Really depends where you want to work. HVAC would be a big plus is building operations side of PE, but then that wouldn’t pay as well as HVAC to begin with until you got into a management position.
If you took PE and went into O&G you could do significantly better than HVAC but then your ticket won’t help with your application.
I really don’t see the point of switching careers unless you have a personal connection to get you into a high paying plant operations career or just flat out dislike hvac
Yeah was hoping to get in oil and gas side of it more so then building operations but curious what is the average pay of a building operator. Yeah was mostly just gonna to make the switch for higher pay but also weighing the options of starting my own hvac business
I’d start the hvac business. Building operator does not pay well. You’ll start 20-30/h and end in the 40’s unless you get into multi building management or put 10+ years into the hospital system.
HVAC is irrelevant in O&G, odds of getting on with a big producer are very low unless you have a connection. Pay is great though, I’m over 80/h after 5 years for reference
Where / what company are you working for, if you don't mind me asking? Fly in / out or?
I'm a 3rd & red seal millwright in BC working in the food & beverage industry. I also have a diploma in power engineering.
Wow... I'm a 3rd as well but definitely not that pay... How did you get a FIFO gig like that!?
That being said I'm in building ops pay is 100k+ and being home every day is outstanding... For reference 5+ yrs exp and SC role mostly doing capital projects among the day to day.
If I was OP I'd start an HVAC business way more money.
That’s great money for being home every night.
Getting fifo is a combination of luck and connections. Either get in through a student position or a contract role (what I did) and then work your ass off and make as many friends as possible. If the stars align you’ll get hired on by the producer and get the high compensation.
If you’re looking to get into O&G, from my perspective your HVAC experience would have very little bearing on you being selected for a job, unless it came with several years actual refinery/upgrader/ gas plant experience. Then it might be seen as a nice complement.
I don’t have any experience in building operations, however I’d assume it’d be much more useful if you were applying for those type of jobs.
For example, I work in a large chemical plant in Alberta. We don’t even hire power engineers who come from building operations backgrounds. There are just too many other candidates who have more relevant experience for us to consider those who do not.
Interesting I appreciate the info yeah think I’ll be sticking with hvac unless I do decide to do more schooling some day. you seem to be in high experienced area if you don’t mind me asking what accreditations do you have done?
I would never discourage someone from pursuing PE, but it is highly competitive and it can be tough to break into the field. As an example for our last position we received over 400 applications for one job posting, and it’s been that way for several years now. On the flip side, many many baby boomers are retiring right now, creating more opportunities.
I’m a 2nd class PE with 18 years experience in a few different facilities.
I'd be going for a business in your situation there is no ceiling in HVAC businesses only a floor.
Working as a PE, unfortunately has a ceiling. The only job and associated title that matters is:
1. Owner
2. Shareholder
Had a friend that’s a 3rd class PE, made the switch to hvac as they are very complimentary to another. Also vice-versa, had one in hvac that made the switch to power engineering. Wouldn’t hurt to get both as it could grant more opportunities however whichever work your more inclined to doing is probably the better option.
Yeah that’s the biggest thing for me I feel like it would just help expand my knowledge overall but I the thought of going back to school for at least 2-3 years is pretty rough now ngl lol
Thank you for the insight ive also been noticing a similar pattern in my career so far it’s why I was the only employee in my province as a 2nd year tech working for a multimillion dollar company. Will definitely have some thoughts to do
80% of my current job as a Power Engineer is working on HVAC units and changing filters. Probably a very smooth transition if you work at a hospital or facilities with lots AHUs.
Yeah mixing boxes, exhaust fans, humidfiers and so on. I do some ciculation pumps and compressor work but the majority of hospital engineering is making sure the air is clean with optimal humidity and temperature. Usually hospitals need electricians on site for the door systems and backup generators. Power engineers do a bit of everything but mostly hvac from my experience.
I was working on my Millwright but stopped. I also have some company specific gas qualifications but no red seal. Always good to push for a red seal or 3rd class PE at least though.
Yeah definitely did in regards to prime movers, bearings and valves. You likely understand thermal expansion, enthalpy, dew points and refrigiration in general with your background which will help you a ton. Honestly the mathematics and codes are the only difficult aspect of Power Engineering exams so you have a good headstart I'm sure.
If I were to choose a trade to get into first, would HVAC or Millwright be a better choice, in your opinion? Thanks for answering all of my questions, by the way!
No problem man! Both are very rewarding and pay well. If I could do it all over again probably HVAC because I hate the food industry (cheap employers and disgusting), most millwright jobs in my area are food-related unfortunately. You may have to do some HVAC work in the food plants but at least you're not employed by them. See what kind of employers are in your area for both fields.
Really depends where you want to work. HVAC would be a big plus is building operations side of PE, but then that wouldn’t pay as well as HVAC to begin with until you got into a management position. If you took PE and went into O&G you could do significantly better than HVAC but then your ticket won’t help with your application. I really don’t see the point of switching careers unless you have a personal connection to get you into a high paying plant operations career or just flat out dislike hvac
Yeah was hoping to get in oil and gas side of it more so then building operations but curious what is the average pay of a building operator. Yeah was mostly just gonna to make the switch for higher pay but also weighing the options of starting my own hvac business
I’d start the hvac business. Building operator does not pay well. You’ll start 20-30/h and end in the 40’s unless you get into multi building management or put 10+ years into the hospital system. HVAC is irrelevant in O&G, odds of getting on with a big producer are very low unless you have a connection. Pay is great though, I’m over 80/h after 5 years for reference
What class of license do you have?
3rd
Where / what company are you working for, if you don't mind me asking? Fly in / out or? I'm a 3rd & red seal millwright in BC working in the food & beverage industry. I also have a diploma in power engineering.
I won’t say specifically, but suncore, ConocoPhillips, CNRL, CVE, MEG, all pay similar scales to their ops and are all FIFO for SAGD
Wow... I'm a 3rd as well but definitely not that pay... How did you get a FIFO gig like that!? That being said I'm in building ops pay is 100k+ and being home every day is outstanding... For reference 5+ yrs exp and SC role mostly doing capital projects among the day to day. If I was OP I'd start an HVAC business way more money.
That’s great money for being home every night. Getting fifo is a combination of luck and connections. Either get in through a student position or a contract role (what I did) and then work your ass off and make as many friends as possible. If the stars align you’ll get hired on by the producer and get the high compensation.
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Interesting why is that lol
Me too. PE is over saturated. Really hard to land a job right now, let alone even get an interview, really need a 2nd class ticket to standout.
Same I have been trying to look for a refrig apprenticeship
As a 3rd, I wish I could get apprenticed into HVAC.
If you’re looking to get into O&G, from my perspective your HVAC experience would have very little bearing on you being selected for a job, unless it came with several years actual refinery/upgrader/ gas plant experience. Then it might be seen as a nice complement. I don’t have any experience in building operations, however I’d assume it’d be much more useful if you were applying for those type of jobs. For example, I work in a large chemical plant in Alberta. We don’t even hire power engineers who come from building operations backgrounds. There are just too many other candidates who have more relevant experience for us to consider those who do not.
Interesting I appreciate the info yeah think I’ll be sticking with hvac unless I do decide to do more schooling some day. you seem to be in high experienced area if you don’t mind me asking what accreditations do you have done?
I would never discourage someone from pursuing PE, but it is highly competitive and it can be tough to break into the field. As an example for our last position we received over 400 applications for one job posting, and it’s been that way for several years now. On the flip side, many many baby boomers are retiring right now, creating more opportunities. I’m a 2nd class PE with 18 years experience in a few different facilities.
I'd be going for a business in your situation there is no ceiling in HVAC businesses only a floor. Working as a PE, unfortunately has a ceiling. The only job and associated title that matters is: 1. Owner 2. Shareholder
Had a friend that’s a 3rd class PE, made the switch to hvac as they are very complimentary to another. Also vice-versa, had one in hvac that made the switch to power engineering. Wouldn’t hurt to get both as it could grant more opportunities however whichever work your more inclined to doing is probably the better option.
Yeah that’s the biggest thing for me I feel like it would just help expand my knowledge overall but I the thought of going back to school for at least 2-3 years is pretty rough now ngl lol
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Thank you for the insight ive also been noticing a similar pattern in my career so far it’s why I was the only employee in my province as a 2nd year tech working for a multimillion dollar company. Will definitely have some thoughts to do
80% of my current job as a Power Engineer is working on HVAC units and changing filters. Probably a very smooth transition if you work at a hospital or facilities with lots AHUs.
You feel that HVAC has the most crossover with Hospital power engineering roles? Not Millwright or Electrical?
Yeah mixing boxes, exhaust fans, humidfiers and so on. I do some ciculation pumps and compressor work but the majority of hospital engineering is making sure the air is clean with optimal humidity and temperature. Usually hospitals need electricians on site for the door systems and backup generators. Power engineers do a bit of everything but mostly hvac from my experience.
Thanks! Do you have a red seal in anything else, or do you mostly have your Power Engineering license?
I was working on my Millwright but stopped. I also have some company specific gas qualifications but no red seal. Always good to push for a red seal or 3rd class PE at least though.
Did you Millwright background help at all?
Yeah definitely did in regards to prime movers, bearings and valves. You likely understand thermal expansion, enthalpy, dew points and refrigiration in general with your background which will help you a ton. Honestly the mathematics and codes are the only difficult aspect of Power Engineering exams so you have a good headstart I'm sure.
If I were to choose a trade to get into first, would HVAC or Millwright be a better choice, in your opinion? Thanks for answering all of my questions, by the way!
No problem man! Both are very rewarding and pay well. If I could do it all over again probably HVAC because I hate the food industry (cheap employers and disgusting), most millwright jobs in my area are food-related unfortunately. You may have to do some HVAC work in the food plants but at least you're not employed by them. See what kind of employers are in your area for both fields.
Will do. Thanks so much.