HVAC Journeyman
San Jacinto College
You will be taken to the employer's application page. Listing expires September 5, 2026.
Job Description
PRIMARY FUNCTION
Maintain and repair HVAC systems and equipment to provide a safe and comfortable environment for students, faculty and staff. Perform preventative maintenance on equipment to ensure optimum efficiency and extend equipment life. Perform HVAC installation, repair and maintenance as needed. Perform preventive maintenance work as required and, in the priority, directed. Support and adhere to the College Safety Program. Maintain quality standards as set by the District. Check and test control circuits; check and test pneumatic control systems; diagnose HVAC problems and remove, repair and replace faulty parts. Be available for emergency after-hour work or to complete on-going projects, and be willing to respond to calls any time during a 24-hour period.
Essential Job Functions
- Assure that you have complete knowledge of appropriate procedures and take measures to assure safe outcomes for all tasks undertaken.
- Complete assigned preventative maintenance and repair work orders.
- Perform equipment inspections to determine condition or potential problems.
- Update material inventory for HVAC Department.
- Trouble shoot water circulating pumps, cooling towers, air handlers, walk in coolers, walk in freezers, fan coil units, exhaust fans, split systems and roof top units.
- Assist supervisor with water treatment systems.
- Respond to hot and cold calls, diagnose problems and make adjustments or repairs as necessary.
Additional Job Functions
- Investigate all water leak issues within the buildings to determine the source.
- Assist Plumbing and Electrical Departments when the need arises.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Carry college cell phone and on call 24/7.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge in maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of HVAC equipment including large centrifugal chillers, boilers, pumps and air handling units.
- Ability to review and close out work orders in computerized work order system.
- Knowledge in chemical water treatment systems for HVAC applications.
- Ability to diagnose and repair pneumatic and DDC control systems.
- Ability to read and interpret mechanical plans.
- Ability to rebuild pumps, compressors and other HVAC equipment.
Required Education
High School Diploma or GED.
Required Experience
- Must have completed a recognized apprentice program; OR have at least five (5) years' experience directly related to the craft with no less than three (3) years at the apprentice level.
- Must be able to read and interpret electro-mechanical plans, specifications, and operational criteria and possess quality understanding of the HVA systems installed throughout the District.
- Must have a valid Texas Driver's License with a good driving record.
- May be required to successfully complete job ability testing.
Preferred Experience
Preferred candidate should have at least five (5) years' experience in hot water and chilled water systems of 100 tons capacity with two (2) years' experience in/or with related trades such as plumbing and electrical.
Required Licenses/Certifications
Must have CFC refrigerant reclaimant certification at level 1 and 2 with a universal certification within one (1) year.
Preferred Licenses/Certifications
State class "A" A/C license.
Salary Grade
110 Salary is based on the Board-approved salary schedule for the current fiscal year. See Salary Schedule Requisition Number: req6362 Posting Close Date: 8/21/2026 at 6 pm CST
What Most AC & HVAC Job Listings Don't Tell You
General overview for this role type; specifics vary by employer.
HVAC in Texas requires a state license at the company level, and technicians who handle refrigerant need EPA Section 608 certification. Many shops also want NATE certification for higher pay. You can start as an installer helper or entry technician and grow into diagnostics and system design. Pay is often hourly with strong overtime in summer, and service techs frequently earn commission or spiffs on repairs and system sales.
Seasonality drives this trade in Houston. Summer is brutal and busy, with long days, attic heat, and heavy on-call rotations when systems fail. Winter shifts toward heating checks, maintenance plans, and install backlog. New hires underestimate the physical toll of attic and rooftop work in extreme heat. You drive a stocked truck, carry gauges and recovery gear, and stay ready for after-hours emergencies. Steady demand and a shortage of skilled techs keep the field open to anyone who shows up and learns fast.
What to Expect Day-to-Day
General overview for this role type; specifics vary by employer.
A service tech starts with a dispatch list and a truck loaded with common parts. You roll to no-cool calls, check the thermostat, measure refrigerant pressures, test the compressor and capacitor, and inspect the coil and blower. You explain the fault, quote the fix, and get approval before the repair.
Maintenance visits fill much of the shoulder seasons. You clean coils, change filters, flush drain lines, and check amperage so a system does not fail in the next heat wave. Install crews spend the day setting condensers and air handlers, running line sets and ductwork, and brazing connections. Customer trust matters because many repairs are invisible to the homeowner. You document readings, photograph the work, and close the ticket in the field. Expect heat, ladders, tight attics, and a lot of driving between calls, balanced by the satisfaction of restoring cool air on a hundred degree day.
What AC & HVAC Jobs Pay in Houston
Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area (HVAC Mechanics and Installers).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area. Median is about $28.34/hr.
Becoming a Licensed HVAC Technician in Texas
HVAC contracting is licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and the license is held at the company level by a certified technician. Anyone who handles refrigerant needs federal EPA Section 608 certification. Many employers also value NATE certification, which raises pay. You can start as an installer helper with no license, earn your EPA card early, and build toward the ACR technician and then contractor license through documented experience and exams. Summer overtime is common while you climb.
Career Ladder and Pay
- 1 Install Helper / Entry Tech $47,029/yr
Assist installs and maintenance while earning EPA 608 certification.
- 2 Service Technician $58,947/yr
Diagnose and repair systems solo. NATE certification lifts pay.
- 3 Lead Tech / Comfort Advisor $73,902/yr
Handle complex diagnostics, system design, and replacement sales.
- 4 Install Foreman / Estimator $73,902/yr
Run install crews and bid residential and commercial systems.
- 5 HVAC Contractor $83,117/yr
Hold the state license and run your own heating and cooling company.
Licensing paths and timelines are general guidance for this trade in Texas. Confirm current requirements with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation or the relevant state agency.
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