to problem solve and adapt to situations as they unfold. from veterans working in the trade - you will never know it all. Your knowledge and experience gained through the years will help you immensely, but you will still run into unique problems you’ve never seen, like new equipment and technology.
Most of us are going to work from the age of 18 to 65. That’s around 47 years in the workforce, so finding something you enjoy is essential. That is part of what makes this career so great. No one wants to be trapped in a job that has no challenge. Jobs like that often don’t pay much and will not provide any fulfillment or reward, leaving you feeling empty.
Imagine solving problems daily that make a difference, whether that be finding a solution to get the heat back on for a family with a newborn child in the middle of winter, finding and fixing the ventilation system of a surgery center to get the facility operating again, or fixing data room equipment to prevent server downtime critical to the operation of a business.
All of these scenarios can be stressful and will require problem-solving. As you progress throughout your career, you will learn how to take a whole system approach to plans to determine the problem and find solutions—finding solutions to a challenging situation is usually highly gratifying and rewarding. You will build relationships with your customers, and at the end of each day, you will know that your work makes a difference. Not many people can have a career that can provide a sense of accomplishment like that.
4. YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A JOB.
HVAC is an ever-growing industry. Job growth continues to expand every year and is forecasted to continue in that trend. HVAC encompasses both installations and service but is primarily a service-oriented profession. Existing buildings, as well as future builds, are always going to require skilled professional personnel to keep their systems in working order.
People tend to think that HVAC is a seasonal job, but that is far from the case. Every building has an HVAC system. HVAC systems are mechanical systems with moving parts that experience wear and tear. Components will break, which will require servicing and repairing the equipment.
Buildings such as Hospitals, High rise skyscrapers, offices, manufacturing facilities, and supermarkets are never going away. These buildings will always need knowledgeable HVAC professionals to service their equipment and keep them operating. There will always be work for the people willing to learn, work hard, and adapt to new technologies as the industry advances.
5. CAREERS IN HVAC PAY WELL.
HVAC is a highly-skilled career requiring multiple licenses, many of that take years to acquire to be considered a Journeyman. The income potential for certified HVAC technicians is already great and will only go up from here. As we discussed earlier, the newer generations have little desire to work in the HVAC profession or any building trade. Instead, they are looking for tech jobs at large corporations in computers, programming, video games, and social media. This workforce shortage causes certified HVAC technicians to be in high demand. High demand equals high-income. As the demand for these skilled professionals increases, the income potential will also rise. Check out this article: How much do HVAC Techs Make?
ADVICE FOR PEOPLE LOOKING INTO AN HVAC CAREER: START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
If you want to get into the HVAC trade as a technician, check out our article: How to get into HVAC without experience.
A Career as an HVAC technician is a great option to work in a respectable career and earn a high income to provide for yourself and your family. There are things you can start doing right now that can help you stand out as an applicant. Start today!
