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2026 Highest Paid Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration Associate’s Degree Graduates

47 Colleges Ranked
$53,941 Avg Early-Career Salary
2026 Highest Paid Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration Associate's Degree Grads Badge [Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heating-air-conditioning-ventilation-refrigeration/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates go on to command.

College Factual analyzed 47 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools.

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2026 Highest Paid Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration Grads in the United States

Below are the schools whose heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates go on to earn the most.

Highest Paid Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration Graduates

1
South Central College crest
South Central College
North Mankato, MN

For graduate earnings in heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration, no school beat South Central College this year. South Central College is a public school located in the suburb of North Mankato. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,675.

2
Hennepin Technical College crest
Hennepin Technical College
Brooklyn Park, MN

Strong graduate earnings at Hennepin Technical College earned it the #2 place for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,403.

3

Johnson County Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration, landing the #3 spot this year. Johnson County Community College is a public school located in the city of Overland Park. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,809.

4

Elgin Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration, landing the #4 spot this year. Elgin Community College is a public school located in the city of Elgin. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of about $66,349 a year early in their careers.

5

Students chasing top earnings in heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration will find them at Minneapolis Community And Technical College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College typically earn about $74,261 annually.

6

Georgia Piedmont Technical College came in at #6 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Clarkston. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Georgia Piedmont Technical College earn a median of about $62,233 a year early in their careers.

7
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, MN

Century College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a public institution. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,499.

8

Southern Maine Community College came in at #8 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Southern Maine Community College is a public school located in the city of South Portland. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,742.

9
Midlands Technical College crest
Midlands Technical College
West Columbia, SC

Midlands Technical College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. Set in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a public institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Midlands Technical College make a median of around $58,589 per year.

10

Dunwoody College Of Technology landed the #10 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from Dunwoody College Of Technology typically earn about $75,444 annually.

11

Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee landed the #11 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. Located in the town of Okmulgee, Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is a public institution. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee earn a median of about $56,689 a year early in their careers.

12

College Of Southern Nevada ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools. College Of Southern Nevada is a public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from College Of Southern Nevada make a median of around $56,489 per year.

13

Central New Mexico Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a public institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College typically earn about $55,846 annually.

14

Monroe Community College placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a public institution. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of about $54,241 a year early in their careers.

15

Southeast Community College Area placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a public institution. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,687.

16
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. Ivy Tech Community College is a public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Ivy Tech Community College make a median of around $45,414 per year.

17

Hudson Valley Community College earned the #17 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a public institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Hudson Valley Community College make a median of around $59,554 per year.

18

Pennsylvania College Of Technology ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools. Set in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a public institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Pennsylvania College Of Technology make a median of around $51,770 per year.

19

Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a public school located in the city of Lancaster. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology earn a median of about $65,696 a year early in their careers.

20

Wenatchee Valley College earned the #20 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Wenatchee, Wenatchee Valley College is a public institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Wenatchee Valley College make a median of around $50,579 per year.

21

Suny College Of Technology At Alfred landed the #21 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a public school located in the rural area of Alfred. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred typically earn about $58,480 annually.

22

Linn State Technical College landed the #22 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a public institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Linn State Technical College make a median of around $57,261 per year.

23

Wake Technical Community College landed the #23 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. Wake Technical Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of about $49,134 a year early in their careers.

24

Northern Virginia Community College earned the #24 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Northern Virginia Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,384.

25

University Of Northwestern Ohio earned the #25 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. University Of Northwestern Ohio is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lima. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of University Of Northwestern Ohio earn a median of about $52,736 a year early in their careers.

Rest of the Top 47 Highest Paid Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration Schools

Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates:

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29
30
31
32
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34
35
36
Gwinnett Technical College crest
Gwinnett Technical College
Lawrenceville, GA
37
Advanced Technology Institute crest
Advanced Technology Institute
Virginia Beach, VA
38
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47

Other Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration Degree Levels

Explore the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration
Bachelor's Degrees in Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration
Master's Degrees in Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration

View All Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).

Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 47 schools evaluated.

*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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