Heating & Air Conditioning at Spokane Community College
a compact campus enrolling 4,114 students in Spokane, WA.
Program Analysis
Spokane Community College's Heating & Air Conditioning graduates start at $42,862/yr — above the $36,779 national average, though not by a wide margin.
With a 55.3x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 0% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Heating & Air Conditioning involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,222 in median debt clears fast against $42,862 in annual earnings.
Spokane Community College ranks #49 among 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
The 15 apprenticeship pathways connected to Heating & Air Conditioning reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.
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.