Environmental Control Technologies — Salary, ROI & AI-Proof Rating at 63 Schools

What Environmental Control Technologies Graduates Do

Your career in environmental control begins with essential, hands-on work. One day, you could be in a homeowner's basement, using wrenches and a multimeter to diagnose and repair a furnace. The next, you might be on a commercial rooftop installing a new air conditioning unit, connecting ductwork and refrigerant lines. Alternatively, you could find yourself at a municipal water treatment plant, operating complex machinery, monitoring control panels, and testing water samples to ensure community safety. These are the core, in-demand jobs where you'll build your foundation.

Your path typically begins as an apprentice, earning while you learn from experienced technicians. Within a few years, you’ll become a journeyman, trusted to handle service calls independently. From there, you can specialize in high-demand areas like commercial refrigeration or building automation systems, significantly boosting your income. Top earners often become service managers or start their own contracting businesses. This is essential, on-site work that can't be outsourced or automated, providing a stable career, especially in the rapidly growing field of heating and air conditioning.

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 30 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Environmental Control Technologies. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship	Training Hours	Type	Salary RangeSalary	Growth
Additive 3D Printing Technician RAPIDS 2078HY	2000-4000 hrs	Hybrid	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Air & Hydronic Balancing Technician RAPIDS 990	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic (Existing Title: Heating & Air-Conditioner Install/Ser) RAPIDS 0637R	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Clarifying-Plant Operator (Text) RAPIDS 60	2000 hrs ~1.0 yrs	Time	$47K – $58,260 – $71K	-6.5%
Environmental Control Syst. Install/Services (Hvac) RAPIDS 0637R2	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Furnace Installer RAPIDS 794	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Furnace Installer & Repairer RAPIDS 678	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Hazardous-Waste Material Technician RAPIDS 591	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$43K – $48,490 – $62K	1.0%
Heating & Air Conditioning Mechanic & Installer RAPIDS 0637R1	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Heating & Air-Conditioner Install/Ser RAPIDS 637	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Heating & Air-Conditioner Install/Ser RAPIDS 0637CL	8500-10000 hrs	Hybrid	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (Ex. Tit: Heating&Air Cond. Inst/Ser) RAPIDS 0637HY	8500-10000 hrs	Hybrid	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (Ex. Tit: Heating&Air Cond. Inst/Ser) RAPIDS 0637R	8500 hrs ~4.2 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Industrial Manufacturing Technician RAPIDS 2031HY	2736-3000 hrs	Hybrid	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Industrial Manufacturing Technician (Alternate Title: Manafacturing Production Techician) RAPIDS 2031CB	Competency	Competency	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Laboratory Asst, Metallurgical RAPIDS 621	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Non-Destructive Tester RAPIDS 1010	2000 hrs ~1.0 yrs	Time	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Non-Destructive Tester RAPIDS 1010CL	Competency	Competency	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Nondestructive Testing (Ndt) (Existing Title: Non-Destructive Tester) (Military Only) RAPIDS 1010R	5920 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Oil Burner-Servicer & Installer RAPIDS 966	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Optics Manufacturing Technician RAPIDS 2045CB	Competency	Competency	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%
Refrigeration & Air Condition Mechanic (Existing Title: Refrigeration Maint) RAPIDS 0666HY	7480-8800 hrs	Hybrid	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Refrigeration And Air Conditioning Maintenance (Existing Title: Refrigeration Mechanic) RAPIDS **0666R	7328 hrs ~3.7 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Refrigeration Mechanic (Any Ind) RAPIDS 666	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Refrigeration Unit Repairer RAPIDS 918	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $59,810 – $75K	8.1%
Waste Treatment Operator RAPIDS 614	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$47K – $58,260 – $71K	-6.5%
Wastewater Systems Operator RAPIDS 0507R	3520 hrs ~1.8 yrs	Time	$47K – $58,260 – $71K	-6.5%
Wastewater-Treatment- Plant Operator (Alternate Title: Water Treatment Specialist ) RAPIDS 507	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$47K – $58,260 – $71K	-6.5%
Water Treatment Plant Operator RAPIDS 619	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$47K – $58,260 – $71K	-6.5%
Welding Technician RAPIDS 498	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$60K – $77,390 – $98K	1.5%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Best Schools for Environmental Control Technologies

Top 20 of 63 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

#	School	Score	EarningsEarn	ROI
1	Front Range Community College Westminster, CO	74 72–76	$70,888/yr	148.6x
2	Riverside City College Riverside, CA	72 69–73	$48,911/yr	343.4x
3	Austin Community College District Austin, TX	70 68–71	$46,623/yr	181.8x
4	Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CA	70 67–71	$43,340/yr	349.1x
5	Austin Community College District Austin, TX	68 65–69	$47,480/yr	110.5x
6	Pickens Technical College Aurora, CO	62 60–63	$40,146/yr	80.4x
7	High Plains Technology Center Woodward, OK	58 55–59	$67,935/yr	—
8	North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton, ND	58 58–59	$50,780/yr	41.8x
9	Laredo College Laredo, TX	58 56–59	$31,037/yr	93.1x
10	Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD	56 55–57	$50,685/yr	32.7x
11	Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO	56 53–58	$50,187/yr	36.1x
12	Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI	53 49–54	$48,795/yr	25.3x
13	Refrigeration School Inc Phoenix, AZ	53 51–55	$45,773/yr	—
14	Sullivan University Louisville, KY	53 53–54	$44,966/yr	30.6x
15	Gadsden State Community College Gadsden, AL	53 52–54	$36,407/yr	44.1x
16	Florida Academy Fort Myers, FL	52 49–53	$42,769/yr	—
17	Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center Copiague, NY	52 49–53	$41,567/yr	—
18	Texas State Technical College Waco, TX	52 51–53	$33,995/yr	46.3x
19	ITI Technical College Baton Rouge, LA	51 49–52	$47,809/yr	19.4x
20	Lincoln College of Technology-Denver Denver, CO	51 48–52	$40,778/yr	—
21	Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN	51 48–52	$40,778/yr	—
22	Lincoln Technical Institute-Union Union, NJ	51 48–52	$40,778/yr	—
23	Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie Grand Prairie, TX	51 48–52	$40,778/yr	—
24	Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah Mahwah, NJ	51 48–52	$40,778/yr	—
25	Wichita Technical Institute Wichita, KS	50 47–51	$37,895/yr	—
26	Summit College San Bernardino, CA	50 47–51	$37,725/yr	—
27	New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI	49 46–50	$53,135/yr	7.3x
28	Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO	49 46–51	$44,917/yr	16.8x
29	Erie Institute of Technology Inc Erie, PA	49 46–50	$38,031/yr	28.7x
30	Polaris Career Center Middleburg Heights, OH	49 47–51	$37,480/yr	—
31	Lincoln Technical Institute-East Windsor East Windsor, CT	49 47–51	$37,285/yr	—
32	Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain New Britain, CT	49 47–51	$37,285/yr	—
33	Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia Columbia, MD	49 47–51	$37,285/yr	—
34	Tulsa Welding School-Tulsa Tulsa, OK	49 46–50	$36,662/yr	—
35	Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology Pleasant Gap, PA	49 46–50	$36,515/yr	—
36	Northwestern Technological Institute Southfield, MI	49 46–50	$36,015/yr	—
37	CBT Technology Institute-Main Campus Miami, FL	48 45–49	$41,814/yr	17.2x
38	CBT Technology Institute-Hialeah Hialeah, FL	48 45–49	$41,814/yr	17.2x
39	Texas State Technical College Waco, TX	48 46–49	$36,888/yr	24.2x
40	Western Technical College El Paso, TX	48 45–49	$35,483/yr	—
41	Community Care College Tulsa, OK	48 45–49	$34,425/yr	—
42	Lincoln Technical Institute-Iselin Iselin, NJ	47 45–49	$34,220/yr	—
43	Lincoln College of Technology-Marietta Marietta, GA	47 45–49	$34,220/yr	—
44	CBT Technology Institute-Main Campus Miami, FL	47 45–48	$34,206/yr	28.3x
45	South Florida Institute of Technology Miami, FL	47 44–48	$33,760/yr	—
46	Futura Career Institute Hialeah, FL	47 44–48	$33,444/yr	—
47	Southern Careers Institute-Austin Austin, TX	46 44–48	$32,421/yr	—
48	Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen Harlingen, TX	46 44–48	$32,421/yr	—
49	Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio San Antonio, TX	46 44–48	$32,421/yr	—
50	Miller-Motte College-Tulsa Tulsa, OK	46 44–48	$32,364/yr	—
51	Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN	46 44–48	$32,364/yr	—
52	Miller-Motte College-STVT-Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX	46 44–48	$32,364/yr	—
53	Miller-Motte College-STVT-San Antonio San Antonio, TX	46 44–48	$32,364/yr	—
54	Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois Springfield, IL	46 43–47	$31,905/yr	—
55	Delta Technical College-Mississippi Horn Lake, MS	46 43–47	$31,905/yr	—
56	Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri Springfield, MO	46 43–47	$31,905/yr	—
57	Ayers Career College Shreveport, LA	44 42–46	$29,832/yr	—
58	Huertas College Caguas, PR	42 41–43	$26,481/yr	30.2x
59	Advantage Technical College Manati, PR	38 35–39	$21,291/yr	—
60	Advantage Technical College-Aguadilla Aguadilla, PR	38 35–39	$21,291/yr	—
61	Professional Technical Institution Bayamon, PR	38 35–39	$21,228/yr	—
62	NUC University Bayamon, PR	37 35–38	$20,068/yr	27.9x
63	Liceo de Arte y Tecnologia San Juan, PR	35 34–36	$19,357/yr	22.3x

Highest Earning Environmental Control Technologies Programs

Schools where Environmental Control Technologies graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	Score
Front Range Community College	$70,888/yr	74
High Plains Technology Center	$67,935/yr	58
New England Institute of Technology	$53,135/yr	49
North Dakota State College of Science	$50,780/yr	58
Mitchell Technical College	$50,685/yr	56
Ranken Technical College	$50,187/yr	56
Riverside City College	$48,911/yr	72
Ferris State University	$48,795/yr	53
ITI Technical College	$47,809/yr	51
Austin Community College District	$47,480/yr	68

Best ROI for Environmental Control Technologies

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Environmental Control Technologies.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	Score
Los Angeles Trade Technical College	349.1x	$43,340/yr	70
Riverside City College	343.4x	$48,911/yr	72
Austin Community College District	181.8x	$46,623/yr	70
Front Range Community College	148.6x	$70,888/yr	74
Austin Community College District	110.5x	$47,480/yr	68
Laredo College	93.1x	$31,037/yr	58
Pickens Technical College	80.4x	$40,146/yr	62
Texas State Technical College	46.3x	$33,995/yr	52
Gadsden State Community College	44.1x	$36,407/yr	53
North Dakota State College of Science	41.8x	$50,780/yr	58

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Environmental Control Technologies degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Environmental Control Technologies graduates earn?

First-year earnings for Environmental Control Technologies graduates average $38,198 annually, based on data from 63 programs. The range spans $19,357 at the low end to $70,888 at the top.

How AI-proof is a career in Environmental Control Technologies?

Environmental Control Technologies is rated "Resilient" for AI resilience — 72% of job tasks involve hands-on work shielded from AI automation. That means the vast majority of career tasks in this field rely on skills AI cannot replicate.

Which school has the best Environmental Control Technologies program?

Based on the TradeSchoolOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), Front Range Community College ranks #1 for Environmental Control Technologies with a score of 74/100 and graduate earnings of $70,888/yr.

What's the ROI on a Environmental Control Technologies program?

The average 10-year earnings multiple is 72.1x tuition. This is a strong return on investment. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.