Heating & Air Conditioning at Midlands Technical College
with a mid-sized student body of 7,731 in West Columbia, SC.
Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $46,803 put Midlands Technical College's Heating & Air Conditioning program 27% above the national median of $36,779 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
The 128.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 11% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates.
Ranked #7 out of 260 programs, Midlands Technical College's Heating & Air Conditioning program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $46,803 to $59,159 shows 26% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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.