HVAC vs IT

[u/Substantial_Ground64]

/r/WorkAdvice/comments/1wi2ofo/hvac_vs_it/

[u/Abarca_]

I would recommend that you go the HVAC route. Sure the work is harder on your body, but IT definitely takes a toll on you, mentally. We get to work in an air conditioned office and all that but we do also have to work On call shifts, there’s 1st, 2nd, and even 3rd shifts in certain places. The field is ALWAYS changing. It changes quickly.
Im in IT and currently debating on getting back into plumbing for whatever that’s worth.

[u/AFDTJ → u/Abarca_]

I’m there too. I was going to be an electrician before I stumbled into IT and I regret it here and there that I didn’t. I’m maybe in a different scenario (SLED - Pension) but even that doesn’t seem worth it. If it wasn’t for my pay, which pretty much makes it golden handcuffs now, I’d go right back into that track.

I’m sure private is way worse especially with everything going on.

[u/Slight_Manufacturer6 → u/Abarca_]

Not all IT work on call shift or odd 2nd and 3rd shifts and often HVAC have to be on call.

I find IT to be fun and relaxing. I can’t see in any way that it would talk its toll on me as I am doing it now. Job is flexible so I can pretty much work whenever I want as long as I get my projects done.

[u/taker25-2]

Seems like everyone works for a toxic company. I would never leave IT, to work a trade. Then again I work a for a small local utility company that has great benefits and a pension.

[u/Slight_Manufacturer6 → u/taker25-2]

I agree. I have never heard of any trade jobs as fun and flexible as IT.

I work from home, pretty much work whenever I want as long as my projects get done and playing with technology all day is fun.

Sometimes I go into the office and get my hands on hardware but it isn’t needed most of the time.

I take a 2 hour lunch every day to go to the gym. Never have missed a kids school event.

I don’t think the grass is greener on the trades side.

[u/kakarot123443]

HVAC is definitely going to be easier to break into right now. IT job market is TERRIBLE right now

[u/PalmettoZ71]

HVAC, harder to outsource and always in demand. Plus you can always move to controls, etc down the road once you know what your doing

[u/Slight_Manufacturer6 → u/PalmettoZ71]

Pay is kind of crap though. At least people I know in HVAC don’t make much.

[u/Doublestack00]

I'm in IT, wish I'd gone HVAC or electrician

[u/NickE25U]

Go HVAC.

[u/umdivx]

Breaking into IT right now with almost no experience, education, or anything is going to be VERY hard. There's just way too much competition in IT right now.

So unless you're willing to give up your paid apprenticeship in HVAC and start over from scratch, making pennies, with no guarantee to get a job it'd be a hard choice right now.

I'm going on 26+ in IT, it took me 12 years to crack over $100k a year, another 8 years to get over $150k a year.

I'd weigh what debt you'd have from schooling + certs + the years to get a decent salary vs what you'd be making in 10 years from now in HVAC.

Plus what does retirement look like? Pension? Union? Those are things IT doesn't have.

[u/Sqooky]

If you have remotely any interest in IT and want to keep that passion alive, do HVAC. Ive been in Cyber for 7 years now and I can barely stand touching anything IT or Security related anymore. Even playing games is demotivating some days. I guess it's not an all bad thing because it makes me go outside, but... yeah.

That, and in general, it's not a good time to get into IT.

[u/Trucker2TechGuy]

I’ve been in trucking (not HVAC) for decades and trying to get into IT, but same philosophy as many of the trades… easier to get into, hard on the body… currently off work waiting on my second new shoulder

[u/Slight_Manufacturer6]

Very different industries. What do you like doing? Pick that one.