What is a hvac specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
John Terasconi
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a hvac specialist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $24.21 an hour? That's $50,358 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 20,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a Hvac Specialist?

J

John TerasconiJohn Terasconi LinkedIn Profile

Associate Professor, HVAC-R Department Chair, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology

The best advice I could give is to stay focused on your job and strive to learn as much as possible. Take the time to truly understand the systems you're working on, continuously develop your skills, and absorb as much knowledge as possible from every source available. The more you know, the more valuable you become.

ScoreHvac SpecialistUS Average
Salary
3.9

Avg. Salary $50,358

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.7

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
7.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 2.48%

Black or African American 6.89%

Hispanic or Latino 24.45%

Unknown 4.12%

White 61.32%

Gender

female 4.83%

male 95.17%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress Level
7.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.5

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
3.5

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Newest jobs for Hvac Specialist in Columbus, OH

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Hvac Specialist career paths

Key steps to become a hvac specialist

  1. Explore hvac specialist education requirements

    Most common hvac specialist degrees

    Associate

    29.8 %

    Bachelor's

    20.7 %

    High School Diploma

    19.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific hvac specialist skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Ventilation12.29%
    Plumbing10.15%
    Troubleshoot9.01%
    Control Systems7.51%
    Exhaust Fans5.69%
  3. Complete relevant hvac specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New hvac specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a hvac specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real hvac specialist resumes.
  4. Research hvac specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Meet all state requirements and manage annual inspections regarding mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire and elevator systems.
    • Install 2 to 10 ton Rheem, Ruud and Bryan condensers.
    • Develop experience with DDC controls.
    • Perform light plumbing duties such as cleaning stoppages, replace fittings and change water heater elements.
  5. Prepare your hvac specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your hvac specialist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a hvac specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Hvac Specialist Resume templates

    Build a professional Hvac Specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Hvac Specialist resume.
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    Hvac Specialist Resume
    Hvac Specialist Resume
    Hvac Specialist Resume
  6. Apply for hvac specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a hvac specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Hvac Specialist Job

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Average hvac specialist salary

The average Hvac Specialist salary in the United States is $50,358 per year or $24 per hour. Hvac specialist salaries range between $35,000 and $70,000 per year.

Average Hvac Specialist Salary
$50,358 Yearly
$24.21 hourly

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How do hvac specialists rate their job?

-/5

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3 Stars

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1 Star

Hvac Specialist reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Different work environment ,people , equipment types . Technology

Cons

None recognition for excellence


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Pros

Love the constant change and challenge of the work. Being outside and on the go instead of in a building or office all day.

Cons

As minimum wage increases and prices increase, the wages are not changing for the Technicians already in the field. New come in at a higher rate and as a result the more experienced people are losing money.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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