Best Jobs for Veterans in NYC: HVACR Service

As a military veteran or current service member getting ready to transition back to civilian life and a new job in the NYC area, you may be wondering what your next step should be. New York is a very competitive marketplace, which can make it hard to stand out.

In this blog, we’ll look at some of the factors that make heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) service technician among the best jobs for veterans in NYC.

Why is HVACR technician one of the best jobs for veterans in NYC?

A job as an HVACR service technician offers many of the qualities that veterans look for in jobs for retired military.

Job security

According to the U.S. the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the demand for HVACR services is outpacing all other occupations combined — projected to grow at a rate of 13 percent from 2018 to 2028 and adding tens of thousands of new jobs in that time.

That’s on top of a current shortage of 70,000 jobs in HVACR, which BLS says will grow to 115,000 over the next few years. Additionally, unlike some other jobs in the construction field, HVACR service technicians are in demand year-round — making HVACR technician a secure job in a growing industry.

“Having a wife and daughter, my biggest thing transitioning out of the Navy was job security,” said Dan DeVito, a refrigeration technician who now works on industrial chillers in his job at Johnson Controls. “And the way I saw it, if there’s one thing everyone’s always going to need, it’s heating and cooling.”

Great pay & benefits

According to the New York State Department of Labor, the average salary for an entry-level HVACR technician in New York City is $46,840 per year. For an experienced HVAC technician, the average salary is $80,810 per year.

As a member of UA Steamfitters Local 638, the union that represents HVACR workers in the five boroughs and Long Island, a service technician can earn over $100,000 per year within 5 years. In addition, union members get sought-after benefits including excellent health insurance, paid time off, and a pension, as well as other job support.

After serving four years of active duty as an MP in the Marine Corps, Joe McAuley went to school for criminal justice and was going to become a police officer. But ultimately, he decided to pursue a career in HVACR.

“What attracted me most about HVAC was the phenomenal union that’s behind this trade,” said Joe. “The benefits, pension, and guaranteed raises by scale are great — and if something should happen to your job, the union can help you get another one.”

Learn more about the local HVACR union in the NYC area.

Interesting technical work

An HVACR service technician’s job involves troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining complex technology, making use of both technical and mechanical skills. That makes the work varied and challenging.

Any technician will tell you the job is always different from one day to next. For example, a typical day might involve traveling to a few locations and solving different problems in a wide range of settings, from apartments and single-family houses to office buildings, schools, factories, restaurants, supermarkets, and retail stores.

In addition, an HVACR technician’s job is highly rewarding because it involves performing an important service that helps others. By taking care of the systems that control temperature, humidity, and air quality in residential and commercial spaces, a service technician helps to keep people safe and comfortable.

Training support

Most HVACR employers in the NYC area hire people for entry-level apprentice or helper positions with little to no experience. These entry-level technicians train for free on the job, working alongside a more experienced technician and earning a salary while they learn.

Many employers also offer more formal internal training on safe working practices and, in conjunction with equipment manufacturers, new technology and refresher courses. In addition, many companies pay for apprentices and helpers to attend training programs that are available through the union.

For instance, UA Local 638 offers a 3-year technician training program and a state-approved 4-year apprenticeship training program. The union also offers ongoing classes on topics related to new technology, tools, and safety practices.

A career path

Working as an HVACR service technician can also open the door to other jobs within the industry, such as job estimator, field supervisor, project manager, or operations manager. Learn more about the HVAC Career Path: What Are the Possibilities for Service Technicians?

What makes HVACR jobs after the military such a great fit?

One of the reasons why HVACR is among the best jobs for military veterans is because it utilizes so many of the skills that service members typically learn or excel at during their military careers.

As Dan DeVito said, “When it comes to the trades, former military personnel already have a base template of a good employee: Someone who shows up to work on time, isn’t afraid to work, isn’t afraid to do what’s necessary to get things done, and has amazing adaptability.”

And it just so happens that these and other skills that veterans have are high on the list of what prospective employers look for in an HVACR service technician.

Reliability & strong work ethic

Employers and customers both need to know they can count on an HVACR service technician to show up on time, work hard under often difficult conditions, and deliver on work promises. The discipline and commitment that a veteran exhibited throughout his or her military career is a natural fit for a demanding yet rewarding career in HVACR.

Great communication skills

Another important HVACR service technician skill is the ability to explain things clearly, know when to ask questions, and keep everyone up to date and informed.

Communicating with customers and co-workers in a helpful, professional, and friendly manner is a vital part of the HVACR technician’s job — and so the communications skills learned in the military are critically important. “Customer service is probably my number one asset,” said a former Marine, now a technician at Arista Air Conditioning. “My ability to speak to others with confidence comes from my background in the Marine Corps.”

Mechanical & technical abilities

Having mechanical skills and being good with your hands is a necessary qualification for HVACR work. If you already know how to use some basic tools from your experience in the military (or elsewhere), that skill will serve you well in your HVACR technician training.

However, it is equally important to have technical know-how and the ability to work with complex technologies. With advancements in heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems, as well as new technologies creating areas of specialization and new jobs, prior military experience learning and working with different kinds of equipment and software makes this field a great fit for many veterans looking for jobs in NYC.

Read more about the “tech” side of being an HVACR technician.

How can you get started in one of these high-paying jobs for veterans?

Here are just a few of the ways to pursue HVACR as one of the best jobs for veterans in NYC:

• If you are an active duty service member within 180 days of being discharged, the DoD SkillBridge program can connect you with training and development in industries that are seeking the kind of skills and experience that veterans have. It offers formal industry training as well as employer-sponsored internships and apprenticeship.
• Helmets to Hardhats is a nonprofit program that connects National Guard, Reserve, retired, and transitioning active-duty military service members with skilled training and career opportunities in the construction. Its website career resources include the ability to search for jobs by trade and location, such as UA jobs for service technicians, as well as support resources for veterans.
• Our HVACR Career Connect website offers a range of HVAC and refrigeration career resources for military veterans and other job seekers, including training videos and resume tools. Check them out today!

HVACR Career Connect NY was created to promote the exceptional quality-of-life benefits of a career in HVAC and Refrigeration service, and also to provide a clear path for getting started in the profession. In doing so, we serve as a resource for employers in the New York City metro area to find and hire smart and capable new technicians. We also serve as an educational resource to support business growth and to help service technicians succeed in their chosen profession.