u/Ambitious-Fix5333

I'm looking for some honest career advice.

Between a Commercial Electrician and an HVAC/Refrigeration technician, which path generally offers a higher income ceiling in the long run? Also, which trade currently has more job openings in the market?

​I’m particularly interested in:

​Which one has a higher hourly rate once you become highly experienced?

​Does HVAC tend to have more consistent demand because of service/maintenance contracts?

​If you had to bet on one trade for the next 10 years based on pay and job security, which would it be?

​Purely interested in the financial potential and market demand. Cheers!

I’m looking for some honest advice from sparkies about the current market and future outlook in both Australia and New Zealand.

​Salary Comparison: How does the pay for Commercial HVAC maintenance compare to a standard Electrician (especially those doing Solar & EV installs)? Who usually takes home more in AU/NZ?

​Future Demand: Which field do you think has better long-term demand? Is Commercial HVAC "future-proof" compared to the Solar/EV boom?

​Labour Shortage: Is there still a chronic shortage of workers in both fields? Which one is easier to find a good employer in right now?

​I’m trying to decide which specialty to focus on before moving. Any insights on pay rates, work-life balance, and job stability would be much appreciated. Cheers!