Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
49-9021.00
Bright Outlook Updated 2026

Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.

Sample of reported job titles: AC Mechanic (Air Conditioner Mechanic); AC Tech (Air Conditioning Technician); HVAC Control Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Control Technician); HVAC Installer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Installer); HVAC Mechanic (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Mechanic); HVAC Service Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Service Technician); HVAC Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technician); Refrigeration Mechanic; Refrigeration Operator; Refrigeration Technician (Refrigeration Tech)

  • Occupation-Specific Information
  • Overview

Occupational Requirements

Work Context Save Table: XLSX CSV

ContextWork Context
99
 
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams — How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
  • 98%
    98%
     
    Every day
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 2%
    2%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
97
 
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
  • 88%
    88%
     
    Every day
  • 12%
    12%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
95
 
E-Mail — How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
  • 79%
    79%
     
    Every day
  • 20%
    20%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 1%
    1%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
93
 
Contact With Others — How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
  • 81%
    81%
     
    Constant contact with others
  • 10%
    10%
     
    Contact with others most of the time
  • 9%
    9%
     
    Contact with others about half the time
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Occasional contact with others
  • 0%
    0%
     
    No contact with others
91
 
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team — How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
  • 77%
    77%
     
    Extremely important
  • 10%
    10%
     
    Very important
  • 13%
    13%
     
    Important
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Fairly important
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Not important at all
89
 
Exposed to Contaminants — How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
  • 68%
    68%
     
    Every day
  • 21%
    21%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 12%
    12%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
89
 
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled — How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
  • 74%
    74%
     
    Every day
  • 17%
    17%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 1%
    1%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 8%
    8%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
89
 
Telephone Conversations — How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
  • 60%
    60%
     
    Every day
  • 34%
    34%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 6%
    6%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
86
 
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
  • 55%
    55%
     
    Extremely important
  • 36%
    36%
     
    Very important
  • 8%
    8%
     
    Important
  • 1%
    1%
     
    Fairly important
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Not important at all
84
 
Time Pressure — How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
  • -2%
    Not available
    Every day
  • 11%
    11%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 14%
    14%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 8%
    8%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
82
 
Health and Safety of Other Workers — How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
  • 47%
    47%
     
    Very high responsibility
  • 38%
    38%
     
    High responsibility
  • 9%
    9%
     
    Moderate responsibility
  • 6%
    6%
     
    Limited responsibility
  • 0%
    0%
     
    No responsibility
82
 
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions — How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
  • 58%
    58%
     
    Every day
  • 14%
    14%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 26%
    26%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 2%
    2%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
81
 
Frequency of Decision Making — How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
  • 44%
    44%
     
    Every day
  • 46%
    46%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 4%
    4%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 1%
    1%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 5%
    5%
     
    Never
80
 
Freedom to Make Decisions — How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
  • 42%
    42%
     
    A lot of freedom
  • 35%
    35%
     
    Some freedom
  • 22%
    22%
     
    Limited freedom
  • 1%
    1%
     
    Very little freedom
  • 0%
    0%
     
    No freedom
79
 
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers — How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
  • 53%
    53%
     
    Very high responsibility
  • 27%
    27%
     
    High responsibility
  • 10%
    10%
     
    Moderate responsibility
  • 3%
    3%
     
    Limited responsibility
  • 7%
    7%
     
    No responsibility
76
 
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
  • 31%
    31%
     
    Very important results
  • 47%
    47%
     
    Important results
  • 16%
    16%
     
    Moderate results
  • 6%
    6%
     
    Minor results
  • 0%
    0%
     
    No results
76
 
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
  • 54%
    54%
     
    Every day
  • 21%
    21%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 25%
    25%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
76
 
Outdoors, Under Cover — How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
  • 50%
    50%
     
    Every day
  • 15%
    15%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 29%
    29%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 6%
    6%
     
    Never
75
 
Consequence of Error — How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
  • 44%
    44%
     
    Extremely serious
  • -2%
    Not available
    Very serious
  • 28%
    28%
     
    Serious
  • 5%
    5%
     
    Fairly serious
  • 2%
    2%
     
    Not serious at all
73
 
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities — How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
  • 25%
    25%
     
    Extremely important
  • 47%
    47%
     
    Very important
  • 22%
    22%
     
    Important
  • 6%
    6%
     
    Fairly important
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Not important at all
71
 
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment — How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
  • 45%
    45%
     
    Every day
  • 3%
    3%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 41%
    41%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 11%
    11%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
70
 
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
  • 57%
    57%
     
    Continually or almost continually
  • 3%
    3%
     
    More than half the time
  • 3%
    3%
     
    About half the time
  • 37%
    37%
     
    Less than half the time
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
69
 
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable — How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
  • 30%
    30%
     
    Every day
  • 44%
    44%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 6%
    6%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 11%
    11%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 9%
    9%
     
    Never
68
 
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
  • 28%
    28%
     
    Extremely important
  • 42%
    42%
     
    Very important
  • 4%
    4%
     
    Important
  • 24%
    24%
     
    Fairly important
  • 2%
    2%
     
    Not important at all
67
 
Spend Time Standing — How much does this job require standing?
  • 31%
    31%
     
    Continually or almost continually
  • 6%
    6%
     
    More than half the time
  • 63%
    63%
     
    About half the time
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Less than half the time
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
64
 
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions — How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
  • 35%
    35%
     
    Every day
  • 3%
    3%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 44%
    44%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • -2%
    Not available
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
64
 
Level of Competition — To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
  • 27%
    27%
     
    Extremely competitive
  • 30%
    30%
     
    Highly competitive
  • 23%
    23%
     
    Moderately competitive
  • 12%
    12%
     
    Slightly competitive
  • 8%
    8%
     
    Not at all competitive
61
 
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures — How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
  • 34%
    34%
     
    Every day
  • 12%
    12%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 17%
    17%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 37%
    37%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
61
 
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body — How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
  • 27%
    27%
     
    Continually or almost continually
  • -2%
    Not available
    More than half the time
  • 3%
    3%
     
    About half the time
  • 40%
    40%
     
    Less than half the time
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Never
60
 
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions — How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
  • 28%
    28%
     
    Every day
  • 4%
    4%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • -2%
    Not available
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 11%
    11%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 5%
    5%
     
    Never
60
 
Exposed to High Places — How often does this job require exposure to high places?
  • 31%
    31%
     
    Every day
  • 8%
    8%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 36%
    36%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 15%
    15%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 9%
    9%
     
    Never
60
 
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment — How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
  • 58%
    58%
     
    Every day
  • 2%
    2%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 2%
    2%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 38%
    38%
     
    Never
59
 
Duration of Typical Work Week — Number of hours typically worked in one week.
  • 17%
    17%
     
    More than 40 hours
  • 83%
    83%
     
    40 hours
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Less than 40 hours
58
 
Physical Proximity — To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Very close (near touching)
  • 51%
    51%
     
    Moderately close (at arm's length)
  • 37%
    37%
     
    Slightly close (e.g., shared office)
  • 8%
    8%
     
    I work with others but not closely (e.g., private office)
  • 5%
    5%
     
    I don't work near other people (beyond 100 ft.)
55
 
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection — How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
  • 34%
    34%
     
    Every day
  • 9%
    9%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 7%
    7%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 42%
    42%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 8%
    8%
     
    Never
54
 
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment — How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
  • 47%
    47%
     
    Every day
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Once a week or more but not every day
  • 12%
    12%
     
    Once a month or more but not every week
  • 2%
    2%
     
    Once a year or more but not every month
  • 39%
    39%
     
    Never
53
 
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals — How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
  • 6%
    6%
     
    A lot of freedom
  • 51%
    51%
     
    Some freedom
  • 18%
    18%
     
    Limited freedom
  • 0%
    0%
     
    Very little freedom
  • 25%
    25%
     
    No freedom
52
 
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
  • 25%
    25%
     
    Continually or almost continually
  • 19%
    19%
     
    More than half the time
  • 1%
    1%
     
    About half the time
  • 49%
    49%
     
    Less than half the time
  • 6%
    6%
     
    Never