Why Choose a Career in HVAC-R?

Take a look below at the Top 5 Reasons to Choose a Career in Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration

Earning Potential

Click here to see what the wages are for graduates that work in Los Angeles and Orange Counties through the Local 250 union. As you look at this document, which is a public document, look at the third column over from the left, “total taxable”. The first year apprentice (Apprentice 1), will earn a minimum of $18.16 per hour, plus benefits which are to the right of “total taxable”. Journeymen earn a “total taxable” of at least $36.30 per hour. Again, this is the “minimum wage” an employer may pay a worker that is a member of the Local 250 union. As an HVAC-R Technician you may or may not be part of a union.

Getting Out & About: No Desk Jockeys Here

One of the best parts of working as an HVAC Technician is that you don’t work in an office or warehouse! Most HVAC-Refrigeration technicians spend most of their time working in the field taking care of homeowner’s HVAC equipment, business HVAC systems, and commercial refrigeration equipment located anywhere something has to be kept cold.

This job involves working outside, and is a very much a “people job”. You work not only with co-workers, but also customers and interact with a wide variety of interesting people every day. Don’t worry if you’re not comfortable around new people. Customer service skills are part of the training. Graduates of the BTS programs enter the field ready for everything the job throws at them – including interacting with cusomers.

Variety: A New Challenge Every Day

One thing any HVAC-R Tech will tell you, this work is not boring! Customers rely on you to tell them what is wrong and what must be done to fix their equipment. We tell our students to think of themselves as Doctors. Just like Doctors, HVAC-Refrigeration Technicians will use test equipment frequently as sophisticated as Doctors use to gain information about their patients.

Not being challenged by work, and doing work that we can just “sleepwalk” through is what makes a job boring. HVAC-Refrigeration technicians are likely to really enjoy their work. It is a challenging, rewarding, and honest way to help people be comfortable in their home, at their place of work, and also to keep food from going bad.

Help the Environment

Very Important: HVAC-Refrigeration technicians help save energy and to protect the environment. Imagine the satisfaction of knowing that the work you do each day is helping preserve the environment.

Now think about this, imagine working for a boss that is terrified you might quit. It is so hard to hire quality technicians, employers usually bend over backwards to keep great technicians.

Don’t Spend Years in School

Most people want a professional career. Something with some stability, good working conditions, and something you can feel proud of doing. But most people can’t afford or don’t want to spend years in school getting training or advanced degrees. With a streamlined, focused approach, like the one used at Brownson, you could complete an HVAC-R training program in 9.5 months. Even training part-time in the evenings an individual could complete HVAC-R training in 66 weeks.

For more on what sets HVAC-R apart from other career fields, take a look at the open letter from Brownson Technical School president Bill Brown.
See President’s Message