Career Spotlight: HVAC Instructor

Thinking about the next step in your HVAC & Refrigeration technical career? For those who have gained considerable knowledge and experience through field work, consider passing along your expertise to others by becoming an HVAC Instructor.

What is an HVAC Instructor and what do they do?

Simply put, an HVAC Instructor helps to train and prepare the next generation of technicians to install, maintain, and repair HVAC & Refrigeration equipment. They also help current technicians stay up to date on the latest tools, technologies, and procedures. 

An HVAC Instructor may work for a trade school, a vocational high school school, a college or university, a larger HVAC or Refrigeration service company, a local union or even an equipment manufacturer. The job may be full time or part time.

Here are some responsibilities of an HVAC Instructor:

• Teach theory and basic information about how systems work
• Teach proper tool use and tool maintenance
• Teach safety practices
• Tech skills needed to install equipment and systems
• Provide hands-on training for specific skills needed to diagnose problems, make repairs and perform systems maintenance
• Mentor young trainees and provide career guidance
• Monitor student progress 
• May develop course curriculum
• Stay up to date on the latest tools, technologies and processes
• Prepare students for testing and certification exams

How much can you earn as an HVAC Instructor?

The average full-time salary for an HVAC Instructor in New York City is approximately $57,000, but that can vary considerably depending on your experience. Training program directors can earn as much as $90,000.

Working full time as an instructor, you’ll typically also have medical/dental/vision benefits as well as paid time off and a retirement plan.

What skills and qualifications are required to get hired?

These are some of the qualifications that employers look for when hiring an HVAC Instructor:

• Certification requirements vary by state and employer (EPA 608, NATE, OSHA)
• 5 years of field experience 
• Strong knowledge of residential and commercial heating and cooling systems, including tools, installation, maintenance, diagnosis, and repair
• Demonstrate a love of learning
• Communication skills (written and verbal)
• Interpersonal and classroom management skills
• Computer skills
• Organizational skills
• Experience mentoring other technicians
• Engineering degree of equivalent may be required by some employers
• Training or public speaking experience may be required by some employers

Learn more about careers in HVAC & Refrigeration

Check out our Career Spotlights to learn more about career paths in the HVACR industry. 

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.