WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-3% vs national median204 grads tracked

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Piedmont Technical College

Ranked 39th of 74 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$43,948
middle 50%: $33,135 – $58,461
Median · 5 years out
$53,485
middle 50%: $41,283 – $68,731
Median · 10 years out
$69,466
middle 50%: $46,511 – $88,404

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

HVAC certificate holders earn a median of $44k initially. Earnings reach $53k after five years and $69k after ten years.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
7.4 yrs
≈ $8,395 total interest

Same major at other universities

Technical College of the Lowcountry - Beaufort Campus
$55,335 · 5 yrs out
Midlands Technical College
$55,214 · 5 yrs out
Tyler Junior College
$55,047 · 5 yrs out
Kilgore College
$54,757 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$54,513 · 5 yrs out
John A. Logan College
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges - Olney Central College
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
South Plains College
$53,279 · 5 yrs out
Houston Community College
$53,167 · 5 yrs out
Del Mar College
$52,720 · 5 yrs out
Trident Technical College
$52,354 · 5 yrs out
Danville Area Community College
$52,031 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Piedmont Technical College

Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$78,529 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$72,356 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$72,042 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,734 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$66,723 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$66,172 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$63,270 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$62,616 · 5 yrs out
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$60,021 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$59,222 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$59,222 · 5 yrs out

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