How to hire an ac technician

How to hire an ac technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step ac technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an ac technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new ac technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your ac technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an ac technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An ac technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, ac technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of ac technicians.

   Type of AC Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   AC Technician	Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers—often called heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) technicians—work on heating, ventilation, cooling, and refrigeration systems that control the temperature and air quality in buildings.	$15-35
   Hvac Installer	An HVAC installer is responsible for working on office and house appliances, including heating systems, ventilation, and air conditioning units. HVAC installers follow and analyze the item's schematics and blueprints and conduct regular maintenance to ensure the efficiency of its systems... Show more	$14-31
   Installer Apprentice	An elevator installer apprentice is a trainee who trains under a skilled elevator installer to install, fix, and maintain elevators, escalators, and other lifts. Elevator installer apprentices must assist in assembling elevator cars as well as connecting electrical wiring to control panels and electric motors... Show more	$13-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • HVAC
   • Safety Procedures
   • Preventive Maintenance
   • Plumbing
   • Service Calls
   • Air-Conditioning Systems
   • Air Handlers
   • Blowers
   • Brazing
   • Freon
   • Emergency Repairs
   • A/C Systems
   • Safety Equipment
   • Condensers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Install, maintain, and repair HVAC/R equipment and associate control systems.
   • Air conditioning technicians are responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
   • Repair and service HVAC/R and relate equipment.
   • Assist A/C technicians, check freon level and add freon as needed.
   • Replace compressors, thermal expansion valves, copper line sets, evaporators and condenser coils.
   • Utilize various tools such as nitrogen and acetylene tanks for brazing integral components of the units.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your ac technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An ac technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, ac technicians' average salary in west virginia is 50% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level ac technicians 55% less than senior-level ac technicians.
   • Certifications. An ac technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an ac technician's salary.

   Average ac technician salary

   $49,910yearly

   $24.00 hourly rate

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   Entry-level ac technician salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 13, 2026

4. Writing an ac technician job description

   A good ac technician job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an ac technician job description:

   Ac technician job description example

   Required Travel: 0 - 10%
   
   Employment Type: Full Time/Hourly/Non-Exempt
   
   Hours Per Week: 40
   
   Security Clearance: Ability to Obtain
   
   Level of Experience: Mid
   
   Summary
   
   * Must have a Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) Badge or Common Access Card (CAC) to start.*
   
   $2,000 Sign on bonus available for candidates that possess a EPA Universal Refrigerant Certification.
   
   This position proactively supports the US Navy Commander, Naval Air Force, US Atlantic Fleet's (COMNAVAIRLANT) Carrier Engineering Maintenance Assist Team (CEMAT) Project, for shipboard Auxiliary Engineering Equipment including Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Pumps, Water Heaters, Solid Waste Processing Equipment and HP / LP Air Compressors. Duties will include training and mentoring junior personnel (coworkers and customers - ships force personnel) in techniques and processes used to assess, troubleshoot, maintain, repair, and operate systems and equipment while simultaneously performing hands on maintenance and repairs. #LI-MJ1 *TL *MV
   
   What you will do
   
   * Applies comprehensive understanding of production and processes toward completion of assignments.
   * Responsible for interfacing with customers, managing subcontractors and ability to provide work direction to others.
   * Performs a variety of complicated and non routine tasks.
   * Develops and uses technical documents including controlled work packages, formal work processes and procedures, test documents, reports and task or trip reports.
   * Schedules, reports and briefs customers and senior management.
   * Performs duties outside of specialty in order to complete installation or work assignment.
   
   What you must have
   
   * Must have High School education or equivalent, and 4 years of related experience.
   * Must have hands-on experience with install, test, trouble shoot and repair of mechanical systems on Air Conditioning and associated systems/equipment.
   * Must have experience documenting maintenance and quality assurance data.
   * Must have an EPA Universal Refrigerant Certification.
   * Must have ability to train, teach and/or mentor coworkers and customer personnel in maintenance procedures and troubleshooting techniques.
   * Must have the ability to read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings and/or technical manuals.
   * Must have the ability to obtain a DoD confidential clearance and maintain the clearance throughout employment.
   * Must be able to obtain base access credentials and maintain them throughout employment.
   * Must be able to provide own hand tools as designated per trades specialty,
   * Must be a U.S. Citizen.
   
   Preferred: Bonus points for...
   
   * Installation, test, troubleshoot and repair experience of shipboard AC&R systems and equipment preferred.
   * Experience documenting maintenance and quality assurance in U.S. Navy systems preferred.
   * Possession of current or active DoD security clearance a plus.
   * Formal AC&R school or course certification a plus.
   
   Physical Requirements
   
   Must be able to lift, carry and transport heavy equipment and boxes. The exact weight requirements will be determined by the specific job, but no less than 30 lbs. Able to work on and climb ladders, work in extreme temperature environments, aboard ships, in shipyards, under industrial conditions and in confined spaces. Able to perform other duties as required which may involve high heat, humidity, noise and dirty conditions, working aloft or over the sides of vessels. May ride ships at sea for extended periods. May require wearing a respirator. Travel may be required within and outside of the continental United States.
   
   This opportunity resides with Fleet Sustainment, a business group within HII's Mission Technologies division. For 40 years, the U.S. Navy has entrusted HII to maintain and modernize the vast majority of its fleet. From small watercraft to submarines, combatants and aircraft carriers, our systems and maintenance experts help the Navy maintain a high state of readiness. And, we deploy with the most advanced technology and capability available.
   
   HII is a global engineering and defense technologies provider. With a 135-year history of trusted partnerships in advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities ranging from the most powerful and survivable naval ships ever built, to unmanned systems, ISR and AI/ML analytics. HII leads the industry in mission-driven solutions that support and enable a networked, all-domain force. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's skilled workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, please visit:

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find ac technicians for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your ac technician job on Zippia to find and recruit ac technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting ac technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new ac technician

   Once you have selected a candidate for the ac technician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new ac technician. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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