When choosing a new career, there are a few key aspects to consider: stability, salary, growth potential, and personal interest to name a few. A career as an HVAC technician comes with a lot of benefits across these categories, and those who choose to get into the exciting, ever-adapting world of this technology can expect a lifetime of deeply fulfilling work.
In 2024, seeking out this career is a smart move. In the last ten years, an aging workforce and insufficient recruitment efforts have led to a 50% decrease in the number of certified HVAC technicians. Simultaneously, the demand for skilled HVAC technicians is actually expected to grow by 6% annually through 2032, adding nearly 40,000 new jobs each year. That means there is a ton of opportunity for people to work in this growing field.
In this blog post, we will show you why—whether you are deciding what to pursue or looking to pivot to a new career—you should seriously consider becoming an HVAC technician. And if you are already pursuing work as an HVAC technician, we will also share why you should consider joining Budderfly’s energy technician network.
What Is an HVAC Technician?
An HVAC technician is a person who works on the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technology. The work itself can take a lot of forms, from installing equipment at homes or business facilities to doing regular maintenance work to keep the technology in good working order. It also entails solving problems when equipment stops working to figure out what is happening and to make repairs as needed. An HVAC technician is typically trained at a trade or technical school and will develop expertise on many different types of HVAC technology including air conditioners, heaters, furnaces and heat pumps.
The Benefits of an HVAC Technician Career
Hands-on, mentally stimulating work. Being an HVAC technician means you will be getting your hands dirty with machinery. But working with HVAC technology is not mundane manual labor. You will cultivate deep knowledge about sophisticated technologies that vary a lot across brands, models, locations, and more. When issues arise, you will need to exercise critical thinking and problem-solving skills to uncover what may be going wrong with a certain machine and to diagnose a solution to keep the technology in better working order. You’ll get to be a hero when there are crises that urgently need fixing, like an HVAC that does out during a heatwave. Plus, as new technologies develop in the market, you will always have new opportunities to learn new things and grow your expertise. In other words, it is hard to get bored as an HVAC technician!
Travel. Depending on how you develop your HVAC technician career (i.e. where you are based and who you work for) you will likely have a lot of opportunities to travel. Unlike a traditional office job, this role will allow you to move around lots of locations and meet new people.
Growing career opportunities. As mentioned above, the field of HVAC work is ever expanding. Each year, HVAC usage increases and the number of certified HVAC technicians for hire decreases. There is a serious gap that needs to be filled, so pursuing this career is guaranteed to be fruitful. Being in demand is a huge advantage for a career, and while certain career paths are saturated—leading to extreme competition and high levels of unemployment—HVAC technician careers are rife with opportunity and because of demand, very competitive salaries. Plus, HVAC tech is not a trend. It is essential and all the work that goea into handling the equipment cannot be fully replaced by artificial intelligence. That means it will be a stable career path for decades to comes.
Opportunity for independent career. An HVAC technician role can take many forms. You can work for an HVAC company and be given assignments based on their needs. But you can also be an independent contractor, finding your own work and being in control of when and how your job operates. For people with a desire to carve out their own career, there is a lot of potential to work on your own and be your own boss.
Helping the planet. New, innovative developments are being made in the world of HVAC every day. Many of these advancements are working to make the technology more energy efficient, and therefore more eco-friendly. Increasingly efficient HVAC technologies are helping reduce carbon emissions, a crucial aspect of fighting climate change. However, there is a gap in knowledge as this progress is made. Many working HVAC technicians have not received the training to operate these newer models. So there is a big chance for people entering the field to gain important expertise and help expedite the installation and operation of new green technology. If you are passionate about the planet, an HVAC technician career is a way to make a large, tangible impact.
Why HVAC Technicians Love Working With Budderfly
If you are trained and looking to further your career opportunities, partnering with Budderfly is a good move. Our certified contractor program employs HVAC technicians all across the U.S. and has a lot of advantages for workers in this field. Our contracts are simplified, consolidated, and paid on time—and you won’t have to chase invoices from business owners. You can get assignments year-round, as Budderfly has ongoing projects 12 months a year in every region—even during slow seasons.
Budderfly is now accepting applications from trade schools and experienced HVAC technicians to join our dedicated network of energy technicians. Once you complete our easy certification process, you’ll be able to start working ASAP. To learn more or apply, visit our Contractors page!