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Construction
Page 8 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaymn.com

Why HVAC, Plumbing, and Mechanical Trades Are Excellent Career Choices

for Minnesota Students

The work offers variety—no two days are the nesota students, it offers awards ranging from
same—mixing installation, repair, customer $1,500 to $10,000 (most around $3,000) to
interaction, and troubleshooting. Many find plumbing and HVAC apprentices working for
deep satisfaction in tangible accomplishments PHCC member contractors, trade school stu-
and helping families and businesses, with the dents in relevant programs, and college students
ability to point to projects decades later and in related majors like mechanical engineering
say, “I built that!” Additionally, these trades or construction management. For 2026, they
open doors to entrepreneurship. Many suc- plan 75 awards totaling $180,000. Applications
cessful contractors started as apprentices and are due May 1, 2026—visit phccfoundation.
now run thriving businesses, creating jobs and org/scholarship-program/ or phccareers.com
contributing to their communities. for details.
Minnesota PHCC: A Valuable Resource Encouraging the Next Generation — As
for Students and Families — The Minne- educators and parents, we owe it to students
sota Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors to present all viable paths to a successful
Association (MN PHCC) is a key ally for future—not just the traditional four-year
anyone exploring these careers. As the state degree. The mechanical trades build practical
chapter of the national PHCC, they advance skills, work ethic, problem-solving abilities,
the industry through education, networking, and financial independence. For students who
and advocacy while protecting public health enjoy working with their hands, technology,
and the environment. and people, these careers can be incredibly
Parents and teachers: Contact MN PHCC fulfilling. Encourage exploration: Visit a local
at mnphcc.com, by phone at 612-590-8038, or technical college, talk to a tradesperson, or
email michelled@mnphcc.com to connect with reach out to MN PHCC. With a shortage of
In an era of skyrocketing college tuition In Minnesota, these figures are often higher member contractors for job shadowing, intern- skilled workers, now is the perfect time for
and a national skills gap in essential industries, due to local demand and cost of living. Expe- ship or apprenticeship information, or even Minnesota’s young people to consider HVAC,
parents, teachers, and students alike should rienced HVAC professionals in the state can classroom speakers. MN PHCC supports con- plumbing, and the mechanical trades. They
take a fresh look at the mechanical trades. earn around $66,000 or more annually, with tinuing education and apprenticeship training, aren’t just jobs—they’re careers that build
Careers in heating, ventilation, and air con- plumbers seeing mean wages approaching including as a partner for the PHCC Academy homes, comfort, and a strong future. For more
®
ditioning (HVAC), plumbing, pipefitting, and or exceeding $79,000. With overtime, cer- online courses that can fulfill related techni- information and resources, start at mnphcc.
related mechanical fields offer high demand, tifications, specialization (such as in green cal instruction requirements in Minnesota. A com or phccareers.com. Reach out today to
competitive pay, hands-on satisfaction, and technologies or commercial systems), and standout opportunity is the PHCC Educational bring these opportunities into your class-
a clear path to success—often without the especially business ownership, many trades- Foundation scholarship program. Open to Min- room or family conversations.
burden of student debt. For Minnesota fami- people comfortably reach six-figure incomes.
lies, these trades are particularly vital given Crucially, these careers allow workers to earn
our state’s extreme weather and growing infra- while they learn through apprenticeships,
structure needs. avoiding the average $30,000+ in student
Strong Job Security in a Growing Field — debt faced by many college graduates. Many
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects apprentices start with competitive wages and
that employment for heating, air conditioning, benefits, progressing rapidly as they gain
and refrigeration mechanics and installers will experience and licensure.
grow 8% from 2024 to 2034—much faster A Structured Path: Apprenticeships and
than the average for all occupations—with Training — One of the biggest advantages
about 40,100 openings projected each year. is the apprenticeship model. Typically lasting
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are 4-5 years, apprentices combine on-the-job
expected to see 4% growth, about as fast as training with classroom instruction, earning
average. These projections stem from new a paycheck from day one. Upon completion,
construction, the need to retrofit older build- graduates become licensed journeymen with
ings for energy efficiency, and the ongoing excellent earning potential and job mobility.
demand for maintenance and repair in residen- Students can also start with diploma or cer-
tial and commercial settings. tificate programs at excellent local institutions
In Minnesota, the demand is even more like Hennepin Technical College, Dunwoody
pronounced. Harsh winters require robust College of Technology, Minneapolis College,
heating systems, while summers demand reli- St. Cloud Technical College, and others. These
able cooling. Population growth in the Twin programs provide foundational skills that pair
Cities metro area and across the state fuels perfectly with apprenticeships.
new building projects. The result? A consis- Rewarding Work with Modern Appeal —
tent need for skilled tradespeople who can’t be Trades work is far from “dirty jobs” of the past.
easily replaced by automation or offshoring. Today’s HVAC and plumbing professionals
Competitive Pay and Financial Stabil- use advanced diagnostics, computer con-
ity — Forget the outdated notion that trades trols, smart home technology, and sustainable
mean modest earnings. Nationally, the median systems like geothermal and high-efficiency
annual wage for HVAC technicians is approxi- boilers. They solve real problems daily, ensur-
mately $59,810, while plumbers and pipefitters ing clean water, comfortable environments,
earn a median of $62,970 (BLS 2024 data). and energy savings that benefit the planet.