Heating & Air Conditioning at InterCoast Colleges-West Covina
a compact campus enrolling 507 students in West Covina, CA.
Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $38,137 track close to the $36,779 national median for Heating & Air Conditioning programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
AI risk is moderate — 11% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates.
At $9,500 in median debt against $38,137 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.
At #134 out of 260 programs, InterCoast Colleges-West Covina's financial outcomes for Heating & Air Conditioning trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth is modest: $38,137 to $45,750 over five years (20% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.
With 15 registered apprenticeships mapped to Heating & Air Conditioning, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.
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.