Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

20% (Minimal Risk)

Minimal Risk (0-20%): Occupations in this category have a low probability of being automated, as they typically demand complex problem-solving, creativity, strong interpersonal skills, and a high degree of manual dexterity. These jobs often involve intricate hand movements and precise coordination, making it difficult for machines to replicate the required tasks.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

User poll

Sentiment

The following graph is included wherever there is a substantial amount of votes to render meaningful data. These visual representations display user poll results over time, providing a significant indication of sentiment trends.

Wages

Moderately paid relative to other professions

In 2023, the median annual wage for 'Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers' was $57,300, or $27 per hour

'Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers' were paid 19.2% higher than the national median wage, which stood at $48,060

Wages over time

Comments

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Glenn Prosser (No chance) 11 months ago

The job requires a high level of knowledge that is physically converted in to intricate, and exacting hand/finger movements.
The locations these jobs are performed range from atop of high-rise buildings through to confined spaces.
Complex problem solving is required, and sometimes the answer may require solutions that contravene logic.
Then, once the job is completed, inter-personal skills are highly important in convincing customers of the correct solution.

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mix (No chance) 2 years ago

I dont see how this could possibly be automated in 20 years. The spaces you have to crawl in and the skills needed would take much longer to automate.

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Lynne 1 year ago

Thats why the chance is so low

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Gary B (No chance) 3 years ago

This is hilarious. Once again, you can tell no one has a clue what goes into HVAC. Can't wait to meet the robot who drives to a site, puts up a ladder, climbs it, pulls up a compressor, recovery machine, vacuum pump, gauges, or just has it all built-in. Goes up to the unit or multiple units and figures out one or more issues, drives to the supplier, buys parts, drives back, fixes the unit, say a condenser coil on a 20-ton. Then, once they are done, they are sent to a site where we are retrofitting controls onto 30 rooftops using GFX and Distech controls. Going to need some serious dexterity to climb above a drop ceiling onto a wall to pull 50 wires half a mile, then do the wiring of the controllers, then program the controllers, and then test all of it. Then add the Jace and connect to the building intranet and also make exceptions for outside access, all while working with "IT", which essentially doesn't exist for many companies, so it better be able to do it all. There's so much more; it's not even funny.

No way, not in 50 years.

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john doe (No chance) 3 years ago

Unless you can get a robot to crawl in an attic and manage to take the HVAC equipment out without damaging the house, then sure.

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Robert 3 years ago

You're telling me that there will be a robot that can do all the physical labor, technical installation, and repairs of HVAC systems? Lol, please. If that were the case, no job will exist.

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Nate (No chance) 4 years ago

I believe robots/software will make it easier to work on HVAC equipment making it so any random joe can work on it but a robot doing such in depth work as wiring repairs and burner replacement especially in the next 2 decades seems unlikely

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Refrigeration technician 5 years ago

So HVAC/R techs have a 65% chance but electricians have a 15% chance? This website is ridiculous. Pretty much any trade skill in the service industry will be protected for a long time. Even as the systems become more automated there will have to be human technicians to maintain those systems. Over time it may definitely become more consolidated, but the future is a very tricky thing to predict.

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Jebac disa (Low) 5 years ago

Hard job with unique jd

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Fef (Low) 5 years ago

I think it would need a very advanced robot to carry all the manual labour needed to install or repair an air conditioner. A robot able to walk, lift, drill, use tools.

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Skagit Haines (Low) 5 years ago

I dont think there will be robots capable of troubleshooting everything in HVAC Systems. it requires manual dexterity

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Ben 5 years ago

No way too many variables

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Ben 4 years ago

There’s also the emotional aspect when it comes to sales/service within the residential part of the field. People will be more tempted to destroy a robot than commit murder when you have to tell the customer it’s going to be x amount of money to repair/ replace x part and they loose their shit 😂

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