Heating & Air Conditioning at Tidewater Tech-Trades
a smaller institution with 514 students in Norfolk, VA.
Program Analysis
Tidewater Tech-Trades's Heating & Air Conditioning graduates start at $30,448/yr, trailing the $36,779 national average by 17%. The program's value hinges on affordability.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 29.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Heating & Air Conditioning programs nationally.
The 33% 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.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $14,750 in median debt clears fast against $30,448 in annual earnings.
Ranked #214 of 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs, Tidewater Tech-Trades falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $30,448 to $43,957 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.
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.