WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-25% vs national median402 grads tracked

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

Ranked 71st 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
$30,161
middle 50%: $21,810 – $41,514
Median · 5 years out
$41,179
middle 50%: $30,746 – $59,906
Median · 10 years out
$49,256
middle 50%: $37,867 – $68,434

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

South Texas College certificate holders in HVAC maintenance earn a median $30k in year one. This increases to $41k by year five and $49k by year ten.

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
10.3 yrs
≈ $12,446 total interest

Same major at other universities

Horry - Georgetown Technical College
$45,979 · 5 yrs out
Florence - Darlington Technical College
$45,946 · 5 yrs out
New River Community College
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Mountain Empire Community College
$45,075 · 5 yrs out
Texarkana College
$44,502 · 5 yrs out
Wytheville Community College
$43,670 · 5 yrs out
Texas State Technical College
$43,255 · 5 yrs out
Southwest Texas Junior College
$42,822 · 5 yrs out
Central Carolina Technical College
$41,424 · 5 yrs out
Trinity Valley Community College
$40,502 · 5 yrs out
Coastal Bend College
$39,655 · 5 yrs out
Galveston College
$39,242 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at South Texas College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$89,484 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$82,389 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$67,042 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$66,918 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$66,346 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$65,698 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$65,698 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate)
$64,854 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$63,681 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$61,749 · 5 yrs out

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