HVAC Technicians vs Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Median pay is about $4k higher for Industrial Machinery Mechanics. The usual entry education is postsecondary plus cert for HVAC Technicians and high school for Industrial Machinery Mechanics.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | HVAC Technicians | Industrial Machinery Mechanics |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $61,010 | $64,520, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $48,360 | $55,010, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $77,060 | $78,780, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +11% Growing fast | +18% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 40,600 | 44,400 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Postsecondary plus cert | High school |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.2 / 5 | 2.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 18th pct | 22nd pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, active learning, monitoring.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.