How to hire a hvac engineer

How to hire a hvac engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step hvac engineer hiring guide:

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

What does a hvac engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a hvac engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a hvac engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a hvac engineer that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of hvac engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Hvac Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Hvac Engineer	Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.	$24-46
   Research And Development Engineer	Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies... Show more	$35-64
   Product Development Engineer	A Product Development Engineer is responsible for creating and testing new product designs. They collaborate with market researchers to evaluate market needs, existing competition, and potential costs.	$30-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Plumbing
   • Preventive Maintenance
   • Electrical Equipment
   • Revit
   • Ventilation
   • EPA
   • Roofing
   • Chillers
   • System Design
   • HVAC/R
   • Mechanical Systems
   • Control Systems
   • CAD
   • Service Calls

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Operate and maintain heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation systems.
   • Calculate heat load for various air condition areas and ventilation requirements for various areas.

   More hvac engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the hvac engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A hvac engineer 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 a hvac engineer in North Dakota may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level hvac engineer. Additionally, a hvac engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average hvac engineer salary

   $70,354yearly

   $33.82 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level hvac engineer salary

   $50,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average hvac engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$104,994	$50
   2	Massachusetts	$101,841	$49
   3	Michigan	$85,859	$41
   4	Washington	$85,079	$41
   5	New York	$84,488	$41
   6	Oregon	$83,440	$40
   7	Pennsylvania	$82,621	$40
   8	New Jersey	$79,239	$38
   9	Maryland	$79,004	$38
   10	Nevada	$76,472	$37
   11	North Carolina	$75,363	$36
   12	Tennessee	$71,437	$34
   13	Colorado	$70,981	$34
   14	Indiana	$70,706	$34
   15	Ohio	$70,688	$34
   16	Georgia	$70,517	$34
   17	Texas	$69,330	$33
   18	Louisiana	$67,899	$33
   19	Oklahoma	$66,235	$32
   20	Missouri	$65,974	$32

   Average hvac engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	AbbVie	$105,338	$50.64	37
   2	Booz Allen Hamilton	$97,185	$46.72	76
   3	Pfizer	$95,064	$45.70	1
   4	General Motors	$93,812	$45.10	307
   5	Hyatt Hotels	$86,421	$41.55	15
   6	Jacobs Engineering Group	$85,836	$41.27
   7	3M Company	$82,631	$39.73	36
   8	Marriott International	$81,676	$39.27	63
   9	Intertek	$81,567	$39.21	8
   10	CBRE Group	$81,530	$39.20	535
   11	Engineering System Solutions	$80,741	$38.82
   12	MPW	$79,191	$38.07
   13	Baxter Regional Medical Center	$78,775	$37.87	2
   14	CSL Plasma	$77,314	$37.17
   15	Roush	$77,139	$37.09	11
   16	JLL	$77,126	$37.08	337
   17	Jacobs Enterprises	$77,063	$37.05	279
   18	CB Richard Ellis Memphis LLC	$77,044	$37.04
   19	KBR	$77,012	$37.02	45
   20	Pacific Hospitality Group	$76,990	$37.01

4. Writing a hvac engineer job description

   A hvac engineer 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. Below, you can find an example of a hvac engineer job description:

   Hvac engineer job description example

   Do you like to solve problems in an engaging, collaborative, team environment? Are you excited about discovery, technical innovation, and achievement? Does working in a flexible culture with professional growth opportunities, a family friendly vibe, and smart, caring colleagues make for a great day? If so, consider an employment opportunity at Foth and join these members who enjoy their employment experience.
   
   Foth Production Solutions works closely with consumer product companies to solve their toughest technical challenges. We partner with clients to help streamline their capital spending and business decision process, enable operational efficiencies, and launch new products. We provide clients with a flexible offering of project engagement that ranges across consulting, engineering, design-build, and/or mixed execution through project start-up.
   
   Foth Production Solutions, LLC is currently seeking a team-focused, innovative, and results-oriented Lead Process Engineer (Utilities/HVAC) who has a desire to contribute to our clients' success and is looking for new learning experiences and opportunities for career growth. This position will be working out of California.
   Primary Responsibilities:
   - Coordinate with other project disciplines as required
   - Develop equipment specifications
   - Work with clients, vendors, and suppliers to develop cost estimates and provide input for proposals
   - Develop mass energy balances
   - Develop process and instrumentation drawings (P&IDs)
   - Develop equipment lists, line lists, and POC lists
   - Develop operation specifications
   - Work with designers to create drawings
   - Write installation scope documents
   - Support construction to include onsite and remote
   - Lead checkout/start-up efforts associated with project work
   - Coach and mentor others as required
   Required Qualifications:Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering or equivalent technical experience10+ years' experience7+ years of experience with utility systems Ability to travel as needed with anticipation of 25% annually
   Required previous experience with the following: Engineered Package development including: Scope of Work, P&IDs, & Mechanical Equipment Arrangements. Industrial HVAC systems and Dust Control systems Utility Systems including: steam, hydronics, process water, compressed air Process and utility system piping design Developing Equipment SpecificationsMass Energy Balance of Utility SystemsDehumidification/humidification and associated methodologies Proficient with psychrometrics
   Preferred Qualifications:Registered Professional Engineer or ability to obtain within 24 months Experience utilizing 3D design tools (Plant 3D, VR, and 3D Scans) Sanitary HVAC systems for food and pharmaceutical environments Understanding of building heat loss programs (like Trane/Carrier)
   
   All Foth Companies are equal opportunity employers and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. All locations are tobacco-free.
   
   About Foth
   Foth, the largest engineering and science consulting firm headquartered in Wisconsin, employs more than 650 members and operates in 28 locations to provide our national and international clients with convenient, personal services.
   
   Our dynamic science and engineering teams at Foth are organized into business units - Environment Solutions, Infrastructure Solutions, and Production Solutions - each comprised of extraordinary talent embodying decades of knowledge and specialized expertise. We bring our 80 year history of success and interdisciplinary knowledge to every client we serve, understanding their business, providing trusted advice, and developing customized, innovative solutions with remarkable energy and ingenuity.
   
   Foth provides engineers, scientists, and other talented professionals an award-winning employment experience, including flexibility to balance work and life. We take on our clients' toughest challenges which provides meaningful project assignments working alongside creative and dedicated team members.
   
   Foth's commitment to our members is demonstrated by annually reinvesting 5% of professional fee revenues in professional development activities. Our work environment is professional, collaborative, and fun. Each day, we work together in a unified, values-based culture, helping our clients' achieve their goals and improving the world we live in.
   
   Join our team and experience the Foth difference!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right hvac engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with hvac engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit hvac engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting hvac engineers 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 hvac engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the hvac engineer 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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