Heating & Air Conditioning at National Career Education
with a smaller student body of 438 in Citrus Heights, CA.
Program Analysis
Graduates earn $41,695/yr, edging above the $36,779 national average for Heating & Air Conditioning — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.
The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 11% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates.
At $9,238 in median debt against $41,695 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.
At #86 of 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs, National Career Education scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $68,881 show a 65% jump from the $41,695 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.
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.