GETTING STARTED

[jakeb123]

I am currently enrolled in a HVAC class and due to finish in june are there any firms that I should stay away from and what would be best union or non and realalisticly what should i expect to be making to start.

[Rmorales]

starting pay is based on what you know. i believe a fair range can be anywhere from 9-17 an hour(this is what i have heard).

[hvacvegas]

Go union.
Go non-union.
Go big company
Go little company.

You can't put companies in these categories and it make them good or bad. You need to talk to who your boss would be in the company.

I wouldn't expect to make alot of money fresh out school. Most likely your going to be someones tool boy, and a helper for some time.

I wish I made 17 a hour starting.

[Chris_2022]

I've been on both sides of Union and non-union. I'm am now non and personally I prefer it. I've got a family member who is Union and he likes it and does well.
I think these days it's just about finding a job and hopefully a good fit.
Learning is most important, and where you can take it from there.
A company that will take the time to train and teach.

[salmancool]

Its dead slow right now anything $12& up take it get your experience once you good on your own $20/hr easy.

[jason3kgt]

Unfortunately many company's won't hire you on as anything more than a helper straight out of tech school. Heck, if you look at craigslist job postings about 50% say tech school grads (recent) need not apply.

As a helper anything $12 and up is reasonable.

[tflint89]

As a helper anything $12 and up is reasonable.
Maybe for where you are located its resonable here in south texas that's amazing lol as a helper down here I don't think I'd get paid that much that's why I can't wait to get out of here and go back to west virginia... Out of school going to work you might get 12 or more if your lucky my last helper position was outside of the hvac trade I was a pipefitter helper getting min. Wage its juist the area a person lives in lol

[jason3kgt]

Really? what do they pay helpers down there? I assumed in texas it was generally the same. There's a local company opening a branch in san antonio, wonder if they will adjust pay for the area hmmmmm?

[tflint89]

Well I'm so far south I'm right on the border so there are a lot of people coming over here the companies hire people from mexico. And pay them less but at the same time they pay U.S. Citizens the same amount fresh out of school for HVAC I can start out at from min wage to maybe 14 bucks tops I think stripes convinience stores pays about 12 to 14 down here