Highest-Paying Applied Technology Degree Jobs: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technician

If you’re looking for a career that’s stable, high-paying, and always in demand, look no further than Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR.) It’s a skilled trade that touches nearly every home, business, and industry in Oklahoma, making it one of the smartest career moves you can make today.

The Demand is Growing

As long as homes and buildings need heating and cooling, there will be a need for qualified HVACR technicians in Oklahoma. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field is projected to grow by over 9% in the next decade. That’s faster than average across all occupations making this a growing industry.

Pair that with a median salary over $57,000, and experienced techs earning $80,000 or more annually, and it’s easy to see why HVACR is considered a top trade job.

Not Just a Job but a Career

What makes HVACR so appealing isn’t just the pay but the nature of the work and the long-term stability it offers. HVAC systems break down regardless of the economy, making this field incredibly recession-resistant. The work is also hands-on and engaging, ideal for those who prefer not to be confined to a desk. With flexible career paths, HVACR professionals can choose to work for established companies or strike out on their own as entrepreneurs. The field is also future-focused, as smart systems and energy-efficient technologies create exciting opportunities for innovation and advancement.

How to Start Your HVACR Career

At Redlands Community College, our NCCER-affiliated program offers fully online general education courses that pair with in-person technical training classes at your local Oklahoma Technology Center, to help you earn an Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) degree in HVACR Technology. This makes it easier than ever to pursue a high-demand career without uprooting your life.

First, you’ll gain real-world, career-ready skills through our Technology Center partners across Oklahoma including:

• Safety and mechanical fundamentals
• Electrical systems
• Residential and commercial A/C
• Refrigeration and sheet metal
• Certification prep for industry licensure

Once you complete this program at your Oklahoma Technology Center and pass your certification exams in EPA Certification and OSHA 10 Gastite Certification, you will be eligible for 24 hours of college credit from Redlands Community College. You can pair this with the 100% online courses you take from Redlands during or after your Tech Center classes to complete your Associate Degree – it’s that easy!

Once you start your new job as an HVACR Technician, your educational journey doesn’t have to stop there. You can build on your Redlands Community College Associate Degree and prepare to manage an HVACR businesses through our partnership with the Oklahoma State University Bachelor of Technology in Applied Industry Leadership program. Since these classes are also 100% online, it makes a great way to pair your new HVACR Technician job, with preparing for even greater future success and advancement.

Take the next step

Explore how Redlands Community College can help you earn your HVACR degree online and start building a future that’s stable, skilled, and full of opportunity.

Apply online today

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