Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,050 | $19.25 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| Mean (average) | $64,780 | $31.14 |
| 90th percentile | $95,210 | $45.78 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,370 | $36,510 | $65,690 | 8,260 | 1.48 |
| Alaska | $77,430 | $48,580 | $105,140 | 610 | 0.72 |
| Arizona | $59,400 | $37,950 | $80,160 | 10,860 | 1.27 |
| Arkansas | $48,110 | $37,040 | $69,290 | 4,960 | 1.44 |
| California | $72,560 | $46,950 | $109,060 | 35,130 | 0.73 |
| Colorado | $65,200 | $48,220 | $103,640 | 8,940 | 1.18 |
| Connecticut | $76,610 | $45,280 | $100,160 | 3,800 | 0.85 |
| Delaware | $62,320 | $45,000 | $97,600 | 1,730 | 1.35 |
| District of Columbia | $84,390 | $49,940 | $108,240 | 400 | 0.21 |
| Florida | $56,670 | $38,370 | $78,210 | 39,160 | 1.5 |
| Georgia | $56,390 | $36,990 | $79,130 | 12,290 | 0.95 |
| Guam | $40,110 | $29,780 | $69,830 | 240 | 1.39 |
| Hawaii | $65,450 | $43,120 | $99,430 | 1,300 | 0.79 |
| Idaho | $56,240 | $38,660 | $80,780 | 4,550 | 2.02 |
| Illinois | $77,410 | $46,690 | $117,550 | 9,740 | 0.61 |
| Indiana | $60,430 | $40,460 | $97,800 | 8,530 | 1.01 |
| Iowa | $60,680 | $43,040 | $86,280 | 3,840 | 0.93 |
| Kansas | $60,460 | $43,660 | $83,500 | 3,770 | 0.99 |
| Kentucky | $58,620 | $38,790 | $80,020 | 5,100 | 0.97 |
| Louisiana | $58,650 | $36,950 | $78,210 | 5,380 | 1.05 |
| Maine | $63,170 | $47,090 | $82,090 | 2,250 | 1.33 |
| Maryland | $70,020 | $46,180 | $106,740 | 8,560 | 1.18 |
| Massachusetts | $77,300 | $50,820 | $102,410 | 8,200 | 0.86 |
| Michigan | $60,850 | $40,210 | $95,290 | 12,590 | 1.09 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 | $48,220 | $100,030 | 4,200 | 0.54 |
| Mississippi | $48,680 | $36,160 | $76,240 | 2,700 | 0.88 |
| Missouri | $59,950 | $39,180 | $88,760 | 7,220 | 0.93 |
| Montana | $60,850 | $41,900 | $81,230 | 1,230 | 0.91 |
| Nebraska | $59,850 | $43,540 | $81,110 | 3,020 | 1.12 |
| Nevada | $60,510 | $41,040 | $89,750 | 4,170 | 1.02 |
| New Hampshire | $73,850 | $47,520 | $97,140 | 2,560 | 1.42 |
| New Jersey | $74,450 | $48,020 | $116,550 | 10,330 | 0.92 |
| New Mexico | $50,270 | $37,380 | $75,770 | 1,950 | 0.85 |
| New York | $74,430 | $48,560 | $100,680 | 24,430 | 0.96 |
| North Carolina | $57,260 | $37,780 | $77,160 | 15,230 | 1.17 |
| North Dakota | $74,490 | $46,610 | $94,060 | 970 | 0.85 |
| Ohio | $62,510 | $38,630 | $98,310 | 14,150 | 0.97 |
| Oklahoma | $57,560 | $36,050 | $79,660 | 5,650 | 1.25 |
| Oregon | $62,940 | $46,990 | $94,520 | 3,980 | 0.77 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,400 | $45,970 | $89,440 | 15,880 | 0.99 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,480 | $24,010 | $49,510 | 1,140 | 0.46 |
| Rhode Island | $67,370 | $38,100 | $104,080 | 1,450 | 1.1 |
| South Carolina | $56,610 | $39,170 | $75,530 | 6,920 | 1.14 |
| South Dakota | $61,390 | $48,420 | $75,190 | 1,610 | 1.34 |
| Tennessee | $55,490 | $38,540 | $81,590 | 9,740 | 1.13 |
| Texas | $57,760 | $38,100 | $81,860 | 34,730 | 0.94 |
| Utah | $58,730 | $37,570 | $80,500 | 5,580 | 1.22 |
| Vermont | $62,150 | $50,280 | $93,110 | 970 | 1.22 |
| Virgin Islands | $45,030 | $36,220 | $68,490 | 70 | 0.77 |
| Virginia | $59,730 | $39,760 | $83,420 | 14,690 | 1.36 |
| Washington | $75,660 | $48,810 | $120,360 | 7,370 | 0.79 |
| West Virginia | $48,850 | $36,160 | $72,640 | 1,690 | 0.91 |
| Wisconsin | $61,710 | $45,930 | $98,070 | 6,630 | 0.86 |
| Wyoming | $54,700 | $37,840 | $79,050 | 690 | 0.93 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 40,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 6.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.0501
- Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician CIP 47.0201
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Discuss heating or cooling system malfunctions with users to isolate problems or to verify that repairs corrected malfunctions.
- Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.
- Repair or replace defective equipment, components, or wiring.
- Lay out and connect electrical wiring between controls and equipment, according to wiring diagrams, using electrician's hand tools.
- Schedule work with customers and initiate work orders, house requisitions, and orders from stock.
- Estimate, order, pick up, deliver, and install materials and supplies needed to maintain equipment in good working condition.
- Install, connect, or adjust thermostats, humidistats, or timers.
- Comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area.
Technology skills
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Alerton Ascent Compass
- Atlas Construction Business Forms
- Building automation software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Contact management systems
- Cworks CMMS
- Data logging software
- Database software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Installation, Equipment Maintenance, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: AC Mechanic (Air Conditioner Mechanic), AC Tech (Air Conditioning Technician), HVAC Control Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Control Technician), HVAC Installer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Installer), HVAC Mechanic (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Mechanic), HVAC Service Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Service Technician), HVAC Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technician), Refrigeration Mechanic, Refrigeration Operator, Refrigeration Technician (Refrigeration Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make?
The national median annual wage for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers was $61,010 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $40,050 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $95,210. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers to change +10.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 40,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($84,390), Alaska ($77,430), Illinois ($77,410). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.