CT trade school graduates starting careers in HVAC

ANSONIA, CT (WFSB) - College students will head back to school very soon, but this week Eyewitness News is profiling other teenagers who are already joining the work force and earning good money thanks to Connecticut technical high schools.

Channel 3 met a young woman who is making cold hard cash by helping people stay cool.

“I think that was my best one yet!” said Ava Tamburrino.

The best is yet to come for Tamburrino. She is fired up about her future after graduating from Emmett O’Brien Technical High School in Ansonia.

“I always knew that I was a hands-on kid instead of a sit down in a classroom kind of learning kid,” Tamburrino said.

Tamburrino is one of two women in her class who focused on a career in the HVAC industry.

“We do electrical we do pipe work we do air duct,” Tamburrino said. “We are like the jack of all trades in a way, and I really enjoy that.”

Her instructor, HVAC Department Head Mark Belade, said she’s a super star.

“I would hire her in a second,” said Belade. “She’s so charismatic. She has all the soft skills that you need that we try to teach at a young age.”

So it’s no surprise to Belade that Tamburrino already has a job lined up with a local company, but the truth is everyone in Belade’s classes has excelled.

“I have 17 seniors graduating this year, 16 of them are staying in the trade and 16 of them all have jobs,” Belade said. “The one that isn’t is going into a family business.”

That incredible job placement rate is indicative of the students’ skill and their incredible opportunity. The trade publication ACHR News reports that there is a shortage of more than 100,000 HVAC techs around the country.

“There’s a huge demand,” said Belade. “There’s business owners out there that see this and they are knocking down our doors to get a hold of these kids and my only response is what took you so long.”

Tamburrino and her classmates are in the catbird seat. According to Zip Recruiter, the average entry level HVAC tech in Connecticut makes nearly $29 an hour.

Belade said with OT students can often make $70,000 or even $80,000 a year.

“I think this is the best decision I’ve ever made in my life,” said Tamburrino.

Tamburrino plans to save money and eventually open her dream business.

“I hope that maybe one day I can make a company for all-girl HVAC techs,” she said. “And pursue that so that more females can feel comfortable with people going in and out of their houses and pricing their equipment.”

While Tamburrino gets a jump start on her dreams many of her friends will take on tens of thousands of dollars in college loans. She doesn’t knock that path but recommends students at least consider technical schools like she did.

“If you truly are a hands-on kid and all that I believe that a trade school is a very very good way to go,” said Tamburrino.