8 Types of HVAC Jobs: Find Your Perfect Job

HVAC is a large industry and there are many HVAC jobs needed for different tasks. If you’re just getting started, you might want to know some of the common HVAC jobs on the market, what they do, what are the requirements and what the future of the job looks like.

Hence, I’ve gathered 8 types of HVAC jobs that I think are most commonly available to help you choose. I’ll explain what the job is about, what skill or knowledge is needed for the job, and what the salary and career advancement look like.

My explanation may not 100% apply to you because it is very different from place to place, but it certainly can give you insights on what to expect if you were going to pursue those HVAC jobs. Without further ado, let’s get started.

1. Field Technician

Field technicians are hands-on people who install, service and repair HVAC equipment. They are usually found in contracting firms and building management companies. Field technicians are people who do the actual work.

In a contracting firm, field technicians are usually deployed to service HVAC systems that are installed by their company, either due to contractual obligations or paid-to-service work. If the client has a large building, the technician may just be based on that building until the contract ends.

Technicians are also needed in large buildings to service and maintain the building’s HVAC system. Such technicians are often known as in-house technicians within the building’s maintenance team. Unless there are severe HVAC problems, in-house technicians usually can resolve on their own.

Field Technician Job Requirement:

Field technicians are required to have basic knowledge of various HVAC equipment such as split air conditioners, multi-split systems, VRF systems, chillers, pumps and cooling towers, depending on what the employing company prefers.

Due to the nature of the work, field technicians must know how to use basic tools such as pressure gauges, ammeters, refrigerant repair kits and brazing tools. Further knowledge of construction site rules and installation procedures is needed if the technician is also required to perform installations.

Fortunately, new technicians are frequently guided by senior technicians. They learn the procedures, skills and knowledge from their seniors for a year or two before becoming independent.

Salary and Career Advancement:

Most field technicians start at a fairly low salary. As they progress, their salary gradually increases. If they manage to be independent and receive less to no complaints from their clients, they may be promoted to a senior position in which their salary increases noticeably.

In specialized fields like chillers and pumps, skilled technicians have very attractive pay due to scarcity. Many buildings can’t afford to have long downtime on their HVAC systems. Hence, technicians who can resolve complex HVAC problems in a fairly short time are extremely valuable.

2. Service Engineer

Service engineers are technical people who resolve HVAC problems alongside their technicians. They focus on communicating with equipment suppliers, vendors and system specialists to resolve technical issues on the site.

If a contracting company has many completed projects, service engineers may be required to lead the field technicians and assist with problem-solving from a technical perspective. Service engineers often aren’t required to be hands-on.

Service engineers are also needed in companies that focus on large-scale HVAC service work. These works are often contract or service agreement-based. Some service engineers also need to manage service tools, vehicles and stores.

Service Engineer Job Requirement:

Service engineers are required to have good technical knowledge, primarily on the working principle, design and system configuration of various HVAC systems. They are also expected to have good writing and communication skills to deal with suppliers, vendors and clients.

Salary and Career Advancement:

Service engineers may start at an average pay, often higher than technicians. Their advancement is primarily to become an assistant service manager and eventually a service manager. When stepping into o managerial role, KPIs, profit/loss and getting more service agreements become the primary responsibility.

3. Site Supervisor

Site supervisors are checkers who physically inspect the work done by technicians, subcontractors and workers to ensure the work is being carried out as per the schedule, quality and cost control requirements. Site supervisors are people who are responsible for the completion of HVAC installations.

In a construction site (new building development), site supervisors need to set up the temporary store, manage workers’ attendance and arrange the installation of HVAC systems as planned. Most of the time, site supervisors also need to attend site meetings and report their progress accordingly.

Site supervisors are usually needed in large building construction projects. They may be employed by HVAC contractors who have successfully secured the project. A site supervisor may be required to handle two to three projects at the same time, depending on the scale of each project.

Site Supervisor Job Requirement:

Site supervisors need to have strong people management skills because they deal with supervisors from other trades, subcontractors and their own company’s workers. Their primary job is to ensure the installation work is being carried out appropriately. Hence, supervisors must not fear to speak out and report any problems even if it could offend others.

Other than that, supervisors need to have basic knowledge of the working principle and installation procedures of various HVAC systems so that they can spot incorrect installation. They also need basic computer skills to send emails and produce reports.

Salary and Career Advancement:

Supervisors generally start at a low pay and gradually climb to an assistant construction manager role and eventually a construction manager role, if they can resolve 99% of the issues on the site. The salary of an experienced construction manager can even rival of a similarly experienced project manager.

To advance quickly, site supervisors need to have good writing and communication skills. They also need to step into material and cost management as those are what a construction manager does.

4. Project Engineer

Project engineers are technical-based people who ensure the installation of HVAC systems is performed as per the requirements of their clients, the project consultants, local authorities and international standards. Project engineers are the person in charge of a given construction project.

In a construction site, project engineers work very closely with their supervisors. They obtain approvals from the M&E consultants on the installation procedures, standards to follow, layout drawings and materials used for the installation before the physical work starts.

Project engineers continuously monitor site progress and report to their managers or directly to the client on a higher level. They often need to raise on-site issues such as design discrepancy, technical difficulties, design-related installation obstructions and approval delays via letters, RFIs and CVIs.

Project Engineer Job Requirement:

Project engineers are expected to have good technical knowledge of various HVAC systems. They need to be familiar with the installation procedures to request the right materials to the construction site for installation.

Technical issues are common in construction projects. Hence, project engineers must be able to propose solutions to problems so that they don’t hinder and delay the construction progress which could lead to hefty penalties.

Other than that, project engineers should also equipped with basic contractual knowledge as most of the construction projects are contract-based. Basic computer skills, good writing and communication skills are basic to project engineers.

Salary and Career Advancement:

Project engineers often start with a slightly higher salary than supervisors. Depending on their performance, they can be promoted to a senior position within 3 years, subsequently to an assistant project manager and eventually a project manager. Project managers are some of the highest-paying HVAC jobs in the construction field.

5. M&E Consultant

M&E consultants are designers who design various mechanical systems including HVAC, fire protection and plumbing systems. On rare occasions, they may be assigned to solely focus on HVAC design, especially if the project is gigantic in scale.

M&E consultants often have higher authority in a construction project. They decide how much capacity is needed for the HVAC system, what system to pursue, what material to use, how long is the design life and any backup system for future expansions based on the client’s needs.

In large organizations, M&E consultants may be employed for in-house verifications. These M&E consultants may be viewed as in-house consultants. They countercheck third-party design and provide technical advice or changes where appropriate.

M&E Consultant Job Requirement:

M&E consultants are expected to have strong technical knowledge. They are often required to have formal education from recognized institutions. Many employers prefer a registered or certified M&E consultant to ensure basic engineering standards are met.

In terms of HVAC, M&E consultants are required to know how to use various HVAC software and tools such as HAP, TRACE and duct/pipe sizers. Calculations and sizings such as cooling/heating load, static pressure and pump head are essential skills to M&E consultants.

Salary and Career Advancement:

M&E consultants start at an average pay and gradually increase as they acquire more skills and move up in positions. M&E consultants can move up to a senior position and eventually a managerial role, leading 4-6 consultants depending on the company size.

Simultaneously, M&E consultants can also pursue further studies and become specialized to get certified as professional engineers recognized by local or international laws. With certifications, they bear more responsibilities while also seeing a significant jump in earnings, given the opportunity.

If you’re keen to pursue this career, I encourage you to consider my HVAC online courses (https://course.aircondlounge.com) to acquire the necessary skills.

6. Sales Engineer

Sales engineers are people who primarily sell a certain type of HVAC equipment to contractors or directly to building developers. They may also introduce their latest technology to M&E consultants for adoption through presentations, seminars and webinars.

What separates sales engineers from regular salesperson is that sales engineers have good technical knowledge about their engineering products. They can explain complex technical systems to their clients and negotiate a deal for their company.

Depending on which company they work for, sales engineers can focus on selling VRF air conditioners, chillers, pumps, cooling towers or smaller devices such as temperature sensors and flow meters which are all parts of a complete HVAC system.

Sales Engineer Job Requirement:

Sales engineers are primarily required to meet potential clients or serve existing clients regularly. They often need to support their sales team and land a new deal whenever possible. Hence, good communication and presentation skills are essential.

Depending on the company they work for, sales engineers can have sales targets that they or their team needs to hit for performance reviews and extra bonuses. So, result-driven and self-disciplined are some of the common traits of sales engineers.

Salary and Career Advancement:

The salary of sales engineers is often tied to a commission scheme. An outstanding sales engineer can earn as much as an experienced project manager. Technical skills and working experience are less of a concern if a sales engineer can consistently strike a good deal for the company.

After 3-5 years of good performance, a sales engineer can be promoted to a sales manager with more responsibilities but higher earnings. The nature of the sales role enables much higher earning potential compared to other HVAC jobs.

7. R&D Engineer

R&D engineers are engineering developers who work on new products, procedures, policies and standards for their HVAC products. They are often the most technical people in a manufacturing company.

Depending on where you’re located, the role of research and development (R&D) in the HVAC field may or may not be a priority, which affects the availability and value of this job.

Countries like the United States and Japan naturally have more R&D jobs because they are the original countries of manufacturing for popular brands like Carrier, Trane, Daikin and Mitsubishi. However, R&D roles for local procedures and standard development may still required.

R&D Engineer Job Requirement:

R&D engineers are required to have good computer, writing, reporting and communication skills. They are often the one who writes the engineering, installation and service manuals for various HVAC products such as air conditioners, pumps and chillers.

Some R&D engineers also need to have certain analytical skills when they need to support their sales team on competitor surveys. Occasionally, R&D engineers need to support their sales team in terms of technical explanations and product demonstrations.

Salary and Career Advancement:

R&D engineers often start at a basic pay. After a few years of working, they may lead the R&D department where they’ll see a significant increase in their salary. If an R&D engineer is working on the latest technology in the company’s headquarters, the pay can be fairly attractive.

With artificial intelligence (AI) in trend, R&D engineers who can incorporate AI into their products are extremely valuable as their products may have an edge over their competitors.

8. Self-Employed

Regardless of your initial job, you can always spin out to be a self-employed person, either with your own company or working as a freelancer. As a self-employed, you’ll be responsible for your work and earnings.

Field technicians and service engineers have years of troubleshooting experience. They can get their service agreement from loyal clients and start their own HVAC servicing business.

Site supervisors and project engineers who have been exposed to the construction field for multiple years can partner with a trusted one to form their own contracting companies. They can undertake projects for both commercial and residential HVAC systems.

M&E consultants can become freelance designers, independent consultants, in-house technical advisors or form their own consulting company to take on design projects on their own.

Sales engineers and R&D engineers also have a good opportunity to be self-employed. Over the year, they have gathered a network of client base which they can leverage for their newly formed contracting or product supplying company to kick start their business.

Conclusion

Overall, there are many HVAC jobs available on the market. Depending on what you’re good at and how would you like your future job to be, you can pick one that suits you the best. However, the above 8 HVAC jobs are not everything the HVAC industry has to offer. Check out popular job listing sites to explore more HVAC job opportunities.