Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary in the U.S.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in the U.S. earn a median of $61,010 a year ($29.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 409,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,210 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $64,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,050 | $19.25 |
| 25th percentile | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Median | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| 75th percentile | $77,060 | $37.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,210 | $45.78 |
| Average (mean) | $64,780 | $31.14 |
Half of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,084.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,542.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,346.54 |
| Weekly | $1,173.27 |
| Hourly | $29.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,010 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $84,390 | 400 |
| Alaska | $77,430 | 610 |
| Illinois | $77,410 | 9,740 |
| Massachusetts | $77,300 | 8,200 |
| Connecticut | $76,610 | 3,800 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 | 4,200 |
| Washington | $75,660 | 7,370 |
| North Dakota | $74,490 | 970 |
| New Jersey | $74,450 | 10,330 |
| New York | $74,430 | 24,430 |
| New Hampshire | $73,850 | 2,560 |
| California | $72,560 | 35,130 |
| Maryland | $70,020 | 8,560 |
| Rhode Island | $67,370 | 1,450 |
| Hawaii | $65,450 | 1,300 |
| Colorado | $65,200 | 8,940 |
| Maine | $63,170 | 2,250 |
| Oregon | $62,940 | 3,980 |
| Ohio | $62,510 | 14,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,400 | 15,880 |
| Delaware | $62,320 | 1,730 |
| Vermont | $62,150 | 970 |
| Wisconsin | $61,710 | 6,630 |
| South Dakota | $61,390 | 1,610 |
| Michigan | $60,850 | 12,590 |
| Montana | $60,850 | 1,230 |
| Iowa | $60,680 | 3,840 |
| Nevada | $60,510 | 4,170 |
| Kansas | $60,460 | 3,770 |
| Indiana | $60,430 | 8,530 |
| Missouri | $59,950 | 7,220 |
| Nebraska | $59,850 | 3,020 |
| Virginia | $59,730 | 14,690 |
| Arizona | $59,400 | 10,860 |
| Utah | $58,730 | 5,580 |
| Louisiana | $58,650 | 5,380 |
| Kentucky | $58,620 | 5,100 |
| Texas | $57,760 | 34,730 |
| Oklahoma | $57,560 | 5,650 |
| North Carolina | $57,260 | 15,230 |
| Florida | $56,670 | 39,160 |
| South Carolina | $56,610 | 6,920 |
| Georgia | $56,390 | 12,290 |
| Idaho | $56,240 | 4,550 |
| Tennessee | $55,490 | 9,740 |
| Wyoming | $54,700 | 690 |
| New Mexico | $50,270 | 1,950 |
| West Virginia | $48,850 | 1,690 |
| Mississippi | $48,680 | 2,700 |
| Alabama | $48,370 | 8,260 |
| Arkansas | $48,110 | 4,960 |
| Virgin Islands | $45,030 | 70 |
| Guam | $40,110 | 240 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,480 | 1,140 |
Best-paying metro areas for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $93,820 | 90 |
| Anchorage, AK | $85,620 | 330 |
| Napa, CA | $84,570 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $82,050 | 1,740 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,100 | 3,940 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $79,510 | 560 |
| Peoria, IL | $78,710 | 370 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,640 | 260 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,530 | 6,050 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $78,490 | 3,980 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $78,330 | 210 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $77,990 | 21,820 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $77,960 | 7,210 |
| Decatur, IL | $77,770 | 90 |
| Rochester, MN | $77,500 | 190 |
Metro areas with the most heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 21,820 | $77,990 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 10,910 | $59,560 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 10,720 | $73,830 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 9,140 | $58,040 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 8,730 | $71,920 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 8,610 | $64,580 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 8,070 | $61,170 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 7,680 | $58,940 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 7,210 | $77,960 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 7,060 | $58,970 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 6,090 | $50,540 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 6,050 | $78,530 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 5,740 | $63,170 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 5,140 | $51,460 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4,820 | $64,300 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $49,590 | $23.84 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 | $31.02 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other | $49,230 | $23.67 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | $74,330 | $35.73 |
| Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | $39,630 | $19.05 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 | $29.64 |
| Maintenance Workers, Machinery | $60,850 | $29.25 |
| Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | $74,340 | $35.74 |
| Millwright | $65,700 | $31.59 |
| Home Appliance Repairer | $50,990 | $24.51 |
| Mechanical Door Repairer | $55,720 | $26.79 |
| Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers | $47,450 | $22.81 |
| Rigger | $62,640 | $30.12 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 49-9021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the U.S. is $61,010 a year, or $29.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the U.S. earn at least $95,210 a year. The top 25% earn $77,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,050 a year, and a quarter of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn $48,360 or less.
How many heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers work in the U.S.?
About 409,670 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.