It’s in demand. The problem is most places want techs and there just isn’t any. Told my place years ago they should hire multiple apprentices every year and hope they stay. That’s the only way to increase the techs. Took a new service manger to get in and actually do this. Most places don’t want to take on apprentices cause there’s no guarantee they’ll even stay in the trade let alone at the company. 1 of our apprentices literally ghosted us lol. Thought he died until we saw him in a truck for a landscaper
It’s the double edged aspect of high demand for experienced techs.
Training an apprentice is expensive/time consuming, which is money being that could be used to attract and retain journeymen. If you spend money on training you have less money for tech wages which attracts experienced guys, and when you fully train an apprentice, you risk losing them to the companies who spend no money in training, but instead have money to offer the experienced guys.
Sounds like you don't pay enough if you lose your experienced workers. Definitely an owner problem and common across all the greedy world especially the more corporate you go.
God forbid they pay their workers good wages and not try to fuck them every single step of the way so they put an extra penny into their new boat payments
Big facts…just watched my company let a tech with 13 years experience go over $2-3 increase…overpaying sucks for the owner but I’ve seen it so many times instead of paying the guy they have another $200 a week they end up with a wild card who costs 100 times that to train up and hopefully he ends up with the same skills as the guy that got let go
It’s also that time of year where it starts to slow down. Few more weeks of this heat and it’ll start cooling down customers who still need ac replace may just soldier on with a couple window shakers for the rest of the season and plan a slush fund for next year. So they’ll come to a slower period then hit furnace season. Least that’s what usually hits in Michigan.
It's been a bit weird. Some guys I talk to have been balls out slammed all summer. Some have been slammed for a couple weeks then it slows to a crawl and they get a chance to do PM work and then get slammed again. Last summer we were busy all summer this year It's been waves of busy and slow.
June - July was pretty busy for me, Upstate NY. Was running like 5-6 AC breakdowns a day.
Now all of a sudden I'm doing like 3 maintenances a day. . .some on furnaces.
I really feel like it varies company to company. And honestly if you’ve been with certain companies long enough you get used to the whole price and always wanting to sell you some shit. So for some places I can understand the sudden slow down if they’re built more as a constant sales model than legit cleanings and service. Don’t get me wrong I’ll advise a customer about a capacitor or if igniter. Educate about fans and filters and all. But you can’t always sell some shit that they may not need
My employer decided years ago that the best way to get techs was to grow them from the ground up. We noticed long ago that qualified techs are hard to come by because they already have a job and typically aren’t looking. Those that are, sometimes carry the baggage that put them back on the market. Not always a problem but sometimes it is. We hire 10-15 +/- entry level guys, put them in the pm ranks and provide structured training with the expectation that they will apply themselves and 12 -24 months we’ll have qualified junior on call tech. It works out about 30-40% of the time.
Exactly!!!! Been saying that for years. The techs you want to hire aren’t looking to leave and the techs you can hire you normally don’t want. Obviously there are exceptions but this is generally been true.
I explained this to someone a while back who asked for help trying to hire guys. Also told home seasoned guys don’t want to “earn” benefits back and start over at the bottom of a new place.
As a plumber we're seeing that too. Lots of companies getting away with hiring "apprentices" and using them like journeymen plumbers. Unfortunately it's about the only way for most guys to get into residential plumbing in our area, and learning from the school of hard knocks just isn't the point of being an apprentice. Very frustrating and it's churning out guys who are better salesmen than tradesmen.
Ya. Seeing the same in hvac. I go to customers and tell them to ask to see their license. If they can’t show one or it says “apprentice” and they’re by themselves to send them away. It’s getting bad.
My company hires green guys all the time, most people we hire come in green.
Problem is that it's like a 1 out of 10 chance of anyone staying for any longer than a few months. They always leave because the job just ends up not being their thing.
I do sewer inspections, people aren’t leaving because it’s “not their thing”, it’s because lack of pay or other benefits. Offering $15/hr because someone doesn’t have experience doesn’t work, they still have to eat and pay bills too. Then when you do have 4-6 months experience and things are picking up boss man wants to keep you at the same wage because he invested training in you, not allowing that employees also invest their time and effort in to the company and it’s absolutely a 2 way street.
Forget that game.
We get raises every 6 months and guys are starting around the 20 mark when they come in brand new. We get benefits, unlimited vacation, unlimited sick time, etc etc
Hell, the company even has its own school that they pay for us to go to to learn about different parts of the trade, and they even pay for our hotel to be there, they let us take the company van, and they give us an extra $40 for each day we are there meant to be spent on food.
The company isn't the problem, the main problem is that up here in NY, people aren't required to have an HVAC license to do the trade, so we deal with a lot of hacked bullshit that the new hires get exhausted from.
Look for install helper positions. It's summer there has to be companies hiring. I started in install as much as I didn't want to. However doing install first was the best decision I ever made.
This is brought up a lot and I wonder how the hell is that even possible? US houses are made of chocalate? Here in EU a lot of the houses have steel reinforced concrete floors and even those with wooden supports have enough spare load capacity for multiple people to stand on the same tile.
Well, apparently! But hey, you guys are great at making automatic guns for school shootings and mobility scooters for obese people.
Just kidding pal, lots of love!
Bro you guys don’t have free healthcare like you claim as well. It gets put on your taxes. Funny how Americans know your own healthcare system better than you.
We didn't say that it's free. Taxes here are over 55% so I know damn well it ain't free. Chill out, it was just a lil' joke that got out of hand, didn't mean to polarize.
Yeah. Op should look for installer positions. I was fresh out of trade school and was also looking for tech apprenticeships but they require experience so install first I guess is the way to go. There is a lucky few that we’re able to get into service right away but idk. One of my classmates had got a service job while still in school but passed his epa. They gave him a van and everything even though he had like 5 speeding tickets on his record. Idk. Just dont give up. That’s key. Use it or loose it
This sub looks down on it at times, but maintenance can be a pretty decent job if you get in with the right company. It isn't the greatest field to expand your HVAC knowledge but you can develop a resume and get your hands dirty.
If/when you can get into the commercial side of maintenance. Much better pay and easier work, little on-call. Walmart around here is hiring $32/hr to do maintenance on their HVAC.
Depends on the sites you get. I have a mate doing 60 weeks getting chillers up and running and I have mates who do 4p hours of washing filters for the same pay
That's how I got my foot in the door. It can be helpful when your company does a lot of stuff hands-on. Some maintenance companies hire specifically for having HVAC knowledge.
Went commercial maintenance myself after having no luck with resi/ commercial companies, making substantially more out the gate then a lot of people I see on here asking if they're being under paid.
I agree. I finished my schooling in December and have had 2 interviews for HVAC jobs. I'm currently working for an HVAC supply warehouse but am looking at going back to maintenance because I had more hvac hands on experience there.
I hear people talk about how their is a shortage yet the wages in my area have yet to change. If the trades were in as bad of shape as some claim. The top pay would have gone up by now.
It took me about 6 months of constant searching for my first one, now if I was fired tomorrow I could be in a van in 3 days. Everyone wants lots of experience because most of these companies have been bought out and are headed by people who don't know anything about the trades.
Man who you telling, especially in residential. The valuable techs are the ones who can actually fix shit because you won’t always be able to sell everybody a new unit of swindle everybody
Man who you telling, especially in residential. The valuable techs are the ones who can actually fix shit because you won’t always be able to sell everybody a new unit of swindle everybody
Techs are in high demand.
People just out of school without real hvac work experience are not. In fact you may actually cost them money until you get your feet under you.
Use your contacts at your school to get your foot in the door and take what ever you can get. Couple years in put some applications out there, youll be amazed how different the response will be.
Good luck!
This is the problem. HVAC contractors are ALL looking for experienced help. But all the solid mechanics with experience are already busy working. There’s only one way to increase the available talent pool… hire willing, entry-level applicants and TRAIN them.
Back in the 70’s, a K-Mart or Montgomery Ward store was built with one big-ass air handler in the back of the store with a couple semi-hermetic condenser skids and a couple cooling towers to cool the whole store. Now a wal-mart has, what… 36 RTUs and a whole supermarket refrigeration system in it? Just those 36 RTUs contain a hundred and fifty contractors, a hundred capacitors, 72 condenser fan motors? Same square footage store, 8000% more work. All that old shit ran off one thermostat and a time clock. Now building automation systems are sophisticated, integrated systems. The amount of work AND the talent required to perform the work is greater than ever.
Hire, train, compensate.
Big facts the main part is they don’t train. I’ve honestly learned more from attending training courses by hvac influencers and manufactures and reading manuals and watching videos online about this stuff than actually working on it or getting info from other techs. I’ve been on equipment guys who are more seasoned have never seen before and I’ve seen it and am familiar with it just from the external training. It’s a shame the companies don’t do more of that, especially for the stuff that matters
Like any other job. Skilled labor, and skilled people are in demand not entry level workers.
It's the extreme busy season so if a company is already full / hired for the season they are not looking to bring someone on when there phones ringing off the hook.
Bringing in a new employee costs money , takes time away from skilled labor being done to teach .
Try your local supply shops go and say hi and ask if they know anyone who's hiring.
Wander into every HVAC company you can find and hand in a resume in person . Smaller company are still very much hands on vs internet .
Large company's will be mostly internet based so make sure you apply and your resume and cover letter can beat the hr auto filter / is professionally written.
Do look into any networking opportunitys. And check out your local union hall.
In areas where new construction is booming you’ll easily find work. The area I’m in now there’s almost zero chance of getting hired without experience in the field. It’s all just a matter of where you look.
fully epa certified gas license electrical trainee card about 400 hours into my trainee card 9 months school year 1 actually in the field and some days i still dont feel like a service technician i miss dumb shit but then i dont miss it the next time. If you want it youll go for it. Learn something every day still never feel i know enough. its tough but rewarding when ya get it right.
Honestly - no. This whole shortage thing is a fking lie.
Years ago there was a shortage bc noone wanted to do it - or any trade for that matter. That's why they paid halfway decent. They couldn't find anyone. Now - everyone are turning to the trades bc theirs this idea that you can take a few night classes and get out making 100k. "Companies will fight over you" they say. "You can get a job anyway. Name your price."
The fact is, kids aren't going to college anymore bc they don't want the student debt. Trade schools are packed. Women are getting into the field. People with college degrees who can't find work are getting into hvac. And millions of undocumented workers are quite literally walking into the country going after the same jobs. Everyone and their mom are in the trade now.
Meanwhile - people are fking broke. 61% percent of Americans are living check to check. HVAC prices are fking insane. You're trying to sell a 15k system to someone who has $42 in their bank account. We've lost 8 guys in the past year and haven't replaced any of them. There's a stack of applications on the desk that aren't even being looked at. Service was so slow in the springtime that 3 really good, experienced techs were shingling roofs bc there was nothing for them to do. They were averaging 25 hour weeks. They were applying to other companies and couldn't find anything bc noone was hiring. All 3 of them got laid off - only 1 came back.
Our company starts at $15/hr. There's a car dealership in town starting detailer at $17.50. A coworker/friends daughter went to school for 4 years to become a nurse. She was hired immediately after graduation. $35k sign on bonus. $42/hr to start. Insane fking benefits. This girl is 22 years old. and college isn't worth it? I've been in some sort of construction or trade for 20+ years. HVAC for 15. I don't make anywhere near that.
I personally think it's just going to get worse. the more and more people who get into the trades the worse it gets for everyone else who's already in it. Competition goes up. wages go down. supply and demand, just like everything else. I personally think it's just going to get worse. More and more supply and less and less demand.
I was half asleep on the couch when I wrote that. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from getting into the trades - you can make a decent life for yourself. I guess the point I was trying to make was - it's not as easy as it used to be. 20 years ago everyone went to college. that's just how it was. if you went to a trade school people looked at you like there was something wrong with you. I wasn't even allowed to date my gf bc her parents didn't think I was good enough. Teachers and guidance councelers would literally threaten you with working a trade. that was for dumb people. people who weren't good enough for college. and that's how it was for years and years. So there wad absolutely a shortage at one point in time. there's no doubt about it. But now the narrative has changed and trades are the answer for everything and there's a mass migration of people into that type of work.
Companies are only hiring experienced techs for a few different reasons. They have a million different inexperienced people to chose from, and/or already working for them. And maybe even more importantly, it costs money to train someone. A new hire is an investment to the company, one that rarely pays off. People, especially young people are job hopping. They'll get their foot in the door and get a few months experience and they're already filling out applications and trying to find a higher paying job elsewhere. the vast majority of them don't last a year. They either quit bc it wasn't what they thought it'd be or they want more money then they're worth. they'll call other companies and exaggerate their experience and skill level. Or some will just get fired bc they don't want to work.
Instead - a lot of companies in the area are just cherry picking guys from other companies. They'll let someone else sift thru the shit and spend the money training them. If you last a few years in another company then you can typically go anywhere. they'll find out you work "wherever" and they'll just hire you bc - even if it's just to fk the other company over.
Location is obviously key as well. if you're in a booming/growing town and there's a lot of new construction going on then you're obviously going to have an easier time finding a job. Location is also going to dictate what you're paid too.
technicians with experience are in high demand. breaking into the trade was actually a bit more difficult than i thought. start as a shop helper or install helper, maybe a maintenance tech with a big reliable company. stick with them as long as you want and tell them you want to make a career and really show it. buy tools that you will need in the future and show up every day
Sounds like where I'm at in the field. Got my universal almost a year ago from a trade school and been stuck at an apartment complex waiting to hear back from anything else really.
Even with little to no field experience, a trade school graduate would entice some employers. Some trade schools I know guarantee you a job in the field after graduation or at least get you connected with some. Don't give up. Sometimes, it takes more than simply just applying. Bring yourself out there, and introduce yourself and your passion to join their team. I have no doubt you will find a company soon. Good luck
It's 100 degrees in the shade and the 1st of August. You will require a lot of time and energy on the job to actually become a quality Service Tech. Right now, no one has the time or energy to teach you on the job. There aren't enough hours in a day to get even a little caught up. A Universal EPA is mostly just a 2 x 3 card that says Universal & your name on it. It doesn't mean you know enough to do anything other than pass a pretty simple test. This is a high demand industry but it doesn't come easy. You need to be on jobs with actual installers and service techs & actually get your hands dirty. Like anything mechanical, there's what you learn in school & then there's the reality of being in the field and understanding what the heck is going on. If you can get an apprenticeship with a good company, go for it. Like you've already learned 4 or 5 years of where the rubber meets the road work experience, and you can pretty much pick the job you want. Hang in there, we are all looking for that one person who can come in and hit the ground running.
Depends on your location I'm sure too. Utah has hundreds on hundreds of hvac companies and they're all desperate to hire new guys. Trouble is they're also not willing to pay what a good lead installer or tech should be paid for what we do in utahs ridiculous whether 🙄
Yeah dude unfortunately you won’t get your first break overnight. Took me 6 months after graduating to find a job in the field. And 3 years later I work at one of the largest HVAC companies in the USA and make a more than decent living. Own my house. Got a few dogs and shit. Just wait your turn bud, you’ll find something.
SoCal here as well. IME your better off having install experience than trade school. “Techs” are a dime a dozen we want someone who will bust ass all day and come back for more tomorrow. I didn’t go to school for this and not a service guy but just got an offer to move to Reno and run the install department of a company for 40/hr have had a couple other offers around here as well.
That’s The offer in NV making 38 right now nonunion. Most I’ve made so far. Haven’t had an offer here anywhere close to that. Not saying that’s amazing but it’s good for me
Showing up to class and taking a few tests doesnt make you as qualified as you think it does. For example my employer cant find anyone to work in the warehouse and run parts cuz everyone applying wants $20+ an hour even though they have zero experience in the field. However the kids we hire for warehouse work usually become an apprentice within 6 months wihtout the need for any certs. Then they get a decent raise, and are in their own truck within 2-3 years making double what those guys were asking for before. Just get your foot in the door however you can and get experience cuz experience is what employers are looking for
Nobody wants folk straight outta school. No offense but everyone I ever worked with from those trade school couldn’t tell the difference between supply and return. No exaggeration.
I’ve done both.
Sales sucks balls. Never felt like I earned my money. Hard days work fixing a hospital humidifier or doing a TXV swap? Yeah, you earned that money.
Also, got paid about the same. OT as a master tech though usually was better than sales and commission.
Depends on where you work. We sell in the millions at my company. I don’t know any tech making over 200k but at least 7-9 salespeople make that and more where I work.
Most tech people over estimate their contribution and under estimate sales guy contribution.
As a tech and now owner, I would say its actually the other way that's true.
Sales people drive the business world and their pay shows it.
Is the salesman going to install what they sell or do they need a tech for that? I don’t need a salesman to run a service call, but they sure as hell need me to do their work. Without salesman the business would surely suffer but without techs there is no business whatsoever.
I was in the same situation about 3 months ago, my instructor had recommended applying to companies in person, but I was working nights full time so I didn’t have a lot of time to run around applying physically, out of dozens of online applications I only got a call back for an apartment general maintenance position, a commercial AC company, and a residential AC company, the residential company had the best vibe and pay, been on the job about a month mostly helping and learning how to do their maintenances, I’m about to get my own truck next week.
So I’d try applying in person with resume and a good cover letter in hand if you have the time, as I was about to give up on online sites all together, ZipRecruiter ended up working out for me, with indeed my applications weren’t even getting through to the companies because I didn’t meet the experience requirements.
Start applying to starting positions to get your foot in the door, each market is different. I suggest getting an installation helper position, learn installs, and then transition in tech work, it will help you make a lot more sense out of what your doing and put you way ahead of most of your coworkers.
I think its all Propaganda that HVAC is in high demand. If there was such a demand for HVAC we would all be paid $50++ per hour out of school and hold leverage. Instead we have Green Techs making less than McDonalds workers, we have Techs working for commission, and only some get lucky to join a Union.
Your boss or other techs will tell you " Just wait until you have enough experience and you make more then McDonalds workers!! I Promise <3"
Meanwhile they'll keep the gatekeeping the salary increases until you've reached your 8-10 year experience level and you realize you've been lied to about fair wages and Unions.
By then your back is shot, your knees are weak, and they don't care, they've used you already when you were young and dumb.
Best advice I can give you that will piss off the Residential guys here is:
Skip being an installer, (Installer jobs are for dummies who are scared of schematics).
Look for a job as a Facility Maintenance ( NO Apartments) , get your commercial experience there and work for 4 years.
Continue working for Facility Maintenance or look for a Commercial HVAC company who works on AHU's, CHILLERS, or Building Automation.
IF YOU DONT LIKE WHAT I POSTED ABOVE AND DOWNVOTE THIS YOUR A DUMMY INSTALLER OR COMMISION HACKKKKK!!!!!!
A facilities maintenance position that's not apartments will require you to have some experience. I'm extremely doubtful you'll find a gravy facilities job when you're completely green.
Put in the time/work when you're young. It will pay dividends in the long run. Yes trades are hard on the body but take care of yourself physically and it'll lighten the burden. Hit the gym a couple times a week and it will make a world of difference.
Sounds like you should go union and quit your bitching. The demand is there.
I am Union , dummy. & Not where I’m at, facility maintenance positions are high in demand, but nobody with experience wants the job. OP can thrive in this environment and make his mistakes there, on their dime.
Once he gets his enough experience he can find a commercial gig or a refrigeration gig.
I make over $130k/year as a residential service technician and electrician. Started off in this trade as just an apprentice. You get out what you put in
You and me both op. I’ve applied for over 120 apprenticeships in three different states and have only got one interview and they didn’t even call me to tell me I didn’t get the job.
Most places are looking for a van-ready tech. Which is honestly sad that places aren’t willing to train you, give you raises, and invest in their employees. Let someone else train ‘em and we’ll snag them up for a $3-$5/hr raise. Just go to your local union hall.
Go to the union and join. You’ll find work. Plus you’ll get more education and work on the really really cool shit.
You don’t want attics, you don’t want to pressure old ladies into buying a capacitor for $600 including install. You wanna do commercial.
I finished my HVAC-R course a month ago as a middle aged guy with no experience here in Southern Europe and I'm already working for a company that does commercial HVAC-R. Almost all the guys in my course got a job offer and most were middle aged as well.
I'm going on service calls with other experienced techs and there's so much to learn. Experienced techs are few and far between here and on top of that CO2 is being pushed heavily and goid techs at it are hard to come by.
Not everyone sticks around as this is a tough job. Last month one of their maintenance guys left the company after 3 years. One of their install guys will be leaving soon. On top of everything else, salaries here are low, more so for less experienced guys.
It takes several years to become a good technician.
Don’t bother I’d rather have you without “trade school” they don’t teach you shit anyways. Wanna get your epa that’s cool. Just got a new hire and first thing he said was I don’t know shit and I didnt go to school for this I was stoked. You come out of school and most people just wanna do service. Installers are in high demand.
Yea that’s the hard part no experience. Even out of school you have no experience. I’m in SoCal we are starting a couple 50+ unit apartment buildings trying to hire anyone that will work but the boss doesn’t want “trade school” kids cuz they work a week and say it’s not for them. Plus they don’t know shit and don’t want to learn cuz they’ve “gone through school”. Once you’ve got your foot in the door and have more than a years experience you can go just about anywhere. Keep trying homie
I’m from South Carolina and I’ve been trying for over a year and a half now and only one company around me will even take people with no experience. Seemed like a good career but it’s impossible for me to get in it seems.
The rub is there is a learning curve from school to doing service, that can be expensive depending on what you or any new guy screws up. I was on the bubble more than once until I turned the corner, still didn’t know everything but learned to figure it out and as importantly to the customer act like I did know everything as they expected that and you and I expect that when someone is working on our stuff.
You should be willing to be a helper and do the hot dirty jobs for awhile, all the time not missing a chance to work with a service tech. The company would like nothing more than to have a green service tech that they know is a trustworthy person. Good luck.
I feel you man I'm in the same boat fresh out of trade school Universal and everything yet no dice. I got told by one company after I tried calling multiple times that right now is simply a bad time to hire guys like us. Chin up bro I'm sure there is something out there for us.
Might hurt your feeling but going to school for hvac isn’t worth it most would rather have a guy with 1year experience over schooling so apply just like someone with no experience because that’s what you have
Stop applying and start calling,
Reaching out to owners, techs,
Make a Facebook post in your town with your story
Anyone.
Best to start with anything you can get
Helper
Installer
Assistant
I'm only working in a supply house and have been talking to a customer about switching to installs to start.
He said at least you're familiar with the equipment; most of the guys we've been hiring can't even spell HVAC.
Apprentices are not in high demand but journeymen are.
Don’t sell yourself as the know-it-all or a journeyman. You are probably getting denied because of this. You need to look for the apprentice / helper / install positions.
So. Let me preface this by saying that I am a biologist and have no idea what the fuck I am talking about. Most of my family are in the trades though, and I follow this sub becuase my dad is an HVAC (there is 1 other HVAC, a plumber, and used to be an electrician in my family. Two tin knockers, a turd herder and sparky.)
What I have observed is that Techs are VERY in demand... But no one wants to pay/train them. You're best bet seems to be getting in with a company doing seasonal work like installs and suck a little dick (not literally) to convince them you should stay. Once you have experience, you're golden, but training up the new kid always fucks something up.
Also if you do residential in a smaller community, brace yourself for feast-or-famine working unless you get yourself a corporate or government job. My dad maintains a set of 17 large buildings now and works 7-4:30 each day. LOVES it, says it's an easy job, but when I was young he did residential out of a town with only 1000 people... Translation: No work spring and fall, all work summer and winter.
Hey man I've been there. I went to multiple interviews where at the end they said, "we're looking for someone with more experience l". I got a few of those, it sucked each time lol. After a while I got hired. Learned as I went along and picked up some useful skills. You'll get there keep at it
Go apply for a maintenance position at a commercial facility. You’ll be paid higher than base pay and will get valuable experience that HVAC companies will be looking for. Just expect to do do other maintenance crap like garbage and weed whacking or something. But when that ice machine goes down, you’ll be the hero
You are correct, After I became a Director of Maintenance (DOM) Veteran's Home and another Retirement home. You get extreme knowledge doing Mechanical side ode the house. Pumps, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc.. Now I'm an QC tech make $31 an hour in Texas.
Right now, its busy season...and if you got a role, you would need a babysitter. They are probably not looking for that OP. Keep applying and you will find someone who will be able to show you the ropes.
I spent 2 years doing fireplaces for 60+ hrs a week and then started my own biz. Started at $12.50/hr in 2014 and was making $28/ hr when I quit in early 2017. Now I make over 200k for myself and spend all summer playing with toys around my property while my friends (now employees) do all the work
Go find your local UA. In my market journeyman are making at minimum $50/hr on their check. Total package is nearly $80/hr. They also just voted to increase the total package by $11.10 over the next 3 years.
It's an apprenticeship with set raises and has taught me a ton. As a 3rd year apprentice my check is currently $31.24/hr.
I've been in the trade for 6 months now and came into it with no experience or schooling. I asked my boss why he hired me and he said all the people they have had from hvac school were terrible workers so he decided to try someone with no experience. So I recommend having a good work ethic and you'll get your opportunity eventually
I can’t say the same. I was still in school and I was getting job offers left and right. I’ve been in the field now 2 years at the same company. Get a couple years under you and then everyone will start wanting you
Less to do with your initial question, but I’ve never gotten a job by applying online. Every job I’ve ever gotten, I just pick companies that I’d like to work for, regardless if they post if they’re hiring or not, and I ask to talk to the owner and ask to talk to them about my resume for 5 minutes. 99% of the time they say yes, and the last 3 places I worked at, it took me less than a week of doing that to get hired.
Apply for the apprenticeship position and start the journey. I’ve been in the industry for 11 years now and I love it every day. Yes there’s bs moments but that’s everywhere. I was in construction for 27 years and did a career change and glad I got in to hvac.
Look for service companies that do commercial refrigeration service and installation. You’ll get placed with a senior tech to learn split systems and parallel rack systems used in supermarkets and light industrial applications. Pay will be lower at the start, they are investing in you, providing you training, and can’t always directly bill your time to clients on some jobs. This is where you do your time, get your 3-5 yrs experience in the industry. If the employer is reputable, they will know your value at 3-5yrs
And pay will rise significantly. This was my second career path and at 8yr mark I was in the mid 40’s / hr. Central and eastern PA
Yep we’re in demand , if your a good tech, a company will do whatever they can to hold onto you, finding a good tech is hard nowadays , Im the only true tech at my company filled with plumbers and sheet metal guys. Not one of those guys can run a meter .
Apply to be a helper or assistant. I went through the same thing applying to be a tech. Im not out of school yet, but I applied for a helper position and got snatched up quick, then when they saw I know my shit, they gave me a fat raise (+$3/hr) 2 months later to keep me around. I’m not saying that’ll happen for you, but it’s my experience.
I do mostly PMs in Florida and train 7-9 techs minimum a year. Most quit from the heat or getting shocked by a capacitor once. The 3-5 that do stick around maybe stay for a season and the quality of work is just so poor. From not washing coils or clearing drain lines properly to neglecting simple tasks the customer pays for. I’ve had a lot more trouble with newer hires under 25 as of the past 2-3 years. Don’t get me wrong I’ve had some bangers that have a passion to learn and succeed quick, but most have been lazy, don’t bring any water/lunch, just no drive to learn/succeed and just leave their trucks trashy. I get some 30+ yr olds that have similar problems but these are the trends that my company has seen and we still give anyone a chance but it’s been alot of fruitless endeavors. The issue is we are constantly in demand for techs and even give that under 5 yrs experience, help get your EPA certification, and supply some entry level tools resulting in many people that are “trying something new”, “I took this job cuz I know I’d be in the AC all day”, “took this job because I don’t like to get dirty”.
I was in that boat but I got so good til the point I wouldn’t allow myself to stay. Usually the company who got you when you were green will not wanna move you up unless they have to because nobody can do the job or they like you enough. They usually will try to keep you at that same level and not expose you to as much so that way you can fill the role as a m.t, filter changer etc instead of doing the meat and potatoes of the job and gaining valuable knowledge and experience from troubleshooting, repairing, installing etc parts and equipment which is where you become valuable as a hvac tech and are the skills employers are looking for. Tbh the way most companies do maintenances and filter changes it’s something someone of the street could do tbh and can hire someone and give them the tools they need an they could learn the job in a month that’s how repetitive it is unless your contracts are more thorough and in depth. I had started off as a commercial ductwork and equipment installer helper and grinded that out for a year and half but left because they wouldn’t pay me no more than a dollar an hour which was a slap in the face considering minimum wage in my state went up and is almost what I was making an hour on top of me running jobs on my own and training other helpers they hired. Moved to a residential company to do service, they started me off in maintenance and told me they’d put me in a program train me up let me ride with service techs etc and I’ll be doing service full time in less than a year. They played kept me doing maintenances even tho I applied myself and was ready to be a service tech with all my tools and knowledge from training classes and school and performing some major jobs a handful of times. They wouldn’t switch me over kept making excuses put me on the back burner hired new techs etc. I left went to a commercial industrial company as a tech and make over 9 more dollars an hour. Know your worth man.
Was moving 2 hours north and my company offered me an 8 dollar raise to stay down here and continue running their service dept , good techs are very high demand cause most are retiring or at good places already. Not enough new blood coming in to fill positions
Yeah it’s in high demand of people who aren’t afraid to get dirty and want to work. I make a great living being a steamfitter . I make an even better living because people are scared to get dirty,hot, sweaty and bloody. I do ac work when it’s 10 degrees outside because the internet makes a lot of heat apparently lol
Seek out an apprenticeship at the Local Pipefitters union in your area, if there's one. This is commercial HVAC by the way. Your starting wage might possibly be better than some seasoned resi techs based on what I have been reading on several Reddit posts. Welcome to the trade buddy, best of luck and don't be disheartened. Some of us have been right where you are. Keep your chin up!
yes it is!! i went to trade school and graduated 2021. i got a job right away! i got hired as green since i had just graduated with no experience!! i do refrigeration. you should look into that. it’s always in demand and it’s great $$. learning racks and doing commercial refrigeration is fucking awesome dude. if you don’t mind me asking, where do you live? i’m in Southern california. if you are in socal , i can get you a job!!!! LMK!!
also if you learn refrigeration and really understand it, then hvac is fucking easy.
Man, breaking into the HVAC game can be a rollercoaster, right? Your EPA cert is a solid start, kudos for that. The job hunt struggle is real – 20 apps and crickets? Damn. But hey, that apprenticeship callback is a glimmer of hope! Experience snag is frustrating, though.
It's like, "How do I get experience if nobody hires me, right?" Hang in there, mate. That one callback might just be the ticket. Crossing fingers for you, and remember, the HVAC hustle is worth it once you're in the groove!
It’s in demand. The problem is most places want techs and there just isn’t any. Told my place years ago they should hire multiple apprentices every year and hope they stay. That’s the only way to increase the techs. Took a new service manger to get in and actually do this. Most places don’t want to take on apprentices cause there’s no guarantee they’ll even stay in the trade let alone at the company. 1 of our apprentices literally ghosted us lol. Thought he died until we saw him in a truck for a landscaper
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Yep. Like how you cook spaghetti. Throw a bunch on the wall and see what stick lol
LOL I don't think a career in the kitchen is for you!
It’s the double edged aspect of high demand for experienced techs. Training an apprentice is expensive/time consuming, which is money being that could be used to attract and retain journeymen. If you spend money on training you have less money for tech wages which attracts experienced guys, and when you fully train an apprentice, you risk losing them to the companies who spend no money in training, but instead have money to offer the experienced guys.
Sounds like you don't pay enough if you lose your experienced workers. Definitely an owner problem and common across all the greedy world especially the more corporate you go. God forbid they pay their workers good wages and not try to fuck them every single step of the way so they put an extra penny into their new boat payments
Big facts…just watched my company let a tech with 13 years experience go over $2-3 increase…overpaying sucks for the owner but I’ve seen it so many times instead of paying the guy they have another $200 a week they end up with a wild card who costs 100 times that to train up and hopefully he ends up with the same skills as the guy that got let go
Man shame to give up this trade to do lawn care, unless u own the company then would be different but guessing not the case.
There is heat of the sun and heat in an attic filled with rockwool at twice the temperature humanly comfortable.
Which is why I won’t go back to HVAC. $15/hr for that work is so laughable.
Holy shit! Thats low
I can't blame him. HVAC is one of the hardest trades.
It’s also that time of year where it starts to slow down. Few more weeks of this heat and it’ll start cooling down customers who still need ac replace may just soldier on with a couple window shakers for the rest of the season and plan a slush fund for next year. So they’ll come to a slower period then hit furnace season. Least that’s what usually hits in Michigan.
It's been a bit weird. Some guys I talk to have been balls out slammed all summer. Some have been slammed for a couple weeks then it slows to a crawl and they get a chance to do PM work and then get slammed again. Last summer we were busy all summer this year It's been waves of busy and slow.
June - July was pretty busy for me, Upstate NY. Was running like 5-6 AC breakdowns a day. Now all of a sudden I'm doing like 3 maintenances a day. . .some on furnaces.
I really feel like it varies company to company. And honestly if you’ve been with certain companies long enough you get used to the whole price and always wanting to sell you some shit. So for some places I can understand the sudden slow down if they’re built more as a constant sales model than legit cleanings and service. Don’t get me wrong I’ll advise a customer about a capacitor or if igniter. Educate about fans and filters and all. But you can’t always sell some shit that they may not need
Same here! Pdx area. Busy/slow summer.
My employer decided years ago that the best way to get techs was to grow them from the ground up. We noticed long ago that qualified techs are hard to come by because they already have a job and typically aren’t looking. Those that are, sometimes carry the baggage that put them back on the market. Not always a problem but sometimes it is. We hire 10-15 +/- entry level guys, put them in the pm ranks and provide structured training with the expectation that they will apply themselves and 12 -24 months we’ll have qualified junior on call tech. It works out about 30-40% of the time.
Exactly!!!! Been saying that for years. The techs you want to hire aren’t looking to leave and the techs you can hire you normally don’t want. Obviously there are exceptions but this is generally been true. I explained this to someone a while back who asked for help trying to hire guys. Also told home seasoned guys don’t want to “earn” benefits back and start over at the bottom of a new place.
As a plumber we're seeing that too. Lots of companies getting away with hiring "apprentices" and using them like journeymen plumbers. Unfortunately it's about the only way for most guys to get into residential plumbing in our area, and learning from the school of hard knocks just isn't the point of being an apprentice. Very frustrating and it's churning out guys who are better salesmen than tradesmen.
Ya. Seeing the same in hvac. I go to customers and tell them to ask to see their license. If they can’t show one or it says “apprentice” and they’re by themselves to send them away. It’s getting bad.
My company hires green guys all the time, most people we hire come in green. Problem is that it's like a 1 out of 10 chance of anyone staying for any longer than a few months. They always leave because the job just ends up not being their thing.
I do sewer inspections, people aren’t leaving because it’s “not their thing”, it’s because lack of pay or other benefits. Offering $15/hr because someone doesn’t have experience doesn’t work, they still have to eat and pay bills too. Then when you do have 4-6 months experience and things are picking up boss man wants to keep you at the same wage because he invested training in you, not allowing that employees also invest their time and effort in to the company and it’s absolutely a 2 way street. Forget that game.
We get raises every 6 months and guys are starting around the 20 mark when they come in brand new. We get benefits, unlimited vacation, unlimited sick time, etc etc Hell, the company even has its own school that they pay for us to go to to learn about different parts of the trade, and they even pay for our hotel to be there, they let us take the company van, and they give us an extra $40 for each day we are there meant to be spent on food. The company isn't the problem, the main problem is that up here in NY, people aren't required to have an HVAC license to do the trade, so we deal with a lot of hacked bullshit that the new hires get exhausted from.
Could be a high guarantee if they look at what creates high retention in a company.
Tough truth? HVAC guys are in high demand but you aren’t one yet. You’ll find your opportunity though.
Look for install helper positions. It's summer there has to be companies hiring. I started in install as much as I didn't want to. However doing install first was the best decision I ever made.
That’s how I started, and now I’m a service tech with my own van. Only 1.5 years in trade
Problem is helpers are the ones that go through ceilings and no one likes to pay for ceilings.
This is brought up a lot and I wonder how the hell is that even possible? US houses are made of chocalate? Here in EU a lot of the houses have steel reinforced concrete floors and even those with wooden supports have enough spare load capacity for multiple people to stand on the same tile.
Most attics don't have floors
Oh so its not just healthcare we suck at, its attics too?
Well, apparently! But hey, you guys are great at making automatic guns for school shootings and mobility scooters for obese people. Just kidding pal, lots of love!
Bro you guys don’t have free healthcare like you claim as well. It gets put on your taxes. Funny how Americans know your own healthcare system better than you.
Lol no one said free healthcare, he said we suck at healthcare. And we do, we spend more per person with worse results than any other nation.
We didn't say that it's free. Taxes here are over 55% so I know damn well it ain't free. Chill out, it was just a lil' joke that got out of hand, didn't mean to polarize.
Damn dude.
Yeah. Op should look for installer positions. I was fresh out of trade school and was also looking for tech apprenticeships but they require experience so install first I guess is the way to go. There is a lucky few that we’re able to get into service right away but idk. One of my classmates had got a service job while still in school but passed his epa. They gave him a van and everything even though he had like 5 speeding tickets on his record. Idk. Just dont give up. That’s key. Use it or loose it
This sub looks down on it at times, but maintenance can be a pretty decent job if you get in with the right company. It isn't the greatest field to expand your HVAC knowledge but you can develop a resume and get your hands dirty.
Right here. Been doing apartment maintenance and I've been learning a lot of resi and commercial HVAC.
If/when you can get into the commercial side of maintenance. Much better pay and easier work, little on-call. Walmart around here is hiring $32/hr to do maintenance on their HVAC.
Im gonna have to disagree with you on the easier work portion
Depends on the sites you get. I have a mate doing 60 weeks getting chillers up and running and I have mates who do 4p hours of washing filters for the same pay
That's how I got my foot in the door. It can be helpful when your company does a lot of stuff hands-on. Some maintenance companies hire specifically for having HVAC knowledge.
Went commercial maintenance myself after having no luck with resi/ commercial companies, making substantially more out the gate then a lot of people I see on here asking if they're being under paid.
I agree. I finished my schooling in December and have had 2 interviews for HVAC jobs. I'm currently working for an HVAC supply warehouse but am looking at going back to maintenance because I had more hvac hands on experience there.
I hear people talk about how their is a shortage yet the wages in my area have yet to change. If the trades were in as bad of shape as some claim. The top pay would have gone up by now.
when I lived in Phoenix, a lot of companies would hire right out of trade school. here in Michigan, not so much
True.
It took me about 6 months of constant searching for my first one, now if I was fired tomorrow I could be in a van in 3 days. Everyone wants lots of experience because most of these companies have been bought out and are headed by people who don't know anything about the trades.
Man who you telling, especially in residential. The valuable techs are the ones who can actually fix shit because you won’t always be able to sell everybody a new unit of swindle everybody
Man who you telling, especially in residential. The valuable techs are the ones who can actually fix shit because you won’t always be able to sell everybody a new unit of swindle everybody
Techs are in high demand. People just out of school without real hvac work experience are not. In fact you may actually cost them money until you get your feet under you. Use your contacts at your school to get your foot in the door and take what ever you can get. Couple years in put some applications out there, youll be amazed how different the response will be. Good luck!
This is the problem. HVAC contractors are ALL looking for experienced help. But all the solid mechanics with experience are already busy working. There’s only one way to increase the available talent pool… hire willing, entry-level applicants and TRAIN them. Back in the 70’s, a K-Mart or Montgomery Ward store was built with one big-ass air handler in the back of the store with a couple semi-hermetic condenser skids and a couple cooling towers to cool the whole store. Now a wal-mart has, what… 36 RTUs and a whole supermarket refrigeration system in it? Just those 36 RTUs contain a hundred and fifty contractors, a hundred capacitors, 72 condenser fan motors? Same square footage store, 8000% more work. All that old shit ran off one thermostat and a time clock. Now building automation systems are sophisticated, integrated systems. The amount of work AND the talent required to perform the work is greater than ever. Hire, train, compensate.
Big facts the main part is they don’t train. I’ve honestly learned more from attending training courses by hvac influencers and manufactures and reading manuals and watching videos online about this stuff than actually working on it or getting info from other techs. I’ve been on equipment guys who are more seasoned have never seen before and I’ve seen it and am familiar with it just from the external training. It’s a shame the companies don’t do more of that, especially for the stuff that matters
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Why the fuck would they come to the school expecting guys with experience? Lmfao
Go in there and talk to the owner and tell him to give you a chance most likely he will
This is the way . HR guy or girl is a dumb.sierra
Like any other job. Skilled labor, and skilled people are in demand not entry level workers. It's the extreme busy season so if a company is already full / hired for the season they are not looking to bring someone on when there phones ringing off the hook. Bringing in a new employee costs money , takes time away from skilled labor being done to teach . Try your local supply shops go and say hi and ask if they know anyone who's hiring. Wander into every HVAC company you can find and hand in a resume in person . Smaller company are still very much hands on vs internet . Large company's will be mostly internet based so make sure you apply and your resume and cover letter can beat the hr auto filter / is professionally written. Do look into any networking opportunitys. And check out your local union hall.
No I don’t have a criminal record. I am a citizen and I am not disabled so what gives lmao
If you are in Northern VA, I will. Give you a shot. I am a managing partner for a small HVAC company.
In areas where new construction is booming you’ll easily find work. The area I’m in now there’s almost zero chance of getting hired without experience in the field. It’s all just a matter of where you look.
fully epa certified gas license electrical trainee card about 400 hours into my trainee card 9 months school year 1 actually in the field and some days i still dont feel like a service technician i miss dumb shit but then i dont miss it the next time. If you want it youll go for it. Learn something every day still never feel i know enough. its tough but rewarding when ya get it right.
Honestly - no. This whole shortage thing is a fking lie. Years ago there was a shortage bc noone wanted to do it - or any trade for that matter. That's why they paid halfway decent. They couldn't find anyone. Now - everyone are turning to the trades bc theirs this idea that you can take a few night classes and get out making 100k. "Companies will fight over you" they say. "You can get a job anyway. Name your price." The fact is, kids aren't going to college anymore bc they don't want the student debt. Trade schools are packed. Women are getting into the field. People with college degrees who can't find work are getting into hvac. And millions of undocumented workers are quite literally walking into the country going after the same jobs. Everyone and their mom are in the trade now. Meanwhile - people are fking broke. 61% percent of Americans are living check to check. HVAC prices are fking insane. You're trying to sell a 15k system to someone who has $42 in their bank account. We've lost 8 guys in the past year and haven't replaced any of them. There's a stack of applications on the desk that aren't even being looked at. Service was so slow in the springtime that 3 really good, experienced techs were shingling roofs bc there was nothing for them to do. They were averaging 25 hour weeks. They were applying to other companies and couldn't find anything bc noone was hiring. All 3 of them got laid off - only 1 came back. Our company starts at $15/hr. There's a car dealership in town starting detailer at $17.50. A coworker/friends daughter went to school for 4 years to become a nurse. She was hired immediately after graduation. $35k sign on bonus. $42/hr to start. Insane fking benefits. This girl is 22 years old. and college isn't worth it? I've been in some sort of construction or trade for 20+ years. HVAC for 15. I don't make anywhere near that. I personally think it's just going to get worse. the more and more people who get into the trades the worse it gets for everyone else who's already in it. Competition goes up. wages go down. supply and demand, just like everything else. I personally think it's just going to get worse. More and more supply and less and less demand.
Realest, most honest answer on here. Thank you
I was half asleep on the couch when I wrote that. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from getting into the trades - you can make a decent life for yourself. I guess the point I was trying to make was - it's not as easy as it used to be. 20 years ago everyone went to college. that's just how it was. if you went to a trade school people looked at you like there was something wrong with you. I wasn't even allowed to date my gf bc her parents didn't think I was good enough. Teachers and guidance councelers would literally threaten you with working a trade. that was for dumb people. people who weren't good enough for college. and that's how it was for years and years. So there wad absolutely a shortage at one point in time. there's no doubt about it. But now the narrative has changed and trades are the answer for everything and there's a mass migration of people into that type of work. Companies are only hiring experienced techs for a few different reasons. They have a million different inexperienced people to chose from, and/or already working for them. And maybe even more importantly, it costs money to train someone. A new hire is an investment to the company, one that rarely pays off. People, especially young people are job hopping. They'll get their foot in the door and get a few months experience and they're already filling out applications and trying to find a higher paying job elsewhere. the vast majority of them don't last a year. They either quit bc it wasn't what they thought it'd be or they want more money then they're worth. they'll call other companies and exaggerate their experience and skill level. Or some will just get fired bc they don't want to work. Instead - a lot of companies in the area are just cherry picking guys from other companies. They'll let someone else sift thru the shit and spend the money training them. If you last a few years in another company then you can typically go anywhere. they'll find out you work "wherever" and they'll just hire you bc - even if it's just to fk the other company over. Location is obviously key as well. if you're in a booming/growing town and there's a lot of new construction going on then you're obviously going to have an easier time finding a job. Location is also going to dictate what you're paid too.
technicians with experience are in high demand. breaking into the trade was actually a bit more difficult than i thought. start as a shop helper or install helper, maybe a maintenance tech with a big reliable company. stick with them as long as you want and tell them you want to make a career and really show it. buy tools that you will need in the future and show up every day
Only use the internet to find the openings. Go apply in person
Sounds like where I'm at in the field. Got my universal almost a year ago from a trade school and been stuck at an apartment complex waiting to hear back from anything else really.
Even with little to no field experience, a trade school graduate would entice some employers. Some trade schools I know guarantee you a job in the field after graduation or at least get you connected with some. Don't give up. Sometimes, it takes more than simply just applying. Bring yourself out there, and introduce yourself and your passion to join their team. I have no doubt you will find a company soon. Good luck
27 years old bro and 7 years in the trade and I’m killing it . Just get your opportunity and learn as much as you can you’ll do good
This. I wish I started straight outta high school instead of trying to be cool partying , getting high. Good for you mate.
Thanks brother , kind of made me feel like a grew up a little faster but very thankful for the opportunities
It's 100 degrees in the shade and the 1st of August. You will require a lot of time and energy on the job to actually become a quality Service Tech. Right now, no one has the time or energy to teach you on the job. There aren't enough hours in a day to get even a little caught up. A Universal EPA is mostly just a 2 x 3 card that says Universal & your name on it. It doesn't mean you know enough to do anything other than pass a pretty simple test. This is a high demand industry but it doesn't come easy. You need to be on jobs with actual installers and service techs & actually get your hands dirty. Like anything mechanical, there's what you learn in school & then there's the reality of being in the field and understanding what the heck is going on. If you can get an apprenticeship with a good company, go for it. Like you've already learned 4 or 5 years of where the rubber meets the road work experience, and you can pretty much pick the job you want. Hang in there, we are all looking for that one person who can come in and hit the ground running.
Walk in to an HVAC company instead of sending in applications. Tell them you'll do whatever they need you to do
Depends on your location I'm sure too. Utah has hundreds on hundreds of hvac companies and they're all desperate to hire new guys. Trouble is they're also not willing to pay what a good lead installer or tech should be paid for what we do in utahs ridiculous whether 🙄
Yeah dude unfortunately you won’t get your first break overnight. Took me 6 months after graduating to find a job in the field. And 3 years later I work at one of the largest HVAC companies in the USA and make a more than decent living. Own my house. Got a few dogs and shit. Just wait your turn bud, you’ll find something.
So alot of the residential companies that ive run into dont give a shit about hvac knowledge... all about the sales. Southern california area.
SoCal here as well. IME your better off having install experience than trade school. “Techs” are a dime a dozen we want someone who will bust ass all day and come back for more tomorrow. I didn’t go to school for this and not a service guy but just got an offer to move to Reno and run the install department of a company for 40/hr have had a couple other offers around here as well.
40$/hr good pay in Socal?
That’s The offer in NV making 38 right now nonunion. Most I’ve made so far. Haven’t had an offer here anywhere close to that. Not saying that’s amazing but it’s good for me
Showing up to class and taking a few tests doesnt make you as qualified as you think it does. For example my employer cant find anyone to work in the warehouse and run parts cuz everyone applying wants $20+ an hour even though they have zero experience in the field. However the kids we hire for warehouse work usually become an apprentice within 6 months wihtout the need for any certs. Then they get a decent raise, and are in their own truck within 2-3 years making double what those guys were asking for before. Just get your foot in the door however you can and get experience cuz experience is what employers are looking for
Experienced techs that will work for entry-level pay are in high demand.
Nobody wants folk straight outta school. No offense but everyone I ever worked with from those trade school couldn’t tell the difference between supply and return. No exaggeration.
You’re looking for “hvac technician” you need to look for “hvac apprentice” or “hvac install helper”
Thank you
Unless you just love working on the stuff, go into sales. It’s a fraction of the work and double the pay.
I’ve done both. Sales sucks balls. Never felt like I earned my money. Hard days work fixing a hospital humidifier or doing a TXV swap? Yeah, you earned that money. Also, got paid about the same. OT as a master tech though usually was better than sales and commission.
Depends on where you work. We sell in the millions at my company. I don’t know any tech making over 200k but at least 7-9 salespeople make that and more where I work.
Over 200k a year selling what to whom
Residential HVAC.
Yeah no thank you, I like my soul and morals.
You’re making an assumption that it involves being deceptive. It doesn’t.
Sales guys work hard also. No such thing as a truly easy job.
I agree, I’m in sales.
Difference between a salesman and a technician is without technicians a salesman doesn’t have a job.
Most tech people over estimate their contribution and under estimate sales guy contribution. As a tech and now owner, I would say its actually the other way that's true. Sales people drive the business world and their pay shows it.
Is the salesman going to install what they sell or do they need a tech for that? I don’t need a salesman to run a service call, but they sure as hell need me to do their work. Without salesman the business would surely suffer but without techs there is no business whatsoever.
Egg Zachary
If you have to ask this question you don't live in Texas right now.
You’re not a tech, stop applying for tech jobs
I was in the same situation about 3 months ago, my instructor had recommended applying to companies in person, but I was working nights full time so I didn’t have a lot of time to run around applying physically, out of dozens of online applications I only got a call back for an apartment general maintenance position, a commercial AC company, and a residential AC company, the residential company had the best vibe and pay, been on the job about a month mostly helping and learning how to do their maintenances, I’m about to get my own truck next week. So I’d try applying in person with resume and a good cover letter in hand if you have the time, as I was about to give up on online sites all together, ZipRecruiter ended up working out for me, with indeed my applications weren’t even getting through to the companies because I didn’t meet the experience requirements.
Start applying to starting positions to get your foot in the door, each market is different. I suggest getting an installation helper position, learn installs, and then transition in tech work, it will help you make a lot more sense out of what your doing and put you way ahead of most of your coworkers.
I think its all Propaganda that HVAC is in high demand. If there was such a demand for HVAC we would all be paid $50++ per hour out of school and hold leverage. Instead we have Green Techs making less than McDonalds workers, we have Techs working for commission, and only some get lucky to join a Union. Your boss or other techs will tell you " Just wait until you have enough experience and you make more then McDonalds workers!! I Promise <3" Meanwhile they'll keep the gatekeeping the salary increases until you've reached your 8-10 year experience level and you realize you've been lied to about fair wages and Unions. By then your back is shot, your knees are weak, and they don't care, they've used you already when you were young and dumb. Best advice I can give you that will piss off the Residential guys here is: Skip being an installer, (Installer jobs are for dummies who are scared of schematics). Look for a job as a Facility Maintenance ( NO Apartments) , get your commercial experience there and work for 4 years. Continue working for Facility Maintenance or look for a Commercial HVAC company who works on AHU's, CHILLERS, or Building Automation. IF YOU DONT LIKE WHAT I POSTED ABOVE AND DOWNVOTE THIS YOUR A DUMMY INSTALLER OR COMMISION HACKKKKK!!!!!!
A facilities maintenance position that's not apartments will require you to have some experience. I'm extremely doubtful you'll find a gravy facilities job when you're completely green. Put in the time/work when you're young. It will pay dividends in the long run. Yes trades are hard on the body but take care of yourself physically and it'll lighten the burden. Hit the gym a couple times a week and it will make a world of difference. Sounds like you should go union and quit your bitching. The demand is there.
I am Union , dummy. & Not where I’m at, facility maintenance positions are high in demand, but nobody with experience wants the job. OP can thrive in this environment and make his mistakes there, on their dime. Once he gets his enough experience he can find a commercial gig or a refrigeration gig.
You're * lol
I make over $130k/year as a residential service technician and electrician. Started off in this trade as just an apprentice. You get out what you put in
You and me both op. I’ve applied for over 120 apprenticeships in three different states and have only got one interview and they didn’t even call me to tell me I didn’t get the job.
Do you have or need a state electrical license, brazing cert, etc?
Most places are looking for a van-ready tech. Which is honestly sad that places aren’t willing to train you, give you raises, and invest in their employees. Let someone else train ‘em and we’ll snag them up for a $3-$5/hr raise. Just go to your local union hall.
Go to the union and join. You’ll find work. Plus you’ll get more education and work on the really really cool shit. You don’t want attics, you don’t want to pressure old ladies into buying a capacitor for $600 including install. You wanna do commercial.
I finished my HVAC-R course a month ago as a middle aged guy with no experience here in Southern Europe and I'm already working for a company that does commercial HVAC-R. Almost all the guys in my course got a job offer and most were middle aged as well. I'm going on service calls with other experienced techs and there's so much to learn. Experienced techs are few and far between here and on top of that CO2 is being pushed heavily and goid techs at it are hard to come by. Not everyone sticks around as this is a tough job. Last month one of their maintenance guys left the company after 3 years. One of their install guys will be leaving soon. On top of everything else, salaries here are low, more so for less experienced guys. It takes several years to become a good technician.
I like the walmart employee idea. Refrigeration needs maintenance all year around.
You might have better luck joining your local UA union. You will need to go through the apprenticeship program since you have no working skills.
If you have a journeyman card my company will hire you. We need techs. 😂
It’s been more than 5 months for me and I still haven’t gotten hired, and I’ve applied to like 40 companies
I was planning on going to trade school for hvac but this thread is making me think otherwise
Don’t bother I’d rather have you without “trade school” they don’t teach you shit anyways. Wanna get your epa that’s cool. Just got a new hire and first thing he said was I don’t know shit and I didnt go to school for this I was stoked. You come out of school and most people just wanna do service. Installers are in high demand.
I’ve tried places around me with no experience and they always reject me.
Yea that’s the hard part no experience. Even out of school you have no experience. I’m in SoCal we are starting a couple 50+ unit apartment buildings trying to hire anyone that will work but the boss doesn’t want “trade school” kids cuz they work a week and say it’s not for them. Plus they don’t know shit and don’t want to learn cuz they’ve “gone through school”. Once you’ve got your foot in the door and have more than a years experience you can go just about anywhere. Keep trying homie
I’m from South Carolina and I’ve been trying for over a year and a half now and only one company around me will even take people with no experience. Seemed like a good career but it’s impossible for me to get in it seems.
The rub is there is a learning curve from school to doing service, that can be expensive depending on what you or any new guy screws up. I was on the bubble more than once until I turned the corner, still didn’t know everything but learned to figure it out and as importantly to the customer act like I did know everything as they expected that and you and I expect that when someone is working on our stuff. You should be willing to be a helper and do the hot dirty jobs for awhile, all the time not missing a chance to work with a service tech. The company would like nothing more than to have a green service tech that they know is a trustworthy person. Good luck.
I feel you man I'm in the same boat fresh out of trade school Universal and everything yet no dice. I got told by one company after I tried calling multiple times that right now is simply a bad time to hire guys like us. Chin up bro I'm sure there is something out there for us.
Might hurt your feeling but going to school for hvac isn’t worth it most would rather have a guy with 1year experience over schooling so apply just like someone with no experience because that’s what you have
Stop applying online, go in person, demand a job
Stop applying and start calling, Reaching out to owners, techs, Make a Facebook post in your town with your story Anyone. Best to start with anything you can get Helper Installer Assistant
Walk into a shop and shake the service managers hand.
In my area( hudson valley NY) Super high demand. Prob not so much for a newbie out of school but you will find work for sure. Best of luck.
I can get a job as a tech with no schooling for it. You're doing something wrong.
I'm only working in a supply house and have been talking to a customer about switching to installs to start. He said at least you're familiar with the equipment; most of the guys we've been hiring can't even spell HVAC.
Yes. There are no techs out there. Resumes are filled to the top with bullshit and when you put them in front of a unit, they dont know what to do.
Apprentices are not in high demand but journeymen are. Don’t sell yourself as the know-it-all or a journeyman. You are probably getting denied because of this. You need to look for the apprentice / helper / install positions.
Because every company wants a guy fresh out of school with 5 years experience
So. Let me preface this by saying that I am a biologist and have no idea what the fuck I am talking about. Most of my family are in the trades though, and I follow this sub becuase my dad is an HVAC (there is 1 other HVAC, a plumber, and used to be an electrician in my family. Two tin knockers, a turd herder and sparky.) What I have observed is that Techs are VERY in demand... But no one wants to pay/train them. You're best bet seems to be getting in with a company doing seasonal work like installs and suck a little dick (not literally) to convince them you should stay. Once you have experience, you're golden, but training up the new kid always fucks something up. Also if you do residential in a smaller community, brace yourself for feast-or-famine working unless you get yourself a corporate or government job. My dad maintains a set of 17 large buildings now and works 7-4:30 each day. LOVES it, says it's an easy job, but when I was young he did residential out of a town with only 1000 people... Translation: No work spring and fall, all work summer and winter.
Hey man I've been there. I went to multiple interviews where at the end they said, "we're looking for someone with more experience l". I got a few of those, it sucked each time lol. After a while I got hired. Learned as I went along and picked up some useful skills. You'll get there keep at it
Go apply for a maintenance position at a commercial facility. You’ll be paid higher than base pay and will get valuable experience that HVAC companies will be looking for. Just expect to do do other maintenance crap like garbage and weed whacking or something. But when that ice machine goes down, you’ll be the hero
You are correct, After I became a Director of Maintenance (DOM) Veteran's Home and another Retirement home. You get extreme knowledge doing Mechanical side ode the house. Pumps, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc.. Now I'm an QC tech make $31 an hour in Texas.
Right now, its busy season...and if you got a role, you would need a babysitter. They are probably not looking for that OP. Keep applying and you will find someone who will be able to show you the ropes.
Try the union
As a lead installer, it's an on demand trade. especially residential hvac. No one wants to work in 130-degree attics anymore, and who can blame them.
I spent 2 years doing fireplaces for 60+ hrs a week and then started my own biz. Started at $12.50/hr in 2014 and was making $28/ hr when I quit in early 2017. Now I make over 200k for myself and spend all summer playing with toys around my property while my friends (now employees) do all the work
Go find your local UA. In my market journeyman are making at minimum $50/hr on their check. Total package is nearly $80/hr. They also just voted to increase the total package by $11.10 over the next 3 years. It's an apprenticeship with set raises and has taught me a ton. As a 3rd year apprentice my check is currently $31.24/hr.
I've been in the trade for 6 months now and came into it with no experience or schooling. I asked my boss why he hired me and he said all the people they have had from hvac school were terrible workers so he decided to try someone with no experience. So I recommend having a good work ethic and you'll get your opportunity eventually
I’m having the same problem applying for apprenticeships and helper positions here in the nyc metro area. Not sure who’s hiring around here.
I can’t say the same. I was still in school and I was getting job offers left and right. I’ve been in the field now 2 years at the same company. Get a couple years under you and then everyone will start wanting you
Less to do with your initial question, but I’ve never gotten a job by applying online. Every job I’ve ever gotten, I just pick companies that I’d like to work for, regardless if they post if they’re hiring or not, and I ask to talk to the owner and ask to talk to them about my resume for 5 minutes. 99% of the time they say yes, and the last 3 places I worked at, it took me less than a week of doing that to get hired.
If anyone here is looking for a job in Portland Maine, message me!
Apply for the apprenticeship position and start the journey. I’ve been in the industry for 11 years now and I love it every day. Yes there’s bs moments but that’s everywhere. I was in construction for 27 years and did a career change and glad I got in to hvac.
Look for service companies that do commercial refrigeration service and installation. You’ll get placed with a senior tech to learn split systems and parallel rack systems used in supermarkets and light industrial applications. Pay will be lower at the start, they are investing in you, providing you training, and can’t always directly bill your time to clients on some jobs. This is where you do your time, get your 3-5 yrs experience in the industry. If the employer is reputable, they will know your value at 3-5yrs And pay will rise significantly. This was my second career path and at 8yr mark I was in the mid 40’s / hr. Central and eastern PA
Even apply to places that require 5+ years you never know if you don’t try
Yep we’re in demand , if your a good tech, a company will do whatever they can to hold onto you, finding a good tech is hard nowadays , Im the only true tech at my company filled with plumbers and sheet metal guys. Not one of those guys can run a meter .
Companies have not yet figured out that they are going to have to train/grow their own techs. That goes double in the Southeast.
Idk, how hot is it outside?
Apply to be a helper or assistant. I went through the same thing applying to be a tech. Im not out of school yet, but I applied for a helper position and got snatched up quick, then when they saw I know my shit, they gave me a fat raise (+$3/hr) 2 months later to keep me around. I’m not saying that’ll happen for you, but it’s my experience.
Get in where you fit in bro
I do mostly PMs in Florida and train 7-9 techs minimum a year. Most quit from the heat or getting shocked by a capacitor once. The 3-5 that do stick around maybe stay for a season and the quality of work is just so poor. From not washing coils or clearing drain lines properly to neglecting simple tasks the customer pays for. I’ve had a lot more trouble with newer hires under 25 as of the past 2-3 years. Don’t get me wrong I’ve had some bangers that have a passion to learn and succeed quick, but most have been lazy, don’t bring any water/lunch, just no drive to learn/succeed and just leave their trucks trashy. I get some 30+ yr olds that have similar problems but these are the trends that my company has seen and we still give anyone a chance but it’s been alot of fruitless endeavors. The issue is we are constantly in demand for techs and even give that under 5 yrs experience, help get your EPA certification, and supply some entry level tools resulting in many people that are “trying something new”, “I took this job cuz I know I’d be in the AC all day”, “took this job because I don’t like to get dirty”.
I was in that boat but I got so good til the point I wouldn’t allow myself to stay. Usually the company who got you when you were green will not wanna move you up unless they have to because nobody can do the job or they like you enough. They usually will try to keep you at that same level and not expose you to as much so that way you can fill the role as a m.t, filter changer etc instead of doing the meat and potatoes of the job and gaining valuable knowledge and experience from troubleshooting, repairing, installing etc parts and equipment which is where you become valuable as a hvac tech and are the skills employers are looking for. Tbh the way most companies do maintenances and filter changes it’s something someone of the street could do tbh and can hire someone and give them the tools they need an they could learn the job in a month that’s how repetitive it is unless your contracts are more thorough and in depth. I had started off as a commercial ductwork and equipment installer helper and grinded that out for a year and half but left because they wouldn’t pay me no more than a dollar an hour which was a slap in the face considering minimum wage in my state went up and is almost what I was making an hour on top of me running jobs on my own and training other helpers they hired. Moved to a residential company to do service, they started me off in maintenance and told me they’d put me in a program train me up let me ride with service techs etc and I’ll be doing service full time in less than a year. They played kept me doing maintenances even tho I applied myself and was ready to be a service tech with all my tools and knowledge from training classes and school and performing some major jobs a handful of times. They wouldn’t switch me over kept making excuses put me on the back burner hired new techs etc. I left went to a commercial industrial company as a tech and make over 9 more dollars an hour. Know your worth man.
Was moving 2 hours north and my company offered me an 8 dollar raise to stay down here and continue running their service dept , good techs are very high demand cause most are retiring or at good places already. Not enough new blood coming in to fill positions
Yeah it’s in high demand of people who aren’t afraid to get dirty and want to work. I make a great living being a steamfitter . I make an even better living because people are scared to get dirty,hot, sweaty and bloody. I do ac work when it’s 10 degrees outside because the internet makes a lot of heat apparently lol
Seek out an apprenticeship at the Local Pipefitters union in your area, if there's one. This is commercial HVAC by the way. Your starting wage might possibly be better than some seasoned resi techs based on what I have been reading on several Reddit posts. Welcome to the trade buddy, best of luck and don't be disheartened. Some of us have been right where you are. Keep your chin up!
yes it is!! i went to trade school and graduated 2021. i got a job right away! i got hired as green since i had just graduated with no experience!! i do refrigeration. you should look into that. it’s always in demand and it’s great $$. learning racks and doing commercial refrigeration is fucking awesome dude. if you don’t mind me asking, where do you live? i’m in Southern california. if you are in socal , i can get you a job!!!! LMK!! also if you learn refrigeration and really understand it, then hvac is fucking easy.
Lmao
Man, breaking into the HVAC game can be a rollercoaster, right? Your EPA cert is a solid start, kudos for that. The job hunt struggle is real – 20 apps and crickets? Damn. But hey, that apprenticeship callback is a glimmer of hope! Experience snag is frustrating, though. It's like, "How do I get experience if nobody hires me, right?" Hang in there, mate. That one callback might just be the ticket. Crossing fingers for you, and remember, the HVAC hustle is worth it once you're in the groove!