HVACR TECHNICIANS KEEP PEOPLE WARM AND comfortable in the winter and pleasantly cool in the hottest of summer heat waves. From installing the machines and ducts that keep temperature-¬controlled air flowing through buildings, to maintaining vital air quality systems, these professionals do the work that lets the rest of us go through our days without threat of freezing or heat stroke. HVACR is an acronym that stands for Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration. It is a trade that covers a variety of work. You may have had an HVACR technician come to your house to install or repair a furnace, air conditioner, boiler, or heat pump, but the field is much bigger than that. Many technicians choose to work in the commercial sector, which includes office buildings, shopping malls, factories, airports, and everything in between. They may install or service walk-in coolers in restaurants, hazardous gas and material ventilators in factories, massive cooling towers in high-rises, humidification (or dehumidification) units in hospitals, or air filtration systems on ships. Plus, there are literally dozens of specialized areas, from installing geothermal heating systems to energy auditing. The income for doing this kind of work is attractive. With no experience at all, a beginner can start out at close to $30,000 a year. In less time than it takes to complete a college education, good HVACR professionals earn about $45,000 a year on average. Specialists earn even more - up to $80,000 a year, depending on their field and experience. Along with the income, a typical HVACR job provides benefits like insurance, holidays, and paid vacations. In many cases there are perks like company vehicles, cell phones, and laptops. How hard is it to get started in this career? Anyone with mechanical aptitude can learn the trade on the job. Many do this through a formal apprenticeship program. Others simply start out as helpers, assisting an experienced technician who can teach them the skills of the trade. Still others go to vocational-technical schools for six to 12 months programs. Regardless of how much or little one prepares for a first HVACR job, the prospects are excellent. Labor experts predict as many as 100,000 new jobs will open up over the coming decade. These are jobs that cannot be automated or shipped offshore. Right now, there are not enough new technicians to fill empty positions. Jobs are everywhere for newcomers and experienced professionals alike. HVACR is an excellent career choice for the mechanically inclined, especially those with an interest in electronics. It is a very large and diverse field where professionals are admired and respected.