Career comparison
Electrician vs. HVAC technician
Electricians and HVAC technicians earn about the same: medians of $63,190 and $61,010.
Both are projected to grow at a similar pace through 2035 (+9% and +11%).
Getting in is slower for electricians: about 4.6 years vs. 2.8 years for someone with a bachelor's in another field.
At a glance
| Electrician | HVAC technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $63,190 | $61,010 |
| Top 10% earn over | $108,510 | $95,210 |
| Growth to 2035 | +9% | +11% |
| Openings per year | 72,700 | 40,600 |
| Jobs today | 821,000 | 440,900 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Time to qualify* | 4.6 years | 2.8 years |
| Training cost* | $100–$5.5K | $5K–$26K |
* Starting from a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.
Pay
Electrician
HVAC technician
Switching from one to the other
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ElectricianHVAC technician
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Getting in
Electrician
- Entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- Prior experience
- None
Required: Journeyman electrician license exam (most states)
HVAC technician
- Entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Required: EPA Section 608 certification · State or local HVAC license in many areas
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Electrician: 35% usually work over 40 hours a weekHVAC technician: 17% usually work over 40 hours a week
Electrician: core tasks
- Prepare sketches or follow blueprints to determine the location of wiring or equipment and to ensure conformance to building and safety codes.
- Place conduit, pipes, or tubing, inside designated partitions, walls, or other concealed areas, and pull insulated wires or cables through the conduit to complete circuits between boxes.
- Work from ladders, scaffolds, or roofs to install, maintain, or repair electrical wiring, equipment, or fixtures.
- Use a variety of tools or equipment, such as power construction equipment, measuring devices, power tools, and testing equipment, such as oscilloscopes, ammeters, or test lamps.
- Assemble, install, test, or maintain electrical or electronic wiring, equipment, appliances, apparatus, or fixtures, using hand tools or power tools.
HVAC technician: core tasks
- Discuss heating or cooling system malfunctions with users to isolate problems or to verify that repairs corrected malfunctions.
- Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.
- Repair or replace defective equipment, components, or wiring.
- Lay out and connect electrical wiring between controls and equipment, according to wiring diagrams, using electrician's hand tools.
- Schedule work with customers and initiate work orders, house requisitions, and orders from stock.
Skills: what carries over
Both rely on: Troubleshooting, Repairing, Critical Thinking, Installation, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension.
New for an electrician moving to HVAC technician: Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Complex Problem Solving, Equipment Selection.
New for an HVAC technician moving to electrician: Active Listening, Speaking, Active Learning, Quality Control Analysis.
Interests (Holland codes): Electrician: Realistic, Conventional, Investigative. HVAC technician: Realistic, Conventional, Investigative.
Outlook to 2035, and AI
Electrician
+9%
faster than average · 72,700 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
HVAC technician
+11%
faster than average · 40,600 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
Quoted notes: BLS Employment Projections, factors affecting occupational utilization (Table 1.12). Average growth across all jobs: +3.5%.
Questions people ask
Who makes more, an electrician or an HVAC technician?
Electricians and HVAC technicians earn about the same: medians of $63,190 and $61,010.
Which has the better job outlook?
Both are projected to grow at a similar pace through 2035 (+9% and +11%).
How long does it take to become an HVAC technician?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 2.8 years, with tuition of roughly $5,000 to $26,000. Required: EPA Section 608 certification, State or local HVAC license in many areas.
How long does it take to become an electrician?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 4.6 years, with tuition of roughly $100 to $5,500. Required: Journeyman electrician license exam (most states).