Two highly sought-after skills trade careers today are electrician and HVAC technician.
In this post, we’ll discuss these two careers so you can decide whether to become an electrician or an HVAC technician.
Duties and Responsibilities
Electrician
Electricians install and maintain electrical equipment that brings electricity to the industrial, commercial, and residential sectors.
Different electricians perform different, specialized tasks:
- Inside wiremen
- Outside linemen
- Residential wiremen
- Telecommunication electricians
Despite their specialties, they all have common duties and responsibilities, such as:
- Reading blueprints
- Maintaining and installing wiring
- Testing electrical systems
- Overseeing the team’s work and project progress
- Adhering to the local, state, national, and international electrical codes
HVAC Technician
HVAC technicians handle the installation and maintenance of climate control systems in residential and commercial buildings.
They are responsible for the following tasks:
- Installing, maintaining, and repairing HVAC systems
- Inspecting and testing the systems and their components
- Troubleshooting issues in the systems
- Providing technical support
- Following the local, state, and federal building codes
Career Training
Electrician
Electricians receive career training in two ways:
- 4– to 5–year paid apprenticeship programs sponsored by unions and private companies (most preferable)
- 2– to 3–year diploma or certificate electrician programs from trade schools
These programs will teach them fundamental skills and knowledge, such as:
- Electrical theory
- Blueprint reading
- Mathematics
- Electrical code requirements
- Safety practices
HVAC Technician
While electricians can apply for apprenticeships straight from high school, HVAC technicians need to enroll in a post-secondary program first.
And so, they receive career training in the following order:
- 6–month to 2–year certificate or degree HVAC programs
- 3– to 5–year apprenticeship programs
During these programs, they’ll receive extensive training in courses such as:
- Servicing HVAC systems and components
- Identifying refrigeration materials
- Proper usage of tools
- Blueprint reading
- Safety practices
Potential Salary
Electrician
As of May 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the following salary information for electricians:
Average Salary
| Percentile | Hourly Pay | Annual Pay |
| 10% | $17.80 | $37,020 |
| 25% | $22.55 | $46,900 |
| 50% | $28.87 | $60,040 |
| 75% | $37.19 | $77,350 |
| 90% | $47.98 | $99,800 |
Top Paying States
| State | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
| Illinois | $39.97 | $83,140 |
| New York | $39.28 | $81,700 |
| Oregon | $39.04 | $81,200 |
| Alaska | $38.45 | $79,980 |
| New Jersey | $38.43 | $79,940 |
Top Paying Industries
| Industries | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
| Natural gas distribution | $50.44 | $104,920 |
| Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events | $48.91 | $101,740 |
| Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers | $45.80 | $95,260 |
| Monetary authorities – Central bank | $45.53 | $94,710 |
| Scheduled air transportation | $44.50 | $92,550 |
HVAC Technician
As of May 2021, BLS reported the following salary information for HVAC technicians:
Average Salary
| Percentile | Hourly Pay | Annual Pay |
| 10% | $16.50 | $34,320 |
| 25% | $18.49 | $38,450 |
| 50% | $23.38 | $48,630 |
| 75% | $29.81 | $62,000 |
| 90% | $37.60 | $78,210 |
Top Paying States
| State | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
| District of Columbia | $33.72 | $70,130 |
| Alaska | $33.70 | $70,100 |
| Hawaii | $33.22 | $69,100 |
| New Jersey | $32.91 | $68,460 |
| New York | $31.82 | $66,180 |
Top Paying Industries
| Industries | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
| Scheduled air transportation | $42.87 | $89,180 |
| Natural gas distribution | $41.69 | $86,710 |
| Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution | $41.33 | $85,970 |
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | $41.19 | $85,680 |
| Deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation | $38.96 | $81,050 |
Job Outlook
Electrician
The BLS projected a 7% employment growth for the electrician career from 2021 to 2031.
This means that there will be about 79,900 average job openings each year throughout the decade.
The reason for this growth lies in the popularity of alternative power generation (e.g., solar and wind) in new building projects.
| Employment, 2021 | 711,200 |
| Projected employment, 2031 | 761,400 |
| Percentage of change | 7% |
HVAC Technician
The BLS projected a 5% employment growth for the HVAC technician career from 2021 to 2031.
This means that there will be about 40,100 average job openings each year throughout the decade.
The reason for this growth lies in the increasing emphasis on energy efficiency and pollution reduction in new climate control systems.
| Employment, 2021 | 394,100 |
| Projected employment, 2031 | 414,400 |
| Percentage of change | 5% |
Which Career Is Right for You?
Both trades are great choices where you’ll have a reliable, steady income and long-term career.
Plus, these can never be automated by AI nor can be outsourced.
But the question remains: will you become an electrician or an HVAC technician?
If you like to dabble with electrical wiring, go for an electrical career.
If you prefer to work with heating and cooling systems, then go for an HVAC career.
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