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What is an air conditioning service technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
John Terasconi
introduction image
The average air conditioning service technician salary is $51,938. The most common degree is a high school diploma degree with an heating and air conditioning major. It usually takes 2-4 years of experience to become an air conditioning service technician. Air conditioning service technicians with a EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 20,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to an air conditioning service technician?

John TerasconiJohn Terasconi LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, HVAC-R Department Chair, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology

The best advice I could give is to stay focused on your job and strive to learn as much as possible. Take the time to truly understand the systems you're working on, continuously develop your skills, and absorb as much knowledge as possible from every source available. The more you know, the more valuable you become.

ScoreAir Conditioning Service TechnicianUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $51,938

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
7.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 2.43%

Black or African American 6.51%

Hispanic or Latino 24.99%

Unknown 4.11%

White 61.22%

Gender

female 3.07%

male 96.93%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress level
7.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Air conditioning service technician career paths

Key steps to become an air conditioning service technician

  1. Explore air conditioning service technician education requirements

    Most common air conditioning service technician degrees

    High School Diploma

    26.9 %

    Associate

    20.1 %

    Bachelor's

    19.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific air conditioning service technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Plumbing13.02%
    Hand Tools8.24%
    Preventative Maintenance8.08%
    Emergency Repairs6.12%
    Ventilation5.59%
  3. Complete relevant air conditioning service technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New air conditioning service technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an air conditioning service technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real air conditioning service technician resumes.
  4. Gain additional air conditioning service technician certifications

    Air conditioning service technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific air conditioning service technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for air conditioning service technicians include EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) and Journeyman Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research air conditioning service technician duties and responsibilities

    • Prepare work site (e.g., set up scaffold, ladders, stands, etc . )
    • Braze and solder pipes and cleaned/glu plastic PVC piping.
    • Place fan belt on pulleys, adjust tension and tighten bolts.
    • Prepare worksite and work from scaffolds, ladders, stands, etc.
  6. Prepare your air conditioning service technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your air conditioning service technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an air conditioning service technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable air conditioning service technician resume templates

    Build a professional air conditioning service technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your air conditioning service technician resume.
    Air Conditioning Service Technician Resume
    Air Conditioning Service Technician Resume
    Air Conditioning Service Technician Resume
    Air Conditioning Service Technician Resume
    Air Conditioning Service Technician Resume
    Air Conditioning Service Technician Resume
    Air Conditioning Service Technician Resume
    Air Conditioning Service Technician Resume
    Air Conditioning Service Technician Resume
  7. Apply for air conditioning service technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an air conditioning service technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first air conditioning service technician job

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Average air conditioning service technician salary

The average air conditioning service technician salary in the United States is $51,938 per year or $25 per hour. Air conditioning service technician salaries range between $35,000 and $75,000 per year.

Average air conditioning service technician salary
$51,938 Yearly
$24.97 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do air conditioning service technicians rate their job?

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Air conditioning service technician reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

Fixing problems , make customers happy , be a good team member in the companie, learning more each day....


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Different work environment ,people , equipment types . Technology


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Pros

Love the constant change and challenge of the work. Being outside and on the go instead of in a building or office all day.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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