Silicon Valley’s Bet on the Trades Could Be Good for HVACR

Big tech is putting money behind the skilled trades. Google has committed $50 million to help train more than 300,000 workers for fields like HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration), and Meta has launched a free nationwide training program, America's Workforce Academy, that covers costs and requires no prior experience. The push comes as the industry struggles to find enough technicians to keep up with demand.

For homeowners, this mostly matters as a long-term signal rather than something that changes your plans right now. More people training for HVAC work could eventually mean shorter waits for service calls and installations, especially as heat pumps and other efficiency upgrades become more common. But the pay picture is more modest than some headlines suggest: the median wage for HVAC mechanics and installers was about $59,810 as of May 2024, with typical pay ranging roughly $46,000 to $81,000. Six-figure incomes do happen, but usually only after years of experience or a move into supervisory roles, not right out of training.

The real test will be whether these new workers stick with the trade once they're hired. Enrollment in two-year HVAC associate degree programs jumped nearly 29% from spring 2024 to spring 2025, showing real interest. Whether that translates into more technicians available in your area long-term depends on whether employers offer steady pay and real paths for advancement, not just entry-level jobs that compete with retail wages.