Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
SOC Code: 49-9021 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59,717 | $77,563 | $95,389 | $113,235 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $52,915 | $68,723 | $84,510 | $100,318 |
| Anchorage, AK | $61,693 | $74,235 | $86,798 | $99,341 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $55,120 | $69,576 | $84,053 | $98,509 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $58,968 | $71,219 | $83,491 | $95,742 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $51,854 | $66,123 | $80,392 | $94,661 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $54,933 | $67,704 | $80,475 | $93,246 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $46,987 | $62,213 | $77,438 | $92,664 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $52,374 | $65,749 | $79,102 | $92,477 |
| Springfield, MA | $54,163 | $66,082 | $78,021 | $89,939 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.6 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 | |
| Troubleshooting | 3.5 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.4 | |
| Installation | 3.4 | |
| Repairing | 3.4 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.2 | |
| Active Listening | 3.2 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.2 | |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.1 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Mechanical | 4.7 |
| Building and Construction | 4.2 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.0 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.5 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.3 |
| English Language | 3.3 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.2 |
| Design | 3.2 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some college | 68.1% |
| Less than high school | 20.2% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 6.9% |
| High school diploma | 3.3% |
| Associate's degree | 1.5% |
Typical Tasks
- Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.
- Repair or replace defective equipment, components, or wiring.
- Discuss heating or cooling system malfunctions with users to isolate problems or to verify that repairs corrected malfunctions.
- Connect heating or air conditioning equipment to fuel, water, or refrigerant source to form complete circuit.
- Install, connect, or adjust thermostats, humidistats, or timers.
- Comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area.
- Study blueprints, design specifications, or manufacturers' recommendations to ascertain the configuration of heating or cooling equipment components and to ensure the proper installation of components.
- Install auxiliary components to heating or cooling equipment, such as expansion or discharge valves, air ducts, pipes, blowers, dampers, flues, or stokers.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Acrobat Autodesk AutoCAD Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word SAP software Alerton Ascent Compass Atlas Construction Business Forms Building automation software Computer aided design CAD software Computerized maintenance management system CMMS Contact management systems Cworks CMMS
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