I Make $80K A Year Repairing Air Conditioners | On The Job
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2021
- Roger Cuadra, 40, is an heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technician in Anaheim, CA. Born in Nicaragua and raised in Whittier, CA, Cuadra's career started at a Food For Less where he worked as a bag boy making $7.25 an hour. This year, he aims to cross the $100,000 mark working for Nexgen Air and Heat.
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How I Went From $7.25 An Hour To $80K A Year | On The Job
The hustle is strong with this one.
💯
He honestly makes a strong point about how his services are skilled labor. I never thought about it that way.
Look up Mike Rowe. Guy from the show Dirty Jobs.
Thats the whole point in america. If you cant do it yourself because you dont know how to. You pay. Unless you have the wherewithal to lookup youtube
Yes, it is skilled labor. You're paying for the knowledge and expertise yet people complain about the price and don't want to pay these skilled technicians what they're worth.
Everything is skilled labor in life.
He is a hard working man, he has skills that few people have, he's doing great! I hope he'll be able to work 5 days a week and enjoy summers with his family 👨👩👧👦
Uhm HVAC is the most busy in the summer. He can’t take a vacation during the summer… Are you stupid or something?
@@Pcarnevaaa YOU are stupid to harass people on social media.
@@anoukc6928 ooooo harass people on SOCIAL MEDIA. get a thick skin you blubex
@@user-mc3lk3me2n Yep. You're obviously spending lots of hours away from home with this job, which can lead to failing marriages/relationships. But there are people who push through, and still maintain healthy ones.
My dad is an HVAC in south Florida where he has a small HVAC company and where it is always hot, he does very well but it is a very hard job. I am so proud of him and all he has accomplished! Thank you dad 🙏🏼 we are also from Nicaragua Roger so I am super proud of you!!
@arif cho He can't because like most americans he is very lazy.
@arif cho loser much?
@@joylm9108 lol I bet you have a victim mentality
I've just became a third year HVACR Apprentice and you are absolutely right. This trade is both physically and mentally tough.
I wish my children felt same for me. You are good daughter.
This guy could go union and make 150k-200k a year doing commercial, or start his own company and make 300k-1m a year salary
Thats what I'm thinking his getting low ball. 12 years of experience and only 80k. His employer is milking his knowledge and hard work for every penny.
@@ricardomains with his experience at this company he should be making 120K a year base
Yeah definitely way under for typical union journeymen scale
Which company pays that much? I wish to be at better place, being in dubai also 12 yeas experience making just 20k $
@@jaidenmcryenolds3769 okay but don’t unions take a lot of that back anyway. My cousin in a sheet metal workers union. He makes $35/h on paper but his take home after taxes, union fees, and employee insurance payments is closer to $22/h
Yes, he is hardworking and hustling for that money. But how can we praise this environment knowing he works 6 days a week, sometimes 7, and works 12-14 hrs a day?! This is inhumane and I am deeply surprised how it is legal in the U.S. at least from a European perspective. This should NOT be normal, you should be able to enjoy life and not live to work but work to live.
That's what you have to do to afford a decent life in California. Cost of living in California is expensive.
if he went union he wouldn't be in those working situations
this job is like that in europe too , at least where im from (Greece)
So basically we should take away this guy's right to work more hours and make more money?
Everyone's income should be more set in stone where guys like this can't strive to achieve more for their lives?
As a man that also works in the HVAC industry for the same reasons the man showcased does, that sounds very depressing. Working the same 30-40 hours, making the same set rate all year round is not motivating for guys like us.
However in America we have options. There are tons of jobs that offer the basic 9-5, Monday through Friday, that are also 55K+ careers.
You're looking at one career that allows you to have flexibility with how much you want to make based on how much you want to work, and that simply has a certain appeal to it, to certain types of people.
Leave it the way it is cause it's not broken.
Not that much
Most importantly, is the fact that he didn’t get involved in student loan but he is still able to make good income.
If his student loans costed 50k and made him 20k more, that's around 3 years and it's worth it.
I got financial aid to go to hvac school. Got paid to learn and getting paid now.
@@phantasqLiving if you spend 50k on a hvac degree you did something wrong
@@ryanbrink2755 tru
@neal cassady good luck getting 100k with a 4 year degree that's not in stem.
80-100K as a tech with that level of seniority, in CA, working 6 days a week? He needs a new job. You can break 100K easily in most metro areas in CA.
He loves what he does i guess
💯!
Proud of you!! I’m 22 and going to pursue my HVAC tech career !!
@arif cho how is that not a career ?
People in the south need ac all year and people up north need heating in the winter and ac in the summer. There is a reason hvac techs make what they do.
Work hard, and don’t take short cuts ! Have serveral friends in Texas making 150k+. Good luck!
@arif cho you hating because you have a big student, while he make more money that you do.
@arif cho you obviously don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s a life long career that you’re always learning everyday. You can’t learn everything in 6 months.
I just paid $1200 to a repairman for my AC. It’s hard work and they were worth every penny.
This dude lives in California and makes around $22 an hour. That is very weak for HVAC pay. He seriously should find another job.
He needs to take the shot of doing his own thing He'll always be able to get a job with another company if it doesn't work out
Most of the time if you do people good, your name spreads through word of mouth
God Bless u Roger! U are our local hero from LA, OC, to Riverside county!!!
Really inspiring story! It's great to see people making good money and not getting in crazy amounts of debt.
100k a year working 6 days, 70 hrs/week is very fair for that part of California considering the living expenses. I'm sure a plumber or electrician working that many hours with ten years in the trade would be making at least as much. Good for him
I think he can make more money with those hours, plumbers and electricans make way more, its southern ca and expensive
@neal cassady Standard and cost of living is higher in Cali than SC, and much of the south, and so are those pesky taxes and other areas of doing business.... I wouldn't necessarily say they're not paying good. You just have to see the larger picture... Given the choice I'd probably choose SC, but the weather in Cali beats you hands down.
@neal cassady And, cost of living is lower. That's why I said I'd choose Carolina over California. But, I still think California WEATHER and more days per year of sunshine is better overall.
@neal cassady Right on bro.
I know companies in Eastern PA, Jersey, Delaware areas that are paying lead techs 35 an hour plus commission. Probably half the cost of living as SoCal
He do everything for his girls, what a wonderful dad.
@neal cassady thats true tho
Bro you motivate a lot of people, You sure motivated me man. I just landed my first job. And Will work hard and learn.
I’ve been doing it for 17 years and started as a residential split installer and repair man, moved onto package units for retail then onto chilled water systems/ ice banks and then to data center cooling and free cooling and then controls, been a rough time with many late nights and long weekends but well worth it. Great trade with many different avenues.
how much do you make?
What’s your income like?
@@artgonzalo4115 To be honest, I have immigrated from South Africa to Australia, in South Africa the wage gap between inexperienced techs and guys like myself was huge! being in Australia the gap is minimal, so I can understand why people don't really put too much effort in.
I love my technicians!!! Rain or shine they keep going
THIS is the sort of people i RESPECT. He has the required soft skills and capabilities for the job.
I left my bank job for auto detailing. Best move I ever made. Planning on starting my own auto detail business once I have some experience.
What is "auto detailing" ?
@@mirabella2154 car wash, but they also clean inside car, install stuff, wax cars, do paint correction. They make a whole lot of money
@@DADEFUYE Thanks for explaining.
Good for you!
@@mirabella2154 👍
Well done guys!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
very wholesome and inspiring
Been doing commercial refrigeration as an apprentice for 2 years now, some guys at my shop are at $150,000+ a year, long hours and hard work but no student loans makes it all the sweeter
As someone who's A/C died in 100+ degree heat on July 1 here in central California, and had to go without A/C in temps between 100-113 for 42 days while waiting for my home warranty company to approve installation of a new unit, I can't begin to tell you how much RESPECT I have for HVAC technicians!🥵😄👍❤💯
You should ditch the warranty and take that $ and buy a mini split.
Mini splits are great but, you would spend a lot more money installing a house with splits compared to just replacing the unit.
@@HelloThere-jr6gd At $500-800 each should cost less than $3k. Most people don't need there entire house cooled they only need a couple rooms.
@@robertberin4872 First, I have no idea what a "mini split" is and secondly, the new unit has already been installed.
@@robertberin4872 you would have inferior airflow with a mini split
He works alot. 12/14 hrs a day. No summer breaks. That's alot.
and 6 days a week at that. Too much
Its no joke. Especially if you out all day and its 100 degrees outside
Loved this! Inspiring story! I love his attitude and work ethic.
Trades are definitely under appreciated as great jobs that pay well. I'm wondering if he makes closer to the $120k more often than not. The guys I know in HVAC make around that.
Too many hrs to make very little…Commission jobs are stressful
Was thinking the same thing
@neal cassady sell to old people?
There is so much positivity in this story and I commend Roger and his dedication to his craft and his family. I just hope that he is taking care of himself. I personally don't think working 80 hours per week is sustainable in the long haul.
I recommend looking for another company. If you have that much seniority I feel like you should be making 100k+ a year. My first year I made 80k. Been in the same company for two years and I’ve gotten 2 promotions already so I’m expecting more. I know he can make more than 100k easily every year!
In florida the average residential hvac tech makes around 15-20 bucks a month I think I need to move state.
Yea move to a new job every 2 years and change his job title.
Your first year you were at 80k? How? Please explain to me how?
We are proud of you Roger
It is a rough job being on the install side….too much for me. Luckily found my niche in chiller plant maintenance at a regular job/work site year round. I did pay my dues running service for about 2 years as a service tech/troubleshooter. I feel extremely lucky to be where I am and Constantly fear something going south at the job because I do not want to be out running in a service van anymore. Im good on that. HVAC has been Tough but at the same time a blessing when I think about what else I would I be doing if I had not fell into this…. Probly working in a warehouse somewhere…..
Awesome man! If you don't mind me asking what are your hours like and pay? I'm currently a student rn and hearing all this talk of working long hours and service on call makes me second guess. Then I hear great stories where they're getting 40 hours and great pay with not too back breaking work
Amazing how he has a passion for his job and seeks growth. Love it
Skilled labor isn't cheap, cheap labor isn't skilled! Plain and simple. I'm an electrician with twenty four years of experience and I make the same as Roger ( guy in the video) a year and I can relate to this video.
Eventually all labor will be skilled as minimum wage goes up and automatation gets rid of useless jobs (ex. picking up items from the shelf for pickup at Walmart).
@@robertberin4872 That's NOT skilled labor! A ten year old can pick items off the shelf!
@@srh361 he can pick them up but in a couple years he'll be doing it for free!
Well done. A hardworking man
I know your pain so well in regards to finding some faults. It's tough but once you figure it out, it feels amazing
Rodents chewing on the wires and cabling, classic, it's the smell and aroma that attracts them, LOL!!!😂👨🔧✌💯
I love his accent. Love when he says "you're paying for my knowledge not just the parts". So true, facts.
I love the fact that he started at the bottom and worked his way up. What a inspirational story wish more people were this way
Skilled trades....
He is making decent income but putting in a lots of extra hours and days to earn that. Having said that living in CA $80K is not that high of income for cost of living there. He should start his one contracting business.
naw man if you are working crazy hours in this trade yourw making 150-200k/yr
I’m thinking of doing this, but on a county level, maybe for a school district or for the city but it seems the best route to his career is starting off somewhere and then branching off and making your own company
22 finally making pretty good at 60k a year, As a lead installer.. full benefits company vehicle, even a new gym upstairs and plenty of side work! . . 3 years of experience in Michigan. To all my fellow youngins get in sooner than later!
Just started my steam fitter apprenticeship for Trane. Graduated from a 2 year program before this but it’s going good so far👍🏼
@@AK2WI 2 year program? Is it in Cali? I'm doing the community college program rn it's an associates in HVAC. What do you think? Honestly don't know what to do after I graduate
@@Phaminator525 that’s what I graduated from but no I live in Wisconsin but it was an associates. I wish I would’ve started my apprenticeship right after high school. I would be making 100k by now.
@@AK2WI so do I man. I'm 22 I would've been journeyman by now. But we all have our journeys I was originally a cs major that's why I have all of my general Ed done. Also how much you making now ? And what's the pay scale and how much experience you have? I'm glad I found someone online who has done associates too lol. Everyone on reddit roasting me for going to college 😂
@@Phaminator525 all the contractors from my area don’t even look at hiring you unless you have that schooling first. Im 26 and completed my associates in 2017 worked maintenance for almost 4 years on AHU’s, boilers, chillers, etc. got laid off and knew the guys at Trane because of my maintenance job so they hired me. They started me at 2 year apprentice pay which is 25.52 and when I finish the apprenticeship I’ll be making about 43-45/hr
80k a year for a 6 day week? As an HVAC tech? In California? Something is wrong here...
6 days a week during the summer. Not year round
@@jonathanlopez2014 that’s not what he said. Even if it was 6 days during the summer, 80k for California still seems low.
Salute, what a success story from a humble dude that started from the bottom. A great provider to his family and a hardworking man. Very inspiring
Love this guy's attitude! I hope he is learning about investing too.
Much respect brother
Hardworking man!
That’s dedication!
Roger needs to start his own company his reputation speaks for itself.
He gotta learn the management roles first. But then not everybody is cut out for running bussineses.
@@oraach not all people who started businesses had management training. That's why there's on the job training, you learn as you go.
Been doing commercial hvac install and service for 9 years in Portland, OR. It's a great trade!
Commercial is the way to go, been in the trade for 18 yrs. Opened my own company last year. Get your knowledge and skillset built up working for someone then go out on your own!.
Thanks for the video. Greetings from the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴.
Love the animation.
i live in fl. the AC repair men are essential here
This is a great trade to be in .I've been doing it fir 11 years. From commercial to residential. Pretty much seen it all. I can definitely say there are some hard days like when the sun is beating down on you and your servicing on the roof or the crazy long hours. this job is definitely not for people who cannot get down and dirty and work hard
Sounds really great with such a low salary lol no thanks
@@toordog1753 what do you do
which did you like better, commercial or residential
this one makes me so happy
6 days a week working 12-14 hours a week and not breaking a 100k is bad bro, appreciate the hustle but if you went union you could be making a 100k on a 40 hour work week.
Yuck!
It's a terrible lifestyle and this video makes it out to be like something we should strive for. You won't see me working more than 40hrs a week, I value my free time more than I do money
He only works that much in the summer. Geez.
@@gennagresham3986 Which is the worst time to work that much and that long
UA Local 250
I love the work its tough but its nice to help solve problems❤❤
He needs a raise!! $80-$100K in California probably isn't enough...especially if you're working that much!
Dedication and hard work 👍
Great! A CNBC profile of a worker that's not also a CZcamsr.
7 hours for an open line though? My boss would’ve fired me.
Exactly. It's "interesting" that he found mice chewing it. But not necessary to the fix. Open line = rip out old line and put in a new line. Do HVAC techs not have a fox and hound test kit?
@@fitybux4664 not many. But it’s not necessary because it’s only usually two conductors for the contactor. If I don’t get 24VAC to it then I go back to where the signal originates, at the circuit board. If I’m getting 24 there but not at the condenser then it’s apparent something has happened. Instead of pinpointing the break in the conductor with the little tracer that you’re talking about, I just test the conductors for continuity. Since there’s usually at least 4 conductors 18AWG, I just use one of the good ones. This will get it up and running if it’s a conventional system. If it’s communicating then additional steps may be required. I’d understand maybe like 1 1/2 hours tops if it’s cluttered and the customer inquires a lot but 7 hours is just ridiculous.
@@peepeepoopoo1399 if he’s the super tech everyone here says he is, it wouldn’t have taken 7 hours to determine that it was just bad low voltage wires. I hope the poor customer didn’t have to pay for his incompetence.
proud of you !
This guy needs his own company A.S.A.P.!!! 💯💯
Hi Mr. roger very nice I video apriciet your hardwork it's amazing
Thanks for sharing
Licensed since 05’ , hvac baby 🚀🔥
Nice jobs bro and thanks for sharing those videos and wishing to work with you 😂🙏👍Hvac technicians from papua new guinea jnr
Such a positive video.
I’m a hvac service tech in Northern Az making well over 75k-100k easily a year 3 year in to the trade. God is Good!!!’
His story is so inspiring n motivating. Just do it!!!!🙌🏿🙏🏿👏🏿👍🏿
I went to hvac school. I got a job working for a big company. A lot of Residential has to do with sales. Commercial has on call. Wasn’t for me I left the trade and joined the electrical union.
I think this pandemic has taught people the importance of multiple streams of income, unfortunately having a job doesn't mean security rather having different investments is the real deal.
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Residential HVAC in Louisiana, I WISH our attics topped out at 110° lol then add in the humidity...never doubt that your ac tech/installer earns their money.
Good blue collar working class man. Cheaper than ivy League math degree and masters in financial engineering that cost me $220k
I wonder how you're paying all that back!!!
@@kevinb8881 painfully
Get your HVAC contractor's license and that's where the real money is.
Completely agree with you, man. A contractor's license gives you the chance to start your own company and make a lot of 💰. That's exactly what I planning on doing. I currently doing the hvac program. I do know it'll take several years, but time always comes.
The company he works for isn’t a good one. Needs to be at 120k @ 40hrs a week
Amazing!!!
Well-done
Trade pride 💪💪💪💪 HVAC/R is a wonderful career, very fulfilling and also pay very good. It is no easy money but it is satisfying if you like to work with your hands.
love this guy! #beast
hope he makes it out of the field in the future. that job gets tough as you get older. keep at it
Work smart. You can make it to a ripe old age and be in good health/physical condition.
Don't: Smoke, do drugs, lift incorrectly, accept unsafe jobs, ignore PPE
@@jakem117 i agree. but just hearing it from my friends (& i myself was trained in hvac) about how their days are who have also been working in the industry for over 10’years, they tell me their aches and pains when they get home & working long hours. they tell me they’d like to reduce those hours in the future or work out of the field jobs.
Thought about being an HVAC tech myself but then I heard about the long hours, and that's just not for me. I believe in working hard but I also believe in living. Life is short. Don't overtime it all away.
Wow good job
I worked in residential and most of that income is from selling repairs, units to people who just need a capacitor changed
You have guys doing HVAC in New York making 120 to 150 k a year and don’t have half the skills as this man
So the guys in NY got it better. We’re you suppose to be making a point?
@@alp.9672 what I mean is that the trade is underrated, when you google HVAC tech you see 40k a year and that couldn’t be further from the truth. I could speak for us union technicians we make a lot more than that with some of the best benefits in the country. And the trade is so broad that one could make a career using only one or two out of the many skills we are required to master.
Big difference between Union pay and Non Union pay.
@@SOSguap Is the union growing stronger or weaker?
I did Hvac for 2 years in arizona and have never heard anyone making that kind of money unless they were the owner of the company or a major sales tech.
These dudes making 80k a year are the ones who all they do is sell units.
How much you making in HVAC? Does it pay good?
@@cheeeqo And probably push new systems customers don’t really need, instead of being a repair technician.
If you are reading this right now, I wish you the most ABUNDANT year of your life!
Great video. I'm an HVAC tech here in AZ. After 17yrs you will get burn out lol. I'll be out of HVAC in couple months
Full commission? Those are the companies to watch out for. Their check relies on SELLING accessories or frivolous odds and ends. Or worse case ripping people off and selling equipment and lying to customers
Not necessarily. Modern AC units last about 17 to 20 years before an evap coil leaks. The units sell themselves, no need to be shady.
I am a great tech (not HVAC), but I could never do sales. It kills my soul to hear a "NO" too often. I let other people do that for me. I just like to solve problems. Sales is scum.
Been making over 120 over the past three years half of the was overtime hrs here in Texas
For that many hours and 6/7 days a week that pay is terrible for a skilled tech. My friends do 8 hour day 5 days a week woth opportunities to work OT. They make 100-120k not killing themselves here in nyc which probably has the same cost of living
one thing to also factor in is the cost of living where you live.
The only problem is 80k for ~80 hours a week... is really only 40k for the average office worker. Which honestly kinda sucks. I think it might be a california thing tho cause the AC repair people here hit 120 - 140k easy for similar hours..
He is getting ripped off by his company.
I don’t think California is the issue here. It’s a company thing . I think he isn’t getting the best pay for his experience and should honestly either start his own business or find a different company that will pay him better .
It's easy when it's your own company but when it comes to working for a company good luck having a smile like this guy on a daily I currently work for a reputable hvac company and i say don't do it most company's will work you to death and won't loose any sleep on it unless you find a hidden gem like this guy did
+1
The company I work for has no problem sending me 2.5 hrs away from home at 3:30pm. Last monday they wanted me to drive 5 hrs away from my house at 5 pm because I was on call. A lot of companies in hvacr don't believe in work/life balance. Always do research before joining a hvacr company.
@@grownman202 That’s the reason Unions were created. To fight for better working conditions. There are federal labor laws that make a lot of this behavior against the law, but the employees don’t say anything because they fear they will be fired
@@rodgraff1782 amen. I joined my local union shortly after making my comment. My work life balance has drastically improved and I make a fair wage even though I'm an apprentice. It's wild how big of a pay difference between union and non union is in my area.
Trades are the way to go.. But unfortunately many shade trades even though many make more than college degree earners.
This is true the banks what you to go to college and take out loans you’ll probably never be able to pay back I’m a tradesman In the Chicago land area the average pay is fifty dollars a hour on the check and about thirty dollars additional in benefits
It’s brutal though. The trade off is that you don’t get to sit in your air conditioned chair. He has to work in crazy hot conditions and the crawl spaces can be terrible too.
A $ saved is a $ earned. Convert to solar and a mini split and you'll probably save $100-200/ month that's $1,500/yr.
@@LuluLinArt If I were him I would convert everyone you mini splits for $1,000 in labor. Downside is no repair business for at least 5 years as they don't break down or need cleaning the homeowner can't do in 5 minutes.
Have you ever crawl in the crawl space while getting cook in the hotness.
Lets go 💪
How do you apply for this show?
I make 80k..... But here in Hawaii that's not enough to live comfortably. I don't work till 8:30 most the time though. 4:30-5pm, 5-6 calls a day, 5 days a week. On call once a month. Pretty good job for someone with no highschool diploma 🙏
If bro is that loved by his community needs o open up his own company IMO.
Staffing, training, sales, insurance, purchasing. Stay where you’re at.
NextGen has a great reputation across the US. The owner is a good guy and pays his employees well. Don’t jump from a good thing !
@neal cassady They pay their employees above market value, invest in their employees and the owner has done an excellent job growing the company.
He made 80k and didnt work for 1 or 2 months (cant remember). I can almost promise you there are multiple workers at NexGen making over 150k - 200k+ with no college degree or college debt.
Unless you go into sales its tough to make that kind of money.
@neal cassady what kind of company pays 90k a year for just doing PM?
@@ryanp4827 next-gen only operates in Southern California, how exactly do they have a "great reputation across the US"?
@@Deltron6060 I could have qualified my statement a little more. Within the trade / havc industry Nexgen is well known and respected. Their owner is very active in the community and in helping smaller companies grow.
Theres a lot of tradesman that are great at their craft but very few can run a business.
He’s got a great voice too. He could do some voiceover work in Hollywood 👍🏾👍🏾
So random......um sounds like a normal person