National Careers in Trades Week 2026: 75% of Teens Would Skip College — HVAC's Recruitment Window Is Open

Seventy-five percent of American teenagers aged 13 to 18 say they would consider a trade job over going to college. If that number is even half accurate, the HVAC industry is sitting on the biggest recruitment opportunity it has seen in a generation — and most contractors are not taking advantage of it.

The data comes from a January 2026 survey of 500 high school and college students, released to coincide with National Careers in Trades Week. The finding confirms what many in the skilled trades have suspected for a few years: the stigma around trade careers is eroding, driven by student loan debt concerns, rising college costs, and a growing public awareness that skilled trades pay well and offer genuine career security.

What the Survey Actually Found

The survey found that 75% of teens aged 13 to 18 would consider a trade job over going to college — a striking number given how aggressively the college pathway has been promoted by the education system for the past three decades. The reasons cited most frequently by respondents included:

• Concerns about student loan debt — the average US college graduate now carries over $37,000 in student loans

• Interest in working with their hands and seeing tangible results from their work

• Awareness that skilled trades offer competitive starting pay and strong job security

• Family connections to trades work — many respondents had parents or relatives in skilled trades

A January 2026 survey of 500 US high school and college students found that 75% of teenagers aged 13 to 18 would consider a trade job over going to college, citing student debt concerns and interest in hands-on work as primary motivators.

Why the Narrative Around Trades Is Shifting

The shift in perception around skilled trades has been building for several years, accelerated by a combination of economic factors and cultural change. The student debt crisis has made the true cost of a four-year degree more visible. The rise of content creators celebrating trades careers has reached millions of young people on platforms where college promotional content struggles to compete. And the visible prosperity of skilled tradespeople in markets where their services are in short supply has made the economic case undeniable.

An entry-level HVAC technician in most US markets starts at $18 to $24 per hour with no student debt. A certified HVAC technician with three to five years of experience commonly earns $65,000 to $90,000 annually. In high-cost markets like New York, Boston, and San Francisco, experienced HVAC technicians routinely earn six figures. That story is getting out — and teenagers are listening.

HVAC as a Career in 2026

HVAC is well-positioned to benefit from the trades narrative shift, but it faces one specific challenge: most young people and their parents still do not understand what HVAC work actually involves. The industry has historically done a poor job of communicating its career pathway, the sophistication of the work, and the earnings trajectory.

A career in HVAC in 2026 is not the same as it was twenty years ago. Technicians work with advanced electronics, refrigerant chemistry, building automation systems, and increasingly with AI-driven diagnostic tools. The job requires problem-solving, technical knowledge, and customer service skills. It is genuinely intellectually engaging work that pays well — and that story needs to be told more aggressively.

How HVAC Contractors Can Capitalise on This Moment

The survey data is an opportunity. Here is how to turn it into actual hires:

• Show up at high school career fairs. Many HVAC businesses assume these events are only for corporate employers. They are not. A well-presented HVAC business at a career fair — with real technicians, real tools, and honest information about pay and career progression — stands out.

• Partner with vo-tech and CTE programmes. Career and Technical Education programmes in high schools are actively looking for industry partners to provide job shadows, apprenticeships, and equipment donations. This is the highest-ROI recruitment investment available to most HVAC businesses.

• Use social media to tell your story. Video content showing what a day in HVAC actually looks like — the problem-solving, the technology, the income — reaches teenagers where they spend their time. This does not require a marketing agency. A phone and a willing technician are enough.

• Build a student-to-apprentice pipeline. Offer summer internships or part-time helper roles to vo-tech students. The ones who show aptitude become your next apprentices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do young people want to work in skilled trades?

A January 2026 survey found that 75% of US teenagers aged 13 to 18 would consider a trade job over going to college, driven primarily by student debt concerns and interest in hands-on work with clear career pathways.

How much do HVAC technicians earn?

Entry-level HVAC technicians in the US typically earn $18 to $24 per hour. Certified technicians with three to five years of experience commonly earn $65,000 to $90,000 annually. In high-cost metropolitan areas, experienced HVAC technicians regularly earn over $100,000.

How can HVAC businesses recruit younger workers?

Effective strategies include partnering with high school CTE programmes, attending career fairs, creating video content about HVAC careers on social media, offering student internships, and building formal apprenticeship pathways from entry-level roles to certified technician status.

What is National Careers in Trades Week?

National Careers in Trades Week is an annual awareness campaign designed to promote skilled trades careers among students, parents, and educators. The 2026 edition coincided with the release of survey data showing growing interest among teenagers in trade careers over four-year college programmes.