Heating & Air Conditioning at Rosedale Technical College
Rosedale Technical College accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 405 students in Pittsburgh, PA.
Program Analysis
Graduates earn $41,126/yr, edging above the $36,779 national average for Heating & Air Conditioning — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.
The 15.4x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates.
At $12,000 in median debt against $41,126 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.
At #175 out of 260 programs, Rosedale Technical College's financial outcomes for Heating & Air Conditioning trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $41,126 to $49,890 shows 21% 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.