Highest paying careers in hvac/r industry?

[philip_jp]

Hi I currently work in commercial service, and was just wondering if anyone knew of some of the highest paying careers in the industry? I know unions pay well.

[market-tech]

I work in supermarket refrigeration and have for many years.

We have a serious shortage of qualified technicians.

It is becoming supply and Demand.

$$ discussion is not allowed but I think, on the technician side, this will be the most lucrative in the future.

The ice cream must remain frozen!!

[tuba]

I think the highest paying may be the controls - the ones who merge the computers with the controls. As for the supermarket route, I am not so sure if the high pay is from a high hourly rate, or the fact that they want to work you to death after hours.

I wanted to do market refrigeration since I left trade school. I was even hired at Source, but then someone called me before my start date and offered me seven dollars more than Source to go into restaurant refrigeration. $ is $ and Source would not touch that offer.

10 years later, I still get an occasional call from the Source recruiter and others, and they won't come near to what I am making now and the benefits I get.

I don't do restaurants any more, but a small busy commercial firm picked me up to handle the refrigeration things that come up and to help the other guys with refrigeration issues.

A friend of mine from trade school got on with a couple of market shops for a while. After seeing what they put him through in the sheer number of hours worked, and what it did to his body and family and finanaces - No thank you - I will stay where I am at. Some jobs just aren't worth that big money.

[market-tech]

I think the highest paying may be the controls - the ones who merge the computers with the controls. As for the supermarket route, I am not so sure if the high pay is from a high hourly rate, or the fact that they want to work you to death after hours.

I wanted to do market refrigeration since I left trade school. I was even hired at Source, but then someone called me before my start date and offered me seven dollars more than Source to go into restaurant refrigeration. $ is $ and Source would not touch that offer.

10 years later, I still get an occasional call from the Source recruiter and others, and they won't come near to what I am making now and the benefits I get.

I don't do restaurants any more, but a small busy commercial firm picked me up to handle the refrigeration things that come up and to help the other guys with refrigeration issues.

A friend of mine from trade school got on with a couple of market shops for a while. After seeing what they put him through in the sheer number of hours worked, and what it did to his body and family and finanaces - No thank you - I will stay where I am at. Some jobs just aren't worth that big money.

Valid points. I was just speaking of what is happening to the hourly rate.

The hours can be tough in the summer but a qualified supermarket tech will never be out of work.

[tuba]

I fully agree agree with you market-tech, and that was my reasoning to go in to markets after trade school. But you would think that with the shortage of market techs all over that the hourly rate would climb for all market refrigeration, around here it seems to be the opposite. Personally, I think the bigger and more specialized the equipment, the more the pay should be.

It seems like there is a downward pressure on our hourly wages across the board, and I wonder if it has to do with all the 'middleman' companies promising more and more for less $$ to the end customer.

When the recruiters call me, I chat with them for a bit, and it always turns out the same where I ask them why a seasoned tech with 8-10 years experience take such a pay cut to join your company...

[blitz]

the biggest pay is the one selling the big system, then the one that fixing that big system.

[WMG]

Residential Service company Owner/Operator. 4 billable hours on a good day. $75 hour= $300. Gas, lunch, insurance, vehicle payments= $100. Parts < $50 x 3 = markup. This is my dream.

[jcrew4242]

Residential Service company Owner/Operator. 4 billable hours on a good day. $75 hour= $300. Gas, lunch, insurance, vehicle payments= $100. Parts < $50 x 3 = markup. This is my dream.

This is sound way too good~~~

[WMG]

This is sound way too good~~~

But only once I never have to call my boss with literally 25 years experience for a hand. And get the job done 100% competently and correctly every time. Think of all the big companies who keep there employees like beat down slaves? Do they really care if the vacuum is down to 900 microns? Or if the condenser coil is filled with dirt? Or if the drain line drips thru the Sheetrock? I have an angle.

[fitzyfitta]

Large tonnage guys name their price. If you can rebuild and service large chillers you can make a very good living. That's how I see it anyway. FITZ...

[viceman]

chillers or controls.

[ascj]

chillers or controls.

Chiller or Controls SALES.

These guys seem to do a little better, then the worker bees.

[fitzyfitta]

Chiller or Controls SALES.

These guys seem to do a little better, then the worker bees.

Very true.

[Lightning_Boy]

I have to agree with previous comments, chillers and controls seem to pay the best. Industrial refrigeration can pay very well too.

Longterm I think chillers will have better job security, controls will be flooded with people in 10 years. (Seems like everyone I talk to wants the cushy controls jobs...)

[FL.HVAC]

chillers or controls.

x2

[Van jag]

Porn can pay well for some.

[Jay_T]

I have to agree with previous comments, chillers and controls seem to pay the best. Industrial refrigeration can pay very well too.

Longterm I think chillers will have better job security, controls will be flooded with people in 10 years. (Seems like everyone I talk to wants the cushy controls jobs...)

Everyone I run into also wants to be a controls tech it seems. My take on it is they DO think it is a cush job and they really have no idea. They won't last. A true controls tech/HVAC system tech, a guy who can develop logic with the experience and knowledge of how a system will act and react will always be in demand. Some of the best control techs I have ever worked with, have had some other type of HVAC work experience like service or military.

[marter]

Someones gotta keep those big fake boobs from sweating

[WMG]

Someones gotta keep those big fake boobs from sweating

Lol... And I need to put in an application.

[HighTekk^]

I have to agree with previous comments, chillers and controls seem to pay the best. Industrial refrigeration can pay very well too.

Longterm I think chillers will have better job security, controls will be flooded with people in 10 years. (Seems like everyone I talk to wants the cushy controls jobs...)

When I got out of high school they said the same about the IT field in general and me going to college for that degree would be a waste of time because I wouldn't be able to find a job. Now 15 years later it's still the fastest growing and largest market in every industry, every corner of the globe! Needless to say I'm in school now for that degree. Automation industry filling up and being flooded? I think not. To me that's like saying you could have too much money. Jump on the ban wagon now and you won't feel left in the dust in the next 10 years when everything in the hvac industry is automated...