Air Con/ Refrigeration mechanic apprenticeship

[kirky11]

Hi, im sorry if this is the wrong section,i have been offered an Air Con/ Refrigeration mechanic apprenticeship, cant find much about it on the net. Is it a good trade to get into? does it pay ok? Thanks

[Macca86]

My dad works as one of those. He loves it. Very seasonal work. i.e absolutely flat chat during summer, quiet period over winter. But can be decent money, especially if you do work on farm machinery/trucks/tractors etc (in the country areas anyways)

[VjamesY]

$$$$$$, I was offered an apprenticeship about 2 years ago, by a family friend. Declined as I wasnt really interested, I damn regret it now. He makes a fortune to.

I say go for it, at least try it out.

[cewing]

I work with them occasionally at my work. Just like any trade, its often damn dirty work.
Commercial/Industrial would be the way to go especially, I think the residential side of it is much harder and has less scope.

[T-rex]

I'm a commercial air con apprentice and I love it, pay really depends on where you go, I'm first year on 8.90 an hour with work phone which is one of the better setups compared to other places, and it used to be second years get a work car but with our new boss he changed stuff around, a lot of stuff people don't agree with so now its car in 3rd year, and no Christmas bonus cause if your worth the money he'll give you a pay rise and thats great for an apprentice with no room to bargain isn't it. Refrigeration will earn more but that's because you will work way longer hours with potentially much harder work. The best way to describe my job is cruisey, like you may have it pretty easy for a while but then you will have to work hard and you will need to know your shit.

Qualified pay will be around 50-60k ish for an average tech, 60-70k maybe pushing 80k if your good and you can make decent money off putting in cashie splits on weekends if you want to go down that road. As for it being dirty, my job really isn't, I spend a probably half of time inside pube buildings and schools, with the rest on the roof or in a plant room which are usually pretty clean any way. I also learn a lot of plumbing, welding, electrical, general construction and solitaire so its a trade that really helps if you love doing stuff your self around the house.

[Stretchomatic]

i just finished my first year of tafe, been doing it for over two years though, good job to get into. can be slow while you are an apprentice but qualified can make heaps, especially if you do electrical at the same time and become a dual tradie. my teacher reckons he can get 120k a year as a dual tradie in mines and stuff.

i work for my dad in the domestic side of things, we do everything, which gets annoying sometimes. i'm definitely gonna get into commercial and industrial later on. give it a go man, at the least you learn some really interesting stuff.

[cracker]

not sure how you do doing a dual trade... electrical is a 4 year apprenticeship in its self.... theres alot you wouldnt cover or come close too covering in electrical if you were a fridgy

[Stretchomatic]

meh, im just going on what my teacher told me, i will be able to look into it more now that i've finished my first year.

[Boonz]

fridgies make a mint.... 2 of my mates work as contractors for baulderstones in adelaide and clear $2000 a week second year out their apprenticeships, get their own work utes, food, fuel and servicing all paid for... im pretty jealous :P i dont even earn that in a fortnight and i work harder than they do lol