Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Salary in Washington, DC
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $71,920 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,197 take-home, or $4,683 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,992
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,459
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,043
- District of Columbia income tax$3,228
- Take-home pay$56,197
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,920 | $22.56 | $38,231 | $3,186 |
| 25th percentile | $57,670 | $27.73 | $46,216 | $3,851 |
| Median (50th) | $71,920 | $34.58 | $56,197 | $4,683 |
| 75th percentile | $89,240 | $42.90 | $66,993 | $5,583 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,180 | $50.57 | $76,852 | $6,404 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $71,920 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers's $56,197 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,612 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers jobs are about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #19 of 41 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $80,100 | $65,180 | $58,651 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $77,960 | $59,961 | $57,880 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $77,490 | $59,598 | $56,857 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $78,530 | $60,369 | $55,760 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $64,440 | $52,968 | $55,482 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $62,790 | $51,687 | $55,032 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $62,680 | $50,535 | $54,607 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $62,240 | $51,261 | $53,749 |
| 19 | Washington, DC | $71,920 | $56,197 | $51,612 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 41 metros →
About the job: heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +10.9% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in Washington, DC?
The median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $71,920 a year, or about $34.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,670 and $89,240.
What is a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $71,920 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $56,197 a year ($4,683 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,228 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $61,010. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,612 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #19 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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