Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between hvac engineers and hvac technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a hvac engineer, becoming a hvac technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a hvac engineer has an average salary of $70,354, which is higher than the $54,496 average annual salary of a hvac technician.
The top three skills for a hvac engineer include plumbing, preventive maintenance and electrical equipment. The most important skills for a hvac technician are HVAC, customer service, and preventative maintenance.
| Hvac Engineer | Hvac Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $70,354 | $54,496 |
| Hourly rate | $33.82 | $26.20 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 101,743 | 86,709 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
An HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning) engineer is responsible for managing the efficiency and stability of cooling and heating systems. HVAC engineers install the system's components, requiring them to have an excellent analysis of schematics and blueprints. They also conduct regular inspection and cleaning services to ensure that the systems work on their optimal performance. An HVAC engineer must have excellent organizational and mechanical skills, especially in understanding system complexities and the ability to identify inconsistencies immediately.
An HVAC technician is qualified personnel who installs and repairs air-conditioning and refrigeration systems that control the temperature and air quality in both residential and commercial buildings. A technician's job may include repairing of pipe that is leaking, replacing a defective mechanical part, or adjust equipment setting for better performance. However, an HVAC technician must follow government regulations and local HVAC codes and should take the licensure examination. Some HVAC technicians are working for contractors, while others are self-employed.
Hvac engineers and hvac technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hvac Engineer | Hvac Technician | |
| Average salary | $70,354 | $54,496 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $97,000 | Between $36,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | AbbVie | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a hvac engineer and a hvac technician in terms of educational background:
| Hvac Engineer | Hvac Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Heating And Air Conditioning |
| Most common college | Duke University | Dunwoody College of Technology |
Here are the differences between hvac engineers' and hvac technicians' demographics:
| Hvac Engineer | Hvac Technician | |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.4% Female, 4.6% | Male, 97.4% Female, 2.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 13.3% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 2.7% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 2% |