How to hire an air-conditioning mechanic

How to hire an air-conditioning mechanic, step by step

Here's a step-by-step air-conditioning mechanic hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your air-conditioning mechanic 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 air-conditioning mechanic 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 air-conditioning mechanic's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, air-conditioning mechanics 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 air-conditioning mechanics.

   Type of Air-Conditioning Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Air-Conditioning Mechanic	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.	$15-29
   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:

   • Ladders
   • Ventilation
   • Condensers
   • Hand Tools
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Ice Machines
   • Control Systems
   • Switches
   • Refrigeration Equipment
   • Exhaust Fans
   • Evaporators
   • Cooling Towers
   • Hot Water
   • Plumbing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain the equipment by reassembling the evaporators, condensers and receivers, repackaging the valves.
   • Repair freezers, swamp coolers, condensers, pumps and other relate equipment.
   • Maintain drains, PVC, piping, and systems for inspectional services reviews.
   • Experience in soldering and brazing for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration piping.
   • Install and repair ventilation systems in the dining facility and buildings (whole compound).
   • Specialize in brazing copper pipe (flexible and hard) and the installation of duct/ventilation system according to blueprint.

   More air-conditioning mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the air-conditioning mechanic job description is a good way to get more applicants. An air-conditioning mechanic salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an air-conditioning mechanic in Mississippi may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level air-conditioning mechanic. Additionally, an air-conditioning mechanic with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average air-conditioning mechanic salary

   $44,852yearly

   $21.56 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level air-conditioning mechanic salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average air-conditioning mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$69,065	$33
   2	Connecticut	$68,408	$33
   3	District of Columbia	$63,702	$31
   4	North Dakota	$61,235	$29
   5	New Jersey	$60,733	$29
   6	New York	$56,613	$27
   7	Rhode Island	$56,485	$27
   8	Massachusetts	$56,343	$27
   9	Maryland	$55,609	$27
   10	Virginia	$52,834	$25
   11	Wisconsin	$52,682	$25
   12	Indiana	$52,579	$25
   13	Arizona	$50,278	$24
   14	Michigan	$49,742	$24
   15	Hawaii	$48,069	$23
   16	South Carolina	$42,531	$20
   17	Texas	$41,026	$20
   18	Tennessee	$40,001	$19
   19	Georgia	$36,576	$18
   20	Florida	$34,724	$17

   Average air-conditioning mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Halifax Health	$58,484	$28.12	1
   2	R & R Services Corporation	$55,173	$26.53	1
   3	Northrop Grumman	$53,877	$25.90	22
   4	Baltimore County Golf	$53,257	$25.60	4
   5	Missouri State University	$52,636	$25.31
   6	General Dynamics	$52,178	$25.09	36
   7	Orange County	$50,095	$24.08	8
   8	Georgia State University	$49,455	$23.78	5
   9	Lockheed Martin	$48,348	$23.24	80
   10	Nes Holdings	$48,161	$23.15
   11	Goodyear	$45,201	$21.73	7
   12	United States Marine Corps	$44,845	$21.56
   13	NEX	$44,253	$21.28
   14	Indian Health Service	$43,207	$20.77
   15	Medical University of South Carolina	$43,086	$20.71	1
   16	County of Riverside	$42,802	$20.58	2
   17	City of Hollywood,FL	$40,962	$19.69	1
   18	City Of Miami	$40,945	$19.69	1
   19	Texas State Teachers Association	$37,629	$18.09	3
   20	Architect of the Capitol	$34,568	$16.62

4. Writing an air-conditioning mechanic job description

   An air-conditioning mechanic job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an air-conditioning mechanic job description:

   Air-conditioning mechanic job description example

   About Us
   
   At Dynamic Aviation, we solve unique challenges for our customers with innovative aviation solutions. Our focus is on operations that serve, protect, and enhance the lives of families and communities worldwide. Whether modifying aircraft to help protect our service members overseas, performing geographical mapping for scientific research, or working to suppress large wild fires on the West Coast, we serve with integrity and excellence.
   
   Since our beginning in 1967, Dynamic Aviation continues a legacy of building strong relationships among our coworkers, community and customers. Guided by our values, our talented team of more than 500 aviation professionals provide the foundation of our success. At Dynamic Aviation, everyone has the opportunity to make an impact and enrich the lives of others.
   
   You will grow both personally and professionally being a part of our team. We enjoy helping our employees achieve their potential and support them every step of the way.
   
   Are you ready to make a difference in your career and in the world? Opportunity awaits!
   
   Job Purpose: The A&P Mechanic diagnoses, adjusts, repairs and/or overhauls aircraft and related systems.
   
   Responsibilities:
   
   * Examine and inspect aircraft components, including landing gear, hydraulic systems, and deicers to locate cracks, breaks, leaks, or other problems
   * Conduct routine and special inspections as required by regulations
   * Inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are ready for operation
   * Read and interpret maintenance manuals and FAA/manufacturer publications and directives to determine the feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components
   * Maintain repair logs, documenting all preventive and corrective aircraft maintenance
   * Modify aircraft structures, systems, or components, following drawings, schematics, charts, engineering orders, and technical publications
   * Replace or repair worn, defective, or damaged components, using hand tools, gauges, and testing equipment
   * Read and interpret pilots' descriptions of problems to diagnose causes
   * Assemble and install electrical, plumbing, mechanical, hydraulic, and structural components and accessories, using hand or power tools
   * Inventory and ordering supplies, parts, materials, and equipment
   * Check for corrosion, distortion, and cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail
   * Other duties as assigned
   
   Requirements:
   
   * Must hold a valid Airframe & Powerplant license
   * Ability to perform maintenance duties utilizing basic hand tools
   * Ability to use and effectively navigate ERP program, time clock, and company intranet
   * Proven technical/mechanical knowledge of machines and tools, especially their design, uses, repair and maintenance
   * Strong written and verbal communication skills
   * Previous experience performing routine maintenance on aviation equipment, preferred King Air or Dash 8 specific experience
   * Proven ability to troubleshoot mechanical issues and use manuals to determine effective solution
   * Manage time to effectively meet company priorities
   
   Related Experience/Education:
   
   * High School diploma or equivalent required; college degree through a technical/vocational school is preferred
   * Previous experience performing routine maintenance on mechanical equipment; experience with aviation equipment including King Air or Dash 8 preferred
   
   It is the policy of Dynamic Aviation to prohibit and eliminate discrimination on grounds of race, color, religion, sex, (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristics protected by law. It is also Dynamic Aviation's policy to provide equal employment for all and comply with any affirmative action obligations pursuant to the Federal Executive Orders, 11246 and 11375, as amended.
   
   Other details
   
   * Pay Type Hourly
   
   Apply Now
   
   * Bridgewater, VA, USA

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find air-conditioning mechanics for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any air-conditioning mechanics they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level air-conditioning mechanics with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with air-conditioning mechanic candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 air-conditioning mechanic

   Once you have selected a candidate for the air-conditioning mechanic 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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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