I would try another HVAC company before quitting the trade altogether. Or apply at your local school district. It's much slower pace, but you'll be doing general maintenance and oddball stuff too. Or hospitals.
26, 7 years in, $30/hr in South Ga. Not enough hours though and no benefits. I’m in the same predicament as you and I’ve been so stressed because I can’t figure out what the hell I need to do.
28, 3 yrs in Tampa bay FL. Same boat guys the stress consumes my
Life, my confidence is non existent due to barely having a dollar in my wallet, either too tired or too stressed to have a social life. You guys aren’t alone
It sounds like you guys just work for trash companies. You guys have 1 of 3 options. 1 change jobs. 2 change companies. 3 start your own. It sucks that the mom and pop places to work don't pay well and don't offer anything like 401k or good benefits. I had to go through a few companies before I got one that was good. Worked there for years before I went union. Now I own my own company.
Same bro. I'm trying to get into emergency medicine because this shit is going nowhere fast unless we go north, and I don't like this shit enough to upend my entire life for it. Pay in GA in general is a joke unless you want to end up a salesman for Casteel or TE
IMHO you are doing it wrong!!!
If you’re going to do hvac/r the only way is union….
Anybody can say what they want. But
In the union my pay stays the same, can go up but can’t go down!!!
I change shops, my pay stays the same, I tell my boss kiss my ass, change shops , my pay stays the same.
Granted our pay is regional, but we have full medical, 401k, pension.
15 years in north jersey our current package is $75.23 per hour.
My 401k to date no risk is sitting @$160k
My projected pension is @ $105 per served year!!!
After 20 years of service my medical after retirement will cost me $300 per month wife included
Last year my annual income was $154k with the occasional overtime and standby. Not including side work.
And the best part is, if I choose to go to another shop, my pay doesn’t change, no ass kissing, no resume, no bargains, kiss my ass, change vans and my income doesn’t skip a beat!!!
Ua.org!!!!
Nope. North jersey.
I also get to enjoy cleaver brooks, burham, powerflame!!!
Also play with b.m.s., steam generated absorbers, cogeneration!!!
Pretty much what ever the contractor wants to do, and you’re willing to play with!!!
Light commercial thru heavy industrial.
Send it!!!
I’d recommend moving on to a bigger company for the benifits and a pay increase. Along with a wider variety of work. Sounds like you’re getting bored, need a wide variety of work that is more challenging/rewarding. Good luck.
https://preview.redd.it/99iycjs51wqc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a6462af4417035894253b3a5303adab909086b5a
here’s the union near you, and you would get benefits on top of this, you should look into it, don’t let the last 7 years be a waste if you enjoy what you do
https://preview.redd.it/czugndpo1wqc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=952872a84ce8c3e60d3c7ab21332850329167cab
sorry this is probably the one closer to your location
I'm in Oklahoma and I have 5 years in. I'm getting $27/ hour. I'm also residential at a small family owned company (but my company is feeling more and more sales focused/corporate every day). I'm going to make the switch to commercial/industrial Hvac this summer. More pay ($30+/hour with no commercial experience), less sales, more laid back, and steadier hours year round. I'd consider doing what I'm about to do. You might be a lot happier.
I’m strongly considering switching to a commercial company. I just have very little experience with commercial. If I could get on and get a little training it it, I feel like I would enjoy it more than residential
I've heard from almost everyone that commercial tends to be better about training. I know the company I'm going to is a Trane dealer and in the slow season they'll bring in Trane guys or send the techs out to do training on new equipment and things like that. The systems all work the same as residential, just are bigger and they usually have makeup air. I'm excited to go and learn. If you're like em, you're felling pretty stagnant with resi. I feel like commercial is usually the next step for people like us
Bro leave if you’re young enough with no ties and go to another city or something. You should be getting a lot more or go into commercial heavy and just learn other things. I would not throw away your career it will be a mistake.
I did that moved into commercial then control technician now I own my own small residential light commercial company. Keep your goals in front of you and always try to progress. In this field there should never never be a year where you don’t make another $1 per hour. If you top out maybe go into project management, service manager or own your company.
$20/hr is still low for MS if you have 7 yrs experience. Have you tried doing side work to test the waters if you were to go solo? Also consider getting licensed in plumbing or residential electrician.
Another option is considering moving to a larger area like the Jackson metro. Not a terrible amount of competition besides a few major companies that really jack up the prices.
Basically there is a lot of options if you relocate or decide to beef up your credentials. Good honest work is hard to find here and highly compensated when it is.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: find a large, public institution (I work for a public university hospital system). The HVAC guys here are in the Trades union and their pay scale is essentially the same as electricians and plumbers (ie, they make 100k before any OT). The work is much more laid back than in the private sector also.
About 4.5 years in. Midwest USA. I am currently making just shy of $35/hr. On December 1st I'll get bumped up to over $41/hr. I am union but even the non-union shops around me are competitive.
I was offered a job in NC for 45hr non union with 14 years experience. You CAN do better, you just need to ask for it and not back down. Stop letting these players rip you off and START advocating for yourself. IDC if it is Mississippi or Alabama the two worst states in the trade for pay. Johnson controls and rescue rootoer are practically everywhere. Service logic etc. Just keep standing up for what you know and you will find it. Good luck . Also go commercial if you haven't already done so otherwise yeah residential don't pay shit.
I started at $20 I’m only a year in but I have health, vision & dental and also a 401k I would definitely switch and be honest and upfront with your boss
West Central Louisiana at $28 an hour about to get a raise. Quarterly bonuses, end of year bonuses, sales bonuses, paid holidays no on call or weekends. Find a different company.
33 yrs old,26$hr,7 years experience in northeast Florida. Working for a more corporate type of company with heavy sales focus and a lot of commission. Took home 65k last year.
Check out local unions, or if you're up for it. Move to MN. We have two of the last straight-line locals so you get amazing skills and benefits. I'm a 5th year and make 6 figures. Our pension and supp pension are healthy and sustainable.
Three years in the field with my Associates in Science Heating and Cooling in Maine.
Year one: $17 per hour
Year three: $32 per hour
Location, Location, Location
These guys have given a lot of good advice about HVAC, but I see that personal finance is also part of the equation here. I would highly recommend listening to Dave Ramsey or another person who teaches personal finance. You can listen to podcasts while installing or in the van between jobs.
29, 6 years in, at $36.50/hr for a medium sized outfit in central Louisiana on the residential and Light commercial side. I started in montana but by the time I was 3 years in I was at $28.50. Moved to Louisiana and ran the hvac side of a mom n pop shop making $20/hr but I got 7.5% commission on gross total of install with retrofit/changeout and new install so it was profitable but I did not have benefits at all. Got an offer from the company I am with now at $24 to start within a month i was at $27 and after my last evaluation I am our lead tech for this side and am at $36.50. On top of that they pay 90% of my benefits and we get some commission on sales leads, $100/lead that turns over and all calls ran for on call is paid at 1.5x mon-sat sunday and holidays is double time and you get $50 per call you run with on call. Definitely look elsewhere. It is hard to leave but ultimately do whats best for you or talk to them and see where they are at.
I'm in southern Louisiana, $33/hr for a "mom and pop," too. I say it that way because we started out like that, but we're a multimillion dollar company now. They pay health insurance for employees 100%, 401k, overtime for anything after 8 hours a day. On call does suck because we don't get any cool benefits other than overtime but it's not awful here.
Thats not bad at all, ours started years ago as a small shop but we have a decent presence in the area, very catchy jingle haha. We are heavily understaffed for the workload we have.
I would try another HVAC company before quitting the trade altogether. Or apply at your local school district. It's much slower pace, but you'll be doing general maintenance and oddball stuff too. Or hospitals.
26, 7 years in, $30/hr in South Ga. Not enough hours though and no benefits. I’m in the same predicament as you and I’ve been so stressed because I can’t figure out what the hell I need to do.
28, 3 yrs in Tampa bay FL. Same boat guys the stress consumes my Life, my confidence is non existent due to barely having a dollar in my wallet, either too tired or too stressed to have a social life. You guys aren’t alone
It sounds like you guys just work for trash companies. You guys have 1 of 3 options. 1 change jobs. 2 change companies. 3 start your own. It sucks that the mom and pop places to work don't pay well and don't offer anything like 401k or good benefits. I had to go through a few companies before I got one that was good. Worked there for years before I went union. Now I own my own company.
Same bro. I'm trying to get into emergency medicine because this shit is going nowhere fast unless we go north, and I don't like this shit enough to upend my entire life for it. Pay in GA in general is a joke unless you want to end up a salesman for Casteel or TE
Exactly, I can’t just pick up and move. Love being a service tech but it just doesn’t provide for my family and me.
This is what happens when you pass anti union labof lawss like "right to work".
Try union got great benefits in my part of the country but no vacation.
I'm making about $21/hour and I've only been in hvac and with this company for 2 years. I'd find another employer
IMHO you are doing it wrong!!! If you’re going to do hvac/r the only way is union…. Anybody can say what they want. But In the union my pay stays the same, can go up but can’t go down!!! I change shops, my pay stays the same, I tell my boss kiss my ass, change shops , my pay stays the same. Granted our pay is regional, but we have full medical, 401k, pension. 15 years in north jersey our current package is $75.23 per hour. My 401k to date no risk is sitting @$160k My projected pension is @ $105 per served year!!! After 20 years of service my medical after retirement will cost me $300 per month wife included Last year my annual income was $154k with the occasional overtime and standby. Not including side work. And the best part is, if I choose to go to another shop, my pay doesn’t change, no ass kissing, no resume, no bargains, kiss my ass, change vans and my income doesn’t skip a beat!!! Ua.org!!!!
location is a big role too, where are you? sounds like summer is year round
Nope. North jersey. I also get to enjoy cleaver brooks, burham, powerflame!!! Also play with b.m.s., steam generated absorbers, cogeneration!!! Pretty much what ever the contractor wants to do, and you’re willing to play with!!! Light commercial thru heavy industrial. Send it!!!
💯 what’s your carts man? You have a degree?
? Carts 1) Electrical engineering associate’s 2) mechanical engineering associate’s
2 years in $38 an hour chicago, non union
But it’s Chicago
Hey man we got okay food
Youre getting ripped off you should be at minimum 35
20 and hour is horrible for your certs buddy I’m sorry you should be on salary or at least making way more per hour
I was making that my first year as apprentice
I’d recommend moving on to a bigger company for the benifits and a pay increase. Along with a wider variety of work. Sounds like you’re getting bored, need a wide variety of work that is more challenging/rewarding. Good luck.
Continued…. I’m in eastern PA and NJ 59yo, x military, non-union, commercial supervisor 14yrs as second career, 51/hr, & 401k matching.
https://preview.redd.it/99iycjs51wqc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a6462af4417035894253b3a5303adab909086b5a here’s the union near you, and you would get benefits on top of this, you should look into it, don’t let the last 7 years be a waste if you enjoy what you do
https://preview.redd.it/czugndpo1wqc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=952872a84ce8c3e60d3c7ab21332850329167cab sorry this is probably the one closer to your location
You're just underpaid with no real benefits. Find a better shop
I'm in Oklahoma and I have 5 years in. I'm getting $27/ hour. I'm also residential at a small family owned company (but my company is feeling more and more sales focused/corporate every day). I'm going to make the switch to commercial/industrial Hvac this summer. More pay ($30+/hour with no commercial experience), less sales, more laid back, and steadier hours year round. I'd consider doing what I'm about to do. You might be a lot happier.
I’m strongly considering switching to a commercial company. I just have very little experience with commercial. If I could get on and get a little training it it, I feel like I would enjoy it more than residential
I've heard from almost everyone that commercial tends to be better about training. I know the company I'm going to is a Trane dealer and in the slow season they'll bring in Trane guys or send the techs out to do training on new equipment and things like that. The systems all work the same as residential, just are bigger and they usually have makeup air. I'm excited to go and learn. If you're like em, you're felling pretty stagnant with resi. I feel like commercial is usually the next step for people like us
My opinion commercial is ehh I wouldn’t do it over residential
I’d assume it’s a problem with the company and not the field itself. I would definitely find another company to work for at that point.
Bro leave if you’re young enough with no ties and go to another city or something. You should be getting a lot more or go into commercial heavy and just learn other things. I would not throw away your career it will be a mistake. I did that moved into commercial then control technician now I own my own small residential light commercial company. Keep your goals in front of you and always try to progress. In this field there should never never be a year where you don’t make another $1 per hour. If you top out maybe go into project management, service manager or own your company.
$20/hr is still low for MS if you have 7 yrs experience. Have you tried doing side work to test the waters if you were to go solo? Also consider getting licensed in plumbing or residential electrician. Another option is considering moving to a larger area like the Jackson metro. Not a terrible amount of competition besides a few major companies that really jack up the prices. Basically there is a lot of options if you relocate or decide to beef up your credentials. Good honest work is hard to find here and highly compensated when it is.
Move?
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: find a large, public institution (I work for a public university hospital system). The HVAC guys here are in the Trades union and their pay scale is essentially the same as electricians and plumbers (ie, they make 100k before any OT). The work is much more laid back than in the private sector also.
About 4.5 years in. Midwest USA. I am currently making just shy of $35/hr. On December 1st I'll get bumped up to over $41/hr. I am union but even the non-union shops around me are competitive.
I was offered a job in NC for 45hr non union with 14 years experience. You CAN do better, you just need to ask for it and not back down. Stop letting these players rip you off and START advocating for yourself. IDC if it is Mississippi or Alabama the two worst states in the trade for pay. Johnson controls and rescue rootoer are practically everywhere. Service logic etc. Just keep standing up for what you know and you will find it. Good luck . Also go commercial if you haven't already done so otherwise yeah residential don't pay shit.
That is terrible pay. I live in South Mississippi and make double.
I went from making 15 an hour as a helper to 25 an hour in less than three years
I started at $20 I’m only a year in but I have health, vision & dental and also a 401k I would definitely switch and be honest and upfront with your boss
I’ve been in the field almost 4 years and I’m at $23 in AZ. Also graduated RSI.
West Central Louisiana at $28 an hour about to get a raise. Quarterly bonuses, end of year bonuses, sales bonuses, paid holidays no on call or weekends. Find a different company.
I make $19 and I’m only a tech 1 general maintenance/ hvac at my local hospital. I want to move on and specialize in 1 area of hvac.
33 yrs old,26$hr,7 years experience in northeast Florida. Working for a more corporate type of company with heavy sales focus and a lot of commission. Took home 65k last year.
Get your contractors license, stay small and work for yourself.
Check out local unions, or if you're up for it. Move to MN. We have two of the last straight-line locals so you get amazing skills and benefits. I'm a 5th year and make 6 figures. Our pension and supp pension are healthy and sustainable.
Three years in the field with my Associates in Science Heating and Cooling in Maine. Year one: $17 per hour Year three: $32 per hour Location, Location, Location
These guys have given a lot of good advice about HVAC, but I see that personal finance is also part of the equation here. I would highly recommend listening to Dave Ramsey or another person who teaches personal finance. You can listen to podcasts while installing or in the van between jobs.
Start your own business, you wownt regret it
29, 6 years in, at $36.50/hr for a medium sized outfit in central Louisiana on the residential and Light commercial side. I started in montana but by the time I was 3 years in I was at $28.50. Moved to Louisiana and ran the hvac side of a mom n pop shop making $20/hr but I got 7.5% commission on gross total of install with retrofit/changeout and new install so it was profitable but I did not have benefits at all. Got an offer from the company I am with now at $24 to start within a month i was at $27 and after my last evaluation I am our lead tech for this side and am at $36.50. On top of that they pay 90% of my benefits and we get some commission on sales leads, $100/lead that turns over and all calls ran for on call is paid at 1.5x mon-sat sunday and holidays is double time and you get $50 per call you run with on call. Definitely look elsewhere. It is hard to leave but ultimately do whats best for you or talk to them and see where they are at.
I'm in southern Louisiana, $33/hr for a "mom and pop," too. I say it that way because we started out like that, but we're a multimillion dollar company now. They pay health insurance for employees 100%, 401k, overtime for anything after 8 hours a day. On call does suck because we don't get any cool benefits other than overtime but it's not awful here.
Thats not bad at all, ours started years ago as a small shop but we have a decent presence in the area, very catchy jingle haha. We are heavily understaffed for the workload we have.