Overview
All Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics
-
$1,400 Weekly Pay
-
Moderate Future Growth
-
29,500 workers Employment Size
-
Medium skill Skill level rating
-
89% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
44 hours Average full-time
-
33 years Average age
-
1% female Gender Share
Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics assemble, install, maintain and repair industrial, commercial and domestic airconditioning and refrigeration systems and equipment.
You usually need a certificate III or IV in refrigeration and airconditioning to work as an Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic. These courses are often completed as part of an apprenticeship.
Tasks
- establishing job requirements from drawings and specifications, and laying out installation reference points
- drilling holes, installing mounting brackets and cutting, bending and threading piping
- installing and repairing components such as compressors, motors, condensers, evaporators, switches and gauges, and copper lines for steam, gas, refrigerant, compressed air, oil and chilled water
- bolting, soldering, riveting, welding and brazing pipes to connect equipment, and checking alignment and accuracy of fit
- filling systems with gas or fluid to check for leaks
- test-operating refrigeration systems, checking mechanisms and making adjustments
- removing test gas and fluid using vacuum pumps, and filling with refrigerant
- checking and overhauling refrigeration systems, diagnosing faults and repairing and replacing defective components
- adjusting system controls and mechanisms and reassembling systems
- recording causes of malfunctioning and action taken
Prospects
There were 29,500 Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics in 2020. The number of workers:
- grew very strongly over the past 5 years
- is expected to grow over the next five years
- is likely to reach 30,700 by 2025.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, seasonally adjusted data to November 2020 and National Skills Commission Employment Projections to 2025. The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment Snapshot
- Size: This is a large occupation.
- Location: Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics work in many regions of Australia.
- Industries: Most work in Construction; Other Services; and Manufacturing.
- Earnings: Full-time workers on an adult wage earn around $1,400 per week (similar to the average of $1,460). Earnings tend to be lower when starting out and higher as experience grows.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (89%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 44 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 33 years (compared to the average of 40 years). Many workers are under 25 years of age (22%).
- Gender: 1% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Employment Outlook
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2020 and National Skills Commission Employment Projections to 2025.
Weekly Earnings
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), May 2018, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Pathways
You usually need a certificate III or IV in refrigeration and airconditioning to work as an Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic. These courses are often completed as part of an apprenticeship.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Electrotechnology VET training pathways.
Skills & Knowledge
Employers look for Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics who can provide good customer service, are polite and courteous and have a strong work ethic.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Sales and marketing
Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Transportation
Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
Telecommunications
Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Repairing
Fixing machines or systems.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Equipment maintenance
Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
-
Installation
Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Systems analysis
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Equipment selection
Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Visualization
Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
Extent flexibility
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Multilimb coordination
Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
Speech recognition
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
-
Trunk strength
Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
Colour discrimination
Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
-
Control precision
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
Speed of recognition
Quickly make sense of and organize things you can see like letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Working with mechanical equipment
Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Working with electronic equipment
Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing electronic devices and equipment.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Making sense of information and ideas
Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Thinking creatively
Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Scheduling work and activities
Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
Training and teaching others
Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Driving vehicles or equipment
Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 49-9021.01 - Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers.
Work Environment
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Outdoors, exposed to weather
Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
-
In an enclosed vehicle or equipment
Work in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
-
Indoors, not heat controlled
Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
Spend time standing
Spend time standing at work.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Very hot or cold temperatures
Work in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings
Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
-
Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 49-9021.01 - Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers.
All Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics
-
$1,400 Weekly Pay
-
Moderate Future Growth
-
29,500 workers Employment Size
-
Medium skill Skill level rating
-
89% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
44 hours Average full-time
-
33 years Average age
-
1% female Gender Share
Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics assemble, install, maintain and repair industrial, commercial and domestic airconditioning and refrigeration systems and equipment.
You usually need a certificate III or IV in refrigeration and airconditioning to work as an Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic. These courses are often completed as part of an apprenticeship.
Tasks
- establishing job requirements from drawings and specifications, and laying out installation reference points
- drilling holes, installing mounting brackets and cutting, bending and threading piping
- installing and repairing components such as compressors, motors, condensers, evaporators, switches and gauges, and copper lines for steam, gas, refrigerant, compressed air, oil and chilled water
- bolting, soldering, riveting, welding and brazing pipes to connect equipment, and checking alignment and accuracy of fit
- filling systems with gas or fluid to check for leaks
- test-operating refrigeration systems, checking mechanisms and making adjustments
- removing test gas and fluid using vacuum pumps, and filling with refrigerant
- checking and overhauling refrigeration systems, diagnosing faults and repairing and replacing defective components
- adjusting system controls and mechanisms and reassembling systems
- recording causes of malfunctioning and action taken
There were 29,500 Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics in 2020. The number of workers:
- grew very strongly over the past 5 years
- is expected to grow over the next five years
- is likely to reach 30,700 by 2025.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, seasonally adjusted data to November 2020 and National Skills Commission Employment Projections to 2025. The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment Snapshot
- Size: This is a large occupation.
- Location: Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics work in many regions of Australia.
- Industries: Most work in Construction; Other Services; and Manufacturing.
- Earnings: Full-time workers on an adult wage earn around $1,400 per week (similar to the average of $1,460). Earnings tend to be lower when starting out and higher as experience grows.
- Full-time: Most work full-time (89%, much higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 44 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 33 years (compared to the average of 40 years). Many workers are under 25 years of age (22%).
- Gender: 1% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Employment Outlook
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2020 and National Skills Commission Employment Projections to 2025.
Weekly Earnings
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), May 2018, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
You usually need a certificate III or IV in refrigeration and airconditioning to work as an Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic. These courses are often completed as part of an apprenticeship.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Electrotechnology VET training pathways.
Employers look for Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics who can provide good customer service, are polite and courteous and have a strong work ethic.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Sales and marketing
Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Transportation
Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
Telecommunications
Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Repairing
Fixing machines or systems.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Equipment maintenance
Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
-
Installation
Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Systems analysis
Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
Instructing
Teaching people how to do something.
-
Equipment selection
Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Visualization
Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
Extent flexibility
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Multilimb coordination
Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
Speech recognition
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
-
Trunk strength
Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
Colour discrimination
Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
-
Control precision
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
Speed of recognition
Quickly make sense of and organize things you can see like letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Working with mechanical equipment
Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Working with electronic equipment
Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing electronic devices and equipment.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Making sense of information and ideas
Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Thinking creatively
Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Scheduling work and activities
Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
Training and teaching others
Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Driving vehicles or equipment
Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 49-9021.01 - Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers.
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Outdoors, exposed to weather
Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Telephone
Talk on the telephone.
-
In an enclosed vehicle or equipment
Work in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
-
Indoors, not heat controlled
Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
Spend time standing
Spend time standing at work.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Exposure to contaminants
Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
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Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
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Very hot or cold temperatures
Work in very hot or cold temperatures.
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Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
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Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
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Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
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Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings
Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
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Unstructured work
Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
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Support
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
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Independence
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
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Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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Working conditions
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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Relationships
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
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Recognition
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 49-9021.01 - Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers.