I hear that HVAC payscales are pretty nuts. The trick apparently is putting yourself back on the market at the start of each summer season -- there are never enough HVAC people when July comes around.
To combat heat, I built a cooled water loop tubing into a breathable one piece suit, I like to say I got the idea from NASA to get people to not worry about my dress attire when I arrive. Wikipedia has it under the name liquid cooled garment.