NorthStar

Occupations/49-9021.00

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.

Certificate or two-year

Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.

AI automation risk

30%

More resilient

Human characteristics

65%

Strong human-characteristic mix

Task orientation

54%

Mixed exposure

A day in this job

  • Mostly routine

    Comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area.

  • Task

    Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.

  • Task

    Study blueprints, design specifications, or manufacturers' recommendations to ascertain the configuration of heating or cooling equipment components and to ensure the proper installation of components.

The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.

Core tasks

  1. 01Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.
  2. 02Comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area.
  3. 03Study blueprints, design specifications, or manufacturers' recommendations to ascertain the configuration of heating or cooling equipment components and to ensure the proper installation of components.
  4. 04Discuss heating or cooling system malfunctions with users to isolate problems or to verify that repairs corrected malfunctions.
  5. 05Connect heating or air conditioning equipment to fuel, water, or refrigerant source to form complete circuit.
  6. 06Adjust system controls to settings recommended by manufacturer to balance system.

Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)

  • Repeating same tasks3.49
  • Degree of automation1.97
  • Time sitting2.02
  • Originality (ability)2.75
  • Conflict situations2.31
  • Hands-on objects/tools4.40
  • Outdoors / weather4.05
  • Disease exposure1.75
  • Decision freedom4.30

Top abilities

  • Problem Sensitivity3.88
  • Near Vision3.88
  • Deductive Reasoning3.75
  • Visual Color Discrimination3.62
  • Oral Comprehension3.62
  • Finger Dexterity3.62
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness3.62
  • Manual Dexterity3.50

Essential skills

  • Reading Comprehension3.38
  • Active Listening3.25
  • Writing2.88
  • Speaking3.12
  • Mathematics2.50
  • Science1.75
  • Critical Thinking3.50
  • Active Learning3.12
  • Learning Strategies2.75
  • Monitoring3.12

CIP matches

15.0501Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician47.0201Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician

Schools offering related programs

12 of 19 shown

Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.

InstitutionProgramTuitionAdmitGrad 6-yrEarnings

Minneapolis Community and Technical College

Minneapolis, MN · Public

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician

47.0201

$5,900100%28%

1 yr $64,493

2 yr $63,005

Associate · CIP 47.02

Northern Virginia Community College

Annandale, VA · Public

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician

47.0201

$5,700100%35%

1 yr $54,435

2 yr $38,829

Associate · CIP 47.02

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician

15.0501

$9,20047%84%

1 yr $41,193

2 yr $46,478

Bachelor's · CIP 15.05

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Moorhead, MN · Public

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician

47.0201

$9,80071%61%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Certificate · CIP 47.02

Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Coon Rapids, MN · Public

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician

15.0501

$5,800100%33%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Certificate · CIP 15.05

Rochester Community and Technical College

Rochester, MN · Public

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician

15.0501

$6,200100%33%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Not reported

Hennepin Technical College

Brooklyn Park, MN · Public

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician

15.0501

$6,200100%38%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Not reported

Ridgewater College

Willmar, MN · Public

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician

15.0501

$6,100100%36%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Not reported

Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Granite Falls, MN · Public

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician

15.0501

$6,000100%37%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Not reported

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA · Public

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician

15.0501

$10,70086%79%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Master's · CIP 15.05

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician

15.0501

$10,40090%77%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Not reported

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL · Public

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician

15.0501

$2,900100%41%

1 yr —

2 yr —

Associate · CIP 15.05