How much do Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers make?
The median pay for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in the United States is $61,010 per year — about $29.33 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $40,050, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $95,210.
That is $380 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary range by percentile
Half of all Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earn between $48,360 and $77,060 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,050 | $19.25 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $48,360 | $23.25 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,010 | $29.33 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $77,060 | $37.05 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,210 | $45.77 |
Highest-paying states for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pay at $84,390 a year, followed by Alaska ($77,430) and Illinois ($77,410). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $48,110 — a gap of $36,280 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $84,390 | $40.57 | +38% |
| 2 | Alaska | $77,430 | $37.23 | +27% |
| 3 | Illinois | $77,410 | $37.22 | +27% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $77,300 | $37.16 | +27% |
| 5 | Connecticut | $76,610 | $36.83 | +26% |
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 410,000 people work as Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $64,780 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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