Educational Requirements

• Oil burner technicians must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Many learn on the job through apprenticeship programs that usually last 3 to 5 years and include classroom training. Vocational and technical schools offer courses in HVAC that usually take 6 months to 2 years to complete and still require additional on-the-job training.
  
  

Job Duties

• Oil burner technicians read and follow blueprints to install and maintain oil burners in furnaces typically found in houses and commercial buildings. They assemble pipes and fittings and install burners. Oil burner technician's position storage tanks, drill holes in walls, and attach pipes and fittings to provide fuel to furnace. They install and calibrate thermostatic controls and adjust dampers.
  
  

Potential Income

• According to Payscale.com, the hourly wage in July 2010 for a HVAC technician ranged from $15.49 to $23.94. With bonuses, commissions and profit sharing the annual salary of a HVAC technician ranged from $35,063 to $56,176 in July 2010.