
If you are tech-savvy and like tempering with gadgets, perhaps a career of a HVAC technician is just for you.
HVAC industry offers stable well-paid jobs.
Not to mention that the job market is constantly growing.
This is especially the case for Pennsylvania.
You might want to complete some HVAC education, or become an apprentice, since there is much knowledge you will need to gain.
This will further your career.
When you keep developing your career, you increase your earnings. Therefore, the potential is huge.
Here is all you need to know about being and becoming a HVAC technician in the state of Pennsylvania.
Page Navigation
HVAC Training
The thing you will learn in the HVAC training is everything you need to know as a technician.
The most common subjects covered are knowing how to inspect the elements and diagnose issues with the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning systems, and possibly Refrigeration.
As a technician the most common of jobs you will have to do is Repairing and maintaining HVAC systems.
That is why these trainings most definitely teach that part of the trade.
Equipment installment is a crucial part of being a HVAC technician.
In addition to all that, you will definitely receive education on state, federal, and local legislations.
You will need to abide by these laws when working on projects.
Some programs in Pennsylvania also teach how to circumvent the the sick building syndrome through exploitation of ventilation systems.
Other specialty subjects include natural gas piping, ACR tubing, sheet metal operation, duct sizing, ergonomics, mechanical code, refrigerant handling, ergonomics, best practices, and even customer relations.
Majority of schools will make sure that you are prepared for the examination that await you.
They make that a part of their training.
The reason behind that is that they believe it makes it easier for you to make a transition to the actual career field.
Learning the Trade
There are many options when it comes to schools that offer HVAC trainings in the state of Pennsylvania.
Actually, Pennsylvania is one of top five states for HVAC employment. The job market is also continually growing.
You may want to attend the Brightwood Career Institute.
This school offers extensive training. It has several locations: Pittsburgh, Broomall, Harrisburg, Franklin Mills, and Philadelphia.
Similarly, you have the option of entering the YTI Career Institute (YTI).
The trainings here can be from 9 to 21 months long.
You can also specialize in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology. It also has multiple locations.
These include: Altoona, York, and Lancaster.
Another great option would be the All State Career School in Pittsburg.
Again, the training is extensive, but here you can specialize in welding and HVAC.
Also, there is the Fortis College which has technical training for HVACR.
It has several locations. Those are Erie, Forty Fort, and Scranton.
Schools
It is evident that if you complete one of the official HVAC training programs you will have many benefits.
You will receive all the theoretical and practical knowledge that you need.
If you are interested in more options regarding schools that offer approved HVAC training programs in addition to those already listed here is an extensive table:
66 HVAC Schools in Pennsylvania
School Name | Address |
---|---|
Ashworth College | 6625 The Corners Pkwy NW #500, Norcross, GA 30092 |
Admiral Peary Area Vo-Tech School | 948 Ben Franklin Hwy., Ebensburg, PA 15931 |
All-State Career School | HVAC Training | 2 Locations in Pennsylvania | 2 Locations in Pennsylvania, Essington & Pittsburgh, PA 15122 |
Beattie Technical School | 9600 Babcock Blvd., Allison Park, PA 15101 |
Beaver County Area Vocational Technical School | 145 Poplar Drive, Monaca, PA 15061 |
Berks Career & Technology Center-West Campus | 1057 County Road, Leesport, PA 19533 |
Berks Career & Technology Center/East Campus | 3307 Friedensburg Road, Oley, PA 19547 |
Bucks County Technical School | 610 Wistar Road, Fairless Hill, PA 19030 |
Butler County Area Vocational Technical School | 210 Campus Lane, Butler, PA 16001 |
Camden County Technical School/gloucester Township Campus | 343 Berlin Cross Keys Road, Sicklerville, NJ 08081 |
Carbon County Area Vocational Tech School | 77th W. 13th Street, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229 |
Career Institute of Technology | 5335 Kesslerville Road, Easton, PA 18040 |
Career Technical Center of Lackawanna County | 3201 Rockwell Avenue, Scranton, PA 18508 |
Center for Technical Studies | 821 Plymouth Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19401 |
Central Pennsylvania Institute | 540 North Harrison Road, Pleasant Gap, PA 16823 |
Central Westmorland Career & Technical Center | 240 Arona Road, New Stanton, PA 15672 |
Chi Institute | Rt 320 & Lawrence Road, Broomall, PA 19008 |
Columbia-Montour Area Vocational Technical School | 5050 Sweppenheiser Drive, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 |
Community College of Allegheny County-South Campus | 1750 Clairton Road (Rt 885), West Mifflin, PA 15122 |
Community College of Alleghney County-North Campus | 8701 Perry Hwy, Pittsburg, PA 15237 |
Cumberland Perry Area Vocational School | 110 Old Willow Mill Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 |
Dean Institute of Technology | 1501 West Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15226 |
Delaware County Community College | Malin Road Center, Broomall, PA 19008 |
Delaware County Technical School At Aston | 100 Crozerville Road, Aston, PA 19014 |
Erie County Technical School | 8500 Oliver Road, Erie, PA 16509 |
Everest Institute | Train to be an HVAC Technician | 3050 Tillman Drive, Bensalem, PA 19020 |
Fayette County Vocational Technical School | 175 Georges Fairchance Road, Uniontown, PA 15401 |
Forbes Road Career & Technical Center | 607 Beatty Road, Monroeville, PA 15146 |
Fortis Institute | HVAC Training | 2 Locations in Pennsylvania | 2 Locations in Pennsylvania, Erie & Forty Fort, PA 18704 |
Franklin County Career & Tech Center | 2463 Loop Road, Chambersburg, PA 17201 |
Gloucester County Vo-Tech School | 1360 Tanyard Road, Sewell, NJ 08080 |
Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center | 1500 4th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602 |
Greater Johnstown Career & Tech | 445 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown, PA 15904 |
Harrisburg Area Community College-Wildwood Campus | One HACC Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110 |
Huntingdon County Career & Tech | PO Box E, Mill Creek, PA 17060 |
hvacredu.net (Online Training) | P.O. Box 77, Heron, MT 59844 |
Jefferson Co-Dubois Area Vocational Tech | 100 Jeff Tech Drive, Reynoldsville, PA 15851 |
Lancaster County Career & Tech Center | Snyder & Metzler Roads, Brownstown, PA 17508 |
Lebanon County Area Vocational Technical School | 833 Metro Drive, Lebanon, PA 17042 |
LeHigh Career & Technical Institute | 4500 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville, PA 18078 |
Lenape AVTS | 2215 Chaplin Avenue, Ford City, PA 16226 |
Luzerne CCC | 1333 South Prospect Street, Nanticoke, PA 18634 |
Middle Bucks Institute of Technology | 2740 Old York Road, Jamison, PA 18929 |
Monroe Career & Technical Institute | P.O. Box 66, Laurel Lake Drive, PA 18321 |
New Castle School of Trades | Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143 |
North Montco Technical Career Center | 1265 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale, PA 19446 |
Northern Tier Career Center | RR #1, Box 157A , Towanda, PA 18848 |
Orleans Technical Institute | 2770 Red Lion Road, Philadelphia, PA 19114 |
Penn Commercial | 242 Oak Spring Road, Washington, PA 15301 |
Pennco Tech | 8315 Otter Street, Bristol, PA 19007 |
Pennsylvania College of Technology | Bush Campus Center, Williamsport, PA 17701 |
Reading Area Community College | Ten South 2nd St., Reading, PA 19603 |
Somerset County Technical Center | 281 Technology Drive, Somerset, PA 15501 |
Steel Center Area Voc Tech School | 565 Lewis Run Road, Jefferson Hills, PA 15025 |
Sun Area Career and Technical Center | 21st Century Drive, New Berlin, PA 16509 |
Thaddeus Stevens School of Technology | 750 East King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 |
Triangle Tech | P.O. Box 551, Dubois, PA 15801 |
Triangle Tech | 2000 Liberty Street, Erie, PA 16502 |
Triangle Tech | 1940 Perrysville Avenue, Pittsburg, PA 15214 |
Triangle Tech | 222 E Pittsburg Streete #A, Greensburg, PA 15601 |
TruPower Inc., Training Svcs. | PO Box 3952, York, PA 17402 |
Western Area Career & Technical Center | 688 Western Avenue, Canonsburg, PA 15317 |
Western Center for Technical Studies | 77 Gratersford Road, Limerick, PA 19468 |
Westmoreland County Community College | 400 Armburst Road, Youngwood, PA 15697 |
Wilkes-Barre Vo-Tech | Juniper Road, Plains Township, PA 18705 |
York Technical Institute | 1404 Williams Road, York, PA 17402 |
Certification
The state of Pennsylvania does not have requirements in terms of licensing.
However, there is always a possibility that a cities or local offices where you want to work do have special requirements.
That means that in some cities you may need a HVAC contractor license to nstall, repair, or alter mechanical systems in the city.
Certain projects do require certifications, licenses, and or permits.
Such requirements can be: Manufactured Housing Installers Certification, Home Improvement Contractors Registrations, Crane Operators Licensure, Asbestos and Lead Removal Certification, and Municipal Certification and Licensure.
Salary
In Pennsylvania, as a HVAC technician you can expect an average wage of $22.12 per hour.
Beginners in the industry usually make an average of $14.02, but with experience that wage goes up to $31.56 an hour.
Per year, you can earn an average of $46,000. Beginner’s salary can be $29,170. Again, with experience it can go up to $65,640.
Your salary will depend on your employer, on the education, skills, licenses that you can bring into the company you are working for.
The national average for HVAC technicians is $21.24.
Pennsylvania’s state average is a bit higher than that number.
Here is a table of salaries you can expect as a technician in the HVAC industry in ten largest cities in Pennsylvania:
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of HVAC Techs in Pennsylvania
City Name | Salary |
---|---|
Philadelphia | $50,280 |
Pittsburgh | $45,915 |
Allentown | $46,588 |
Erie | $43,163 |
Upper Darby | $50,280 |
Reading | $46,209 |
Scranton | $43,130 |
Bethlehem | $46,588 |
Lower Merion | $50,280 |
Bensalem | $52,772 |
Conclusion
HVAC industry is a fast-growing industry, which is exceptionally big and dynamic in Pennsylvania.
There is a growing job market, and a growing demand for HVAC technicians.
The climate which features hot summers and cold winters is a major part of the fact that HVAC systems are essential both for residential and commercial complexes.
Given that the demand for technicians and the job market are expected only to grow, this career will provide you with a stable and lucrative job.
The best thing you can do is to get specialized in HVAC and begin your career.