How To Become A Hvac Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a hvac engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted Expert

Dr. Yousef Sardahi

HVAC engineers provide engineering services specialized in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. They design and test devices related to these functions to adapt them to the space they need to operate in.

They are expected to adapt devices to their customers' needs when designing and installing HVAC systems. They manage their work within given deadlines and budget restrictions, fitting in maintenance work or reparations if necessary.

A bachelor's degree in engineering is usually required of candidates for this position. Experience in working with HVAC systems also boosts the chances of getting hired; potential candidates can gain some practical know-how by completing an internship before diving into this position.

What general advice would you give to a Hvac Engineer?

Dr. Yousef Sardahi

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Marshall University

In the next 3-5 years, several skills are expected to become increasingly important in the mechanical engineering field: Advanced Computational Skills, Robotics and Automation, Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing, Renewable Energy Technologies, Data Analysis and IoT, Materials Science, Systems Engineering and Integration, Project Management and Leadership, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Communication and Soft Skills.

ScoreHvac EngineerUS Average

Salary

5.5

Avg. Salary $70,354

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.4

Growth Rate 2%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 13.34%

Black or African American 3.36%

Hispanic or Latino 9.11%

Unknown 4.59%

White 69.50%

Gender

female 4.60%

male 95.40%

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

7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.6

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.1

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a hvac engineer

Explore hvac engineer education requirements

Most common hvac engineer degrees

Bachelor's

61.7 %

Associate

10.5 %

Master's

8.9 %

Start to develop specific hvac engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Plumbing	16.91%
Preventive Maintenance	14.65%
Electrical Equipment	11.81%
Revit	4.72%
Ventilation	4.47%

Complete relevant hvac engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New hvac engineers 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 a hvac engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real hvac engineer resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed hvac engineer usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed hvac engineer in most of states. 19 states require hvac engineers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License Url
Alabama	Specific course required	State exam required	Licensed HVAC Contractor
Arkansas	-	State exam required	HVAC/R Contractor
California	-	State exam required	Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor
Connecticut	-	State exam required	Heating, Piping & Cooling Unlimited Contractor
Delaware	-	State exam required	Master HVACR

Research hvac engineer duties and responsibilities

Manage general facilities including commissioning, building management systems, and calibrations for GMP area for tablets production operation.
Maintain, service, and repair high-pressure chillers and boilers, including: plumbing, basic electricity, and heating.
Comply with OSHA's regulations on storage, use and disposal of trash, rubbish, waste and HMMAT.
Perform general electrical repairs, basic plumbing repairs.

Prepare your hvac engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your hvac engineer 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 a hvac engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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