Pay scale: $12.83 - $28.50 per hour
 
Working conditions
HVAC mechanics and installers work in homes, retail establishments, hospitals, office buildings, and factories - anywhere there is climate-control equipment. Technicians may work outside in cold or hot weather or in buildings that are uncomfortable. Technicians may also be required to work in awkward or cramped positions and sometimes are required to work in high places.
Hazards include electrical shock, burns, muscle strains, and other injuries from handling heavy equipment. Appropriate knowledge and equipment is necessary when handling refrigerants because inhalation and/or contact can cause skin damage, frostbite, or blindness.
 
General qualifications
Must be in good physical condition and have a valid driver's license.
 
Requirements
Must be 18 years old and a high school graduate or equivalent. Must pass aptitude test, and submit an application.
 
Length of training
The training program is five years consisting of no less than 8,430 total hours of on-the-job training with a minimum of 576 hours of paid related classroom instruction and 30 hours of unpaid night classes.