Heating & Air Conditioning at San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno
a smaller institution with 481 students in Fresno, CA.
Program Analysis
Graduates earn $40,368/yr, edging above the $36,779 national average for Heating & Air Conditioning — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.
AI exposure is significant at 11% of job tasks, producing a 40% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.
At $13,000 in median debt against $40,368 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.
Ranked #108 out of 260 programs, San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno's Heating & Air Conditioning offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $40,368 to $67,788 over five years (68% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful 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.