Heating & Air Conditioning at CET-San Jose
a smaller institution with 175 students in San Jose, CA.
Program Analysis
Graduates earn $35,970/yr, roughly in line with the $36,779 national median for Heating & Air Conditioning. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Some AI exposure exists in Heating & Air Conditioning's career paths, with 11% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 27% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $35,970 far exceeding the $6,160 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #140 of 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs, CET-San Jose falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $35,970 to $48,636 over five years — a 35% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.
Heating & Air Conditioning offers 15 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
Top Career Paths
Top career paths for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates by median salary.
| Career Path | Median Salary | Growth | AI-ProofAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $59,810 | +8.1% | 89% |
About Heating & Air Conditioning Careers
Your career in HVACR begins with your hands on the tools. As an apprentice, you’ll work alongside a senior technician, learning to use pressure gauges on a residential AC unit or a multimeter to diagnose a faulty furnace circuit board in a chilly basement. Soon, you'll be driving the service van, independently tackling everything from routine maintenance to emergency repairs on commercial rooftops. This is skilled, physical work that requires you to be on-site—it can’t be automated or outsourced.