Hire Aircon Techs Before Summer

Every Brisbane HVAC business knows the pattern. The first hot week hits, the phones light up, and the techs you have are booked out by lunchtime. That's not the week to start recruiting.

The summer squeeze

Air conditioning work in South East Queensland is seasonal. Breakdowns, installs and service calls all peak once the heat and humidity arrive. Every business in the trade needs more techs at the same time, and they all start looking at the same time.

That's when the market is hardest to hire in. The techs worth having are busy, earning overtime, and not reading job ads.

What the market is paying

SEEK puts air conditioning and refrigeration technicians in Brisbane at $95,000-$115,000 (refreshed 1 October 2026). Sydney sits at $95,000-$110,000. Melbourne is well ahead at $120,000-$140,000.

If your offer is built on last year's rates, check it again. The Brisbane band has moved.

Why October is the right time

People move before summer, not during it. A tech who changes jobs in October gets settled before the busy season. A tech who changes in January is walking out on a full order book, and most won't.

You get a proper handover. A new hire who starts in November has a few weeks to learn your systems, customers and vehicle before the phones get busy.

You compete with fewer employers. Most HVAC businesses start hiring when they're already stretched. Starting early puts you in front of candidates before the rush.

What to check before you advertise

1. The licence you actually need. Which ARCtick class, and does the role need a restricted electrical licence for disconnect and reconnect work? Our post on ARCtick licence types covers the first question.
2. The summer roster. Be specific about on-call and overtime over summer. It's the first thing a good tech asks.
3. The vehicle. Service techs care where the van sleeps. See what a service vehicle is worth in a trades package.
4. Your rate against the October band, not a number from last year.

If you've left it late

If summer's already on top of you, a passive search usually beats a job ad. The techs you want are employed. They need to be approached, not advertised to.

HJ Recruitment places HVAC technicians and refrigeration mechanics with employers in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. See our HVAC and refrigeration recruitment, or talk to us.

Sources- SEEK - Air conditioning and refrigeration technician salary, Brisbane- SEEK - Air conditioning and refrigeration technician salary, Melbourne- SEEK - Air conditioning and refrigeration technician salary, Sydney