Occupation Profile

Industries Employing
 

Heating/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Workers
(SOC Code : 49-9021)
in California

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

Employers are usually looking for candidates with Post secondary vocational training .

Occupational Wages[Top]
AreaYearPeriodHourly MeanHourly by Percentile
25thMedian75th
California 20231st Qtr$33.60$23.41$30.30$39.27

View Wages for All Areas  About Wages
 

Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")[Top]
 AreaEstimated Year-Projected YearEmploymentEmployment ChangeTotal Job Openings
EstimatedProjectedNumberPercent
California 2018 - 202832,80036,9004,10012.538,150

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange[Top]
 
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Possible Licenses Required and Issuing Authority[Top]
License Title
License Authority
Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning ContractorDepartment of Consumer Affairs
Contractors State License Board
License Information Center
http://www.cslb.ca.gov
Refrigeration ContractorDepartment of Consumer Affairs
Contractors State License Board
License Information Center
http://www.cslb.ca.gov
Solar ContractorDepartment of Consumer Affairs
Contractors State License Board
License Information Center
http://www.cslb.ca.gov

About Licenses
 

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)[Top]
Industry Title
Number of Employers in State of California
Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California
Building Equipment Contractors 27,38667.4%
Commercial and Industrial Machin2,4635.9%
Hardware, and Plumbing and Heati2,9451.5%
Private Colleges, Universities, an1,4801.1%
Private Elementary and Secondary15,7371.0%

About Staffing Patterns
 

Training Programs (click on title for more information)[Top]
Program Title
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maint
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maint
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Eng

About Training & Apprenticeships
 

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)[Top]
Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)
Repair or service heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to improve efficiency, such as by changing filters, cleaning ducts, or refilling non-toxic refrigerants.
Install and test automatic, programmable, or wireless thermostats in residential or commercial buildings to minimize energy usage for heating or cooling.
Install or repair self-contained ground source heat pumps or hybrid ground or air source heat pumps to minimize carbon-based energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions.
Install dehumidifiers or related equipment for spaces that require cool, dry air to operate efficiently, such as computer rooms.
Install magnetic-centrifugal chillers, compressors, or related equipment to cool air temperatures through the use of recirculating water.
Install or repair air purification systems, such as specialized filters or ultraviolet (UV) light purification systems.
Install radiator controls for room-level zone control heating of residential or commercial buildings.
Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.
Test pipe or tubing joints or connections for leaks, using pressure gauge or soap-and-water solution.
Join pipes or tubing to equipment and to fuel, water, or refrigerant source, to form complete circuit.

More Tasks for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers , More Tasks for Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers, More Tasks for Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers


Top Skills used in this Job
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

More Skills for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers , More Skills for Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers, More Skills for Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers


Top Abilities (Attributes of the person that influence performance in this job.)
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

More Abilities for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers , More Abilities for Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers, More Abilities for Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers


Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)
Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.
Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

More WorkValues for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers , More WorkValues for Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers, More WorkValues for Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers


Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)
Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

More Interests for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers , More Interests for Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers, More Interests for Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers


Alternate Titles
Furnace Converters; Gas Furnace Installers; Heating and Air Conditioning Technicians and Installers; Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technicians; Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR) Technicians; Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers; Retrofitting Specialists
 
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