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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Salary

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earn a median $61,010 a year nationally. Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

U.S. median
$61,010
$29.33 per hour
Range
$40,050 – $95,210
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
409,670
across the U.S.
▲2.0%
Pay trend: The median for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the U.S. rose from $59,810 (May 2024) to $61,010 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

What heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers do

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)
Openings per year
40,600
Self-employed
6%

Employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to grow 10.9% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 40,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$51,202
per year · effective tax rate 16.1%
$4,267Monthly
$2,133Twice a month
$1,969Every 2 weeks
$24.62Hourly
  • Federal income tax$5,141
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,783
  • Medicare (1.45%)$885
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$51,202

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$40,050$19.25$34,360
25th percentile$48,360$23.25$41,037
Median (50th)$61,010$29.33$51,202
75th percentile$77,060$37.05$63,042
90th percentile (top earners)$95,210$45.77$75,810

Best cities for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Seattle, WA$80,100$65,180$58,6513,940
2Chicago, IL$77,960$59,961$57,8807,210
3Minneapolis, MN$77,490$59,598$56,8572,420
4Boston, MA$78,530$60,369$55,7606,050
5Columbus, OH$64,440$52,968$55,4823,000
6Cleveland, OH$62,790$51,687$55,0322,610
7Kansas City, MO$62,680$50,535$54,6073,010
8Cincinnati, OH$62,240$51,261$53,7492,950
9Denver, CO$71,580$56,745$53,6444,360
10St. Louis, MO$63,000$50,777$53,4002,980
11New York, NY$77,990$60,082$53,37621,820
12Pittsburgh, PA$62,140$50,202$53,0282,680
13Indianapolis, IN$62,160$50,321$52,5853,080
14Nashville, TN$60,270$50,607$52,5313,500
15Austin, TX$60,820$51,049$52,0563,140
16San Antonio, TX$58,590$49,257$52,0053,160
17San Francisco, CA$78,490$59,957$51,8603,980
18San Diego, CA$74,880$57,756$51,6203,210
19Washington, DC$71,920$56,197$51,6128,730
20Philadelphia, PA$64,580$52,087$50,7908,610
21Las Vegas, NV$60,240$50,583$50,4743,150
22Detroit, MI$63,170$50,503$50,3535,740
23Los Angeles, CA$73,830$57,115$50,29310,720
24Houston, TX$58,940$49,538$50,2277,680
25Charlotte, NC$59,840$48,383$49,7013,860

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
District of Columbia $84,390+1.2%$63,994 $49,940 – $108,240400
Alaska $77,430−7.4%$63,302 $48,580 – $105,140610
Illinois $77,410+8.1%$59,601 $46,690 – $117,5509,740
Massachusetts $77,300+0.4%$59,566 $50,820 – $102,4108,200
Connecticut $76,610+3.7%$60,087 $45,280 – $100,1603,800
Minnesota $76,350+4.0%$58,874 $48,220 – $100,0304,200
Washington $75,660+11.9%$62,057 $48,810 – $120,3607,370
North Dakota $74,490+11.6%$61,040 $46,610 – $94,060970
New Jersey $74,450+6.7%$58,640 $48,020 – $116,55010,330
New York $74,430+11.6%$57,769 $48,560 – $100,68024,430
New Hampshire $73,850+14.7%$60,783 $47,520 – $97,1402,560
California $72,560+11.1%$56,340 $46,950 – $109,06035,130
Maryland $70,020+7.7%$55,127 $46,180 – $106,7408,560
Rhode Island $67,370+6.0%$54,315 $38,100 – $104,0801,450
Hawaii $65,450+2.6%$51,325 $43,120 – $99,4301,300
Colorado $65,200+2.8%$52,408 $48,220 – $103,6408,940
Maine $63,170+1.7%$49,855 $47,090 – $82,0902,250
Oregon $62,940+0.3%$48,075 $46,990 – $94,5203,980
Ohio $62,510+3.3%$51,470 $38,630 – $98,31014,150
Pennsylvania $62,400+2.1%$50,403 $45,970 – $89,44015,880
Delaware $62,320+4.0%$49,472 $45,000 – $97,6001,730
Vermont $62,150+3.3%$50,469 $50,280 – $93,110970
Wisconsin $61,710−0.5%$49,830 $45,930 – $98,0706,630
South Dakota $61,390+3.2%$51,507 $48,420 – $75,1901,610
Michigan $60,850+1.3%$48,738 $40,210 – $95,29012,590
Montana $60,850+3.8%$48,970 $41,900 – $81,2301,230
Iowa $60,680+2.0%$49,282 $43,040 – $86,2803,840
Nevada $60,510+2.2%$50,800 $41,040 – $89,7504,170
Kansas $60,460+6.5%$48,186 $43,660 – $83,5003,770
Indiana $60,430+0.2%$48,982 $40,460 – $97,8008,530
Missouri $59,950−0.6%$48,470 $39,180 – $88,7607,220
Nebraska $59,850+0.3%$48,426 $43,540 – $81,1103,020
Virginia $59,730−1.5%$47,553 $39,760 – $83,42014,690
Arizona $59,400+5.0%$48,632 $37,950 – $80,16010,860
Utah $58,730+4.5%$47,693 $37,570 – $80,5005,580
Louisiana $58,650+9.6%$47,932 $36,950 – $78,2105,380
Kentucky $58,620−0.4%$47,347 $38,790 – $80,0205,100
Texas $57,760+6.9%$48,590 $38,100 – $81,86034,730
Oklahoma $57,560+13.0%$46,385 $36,050 – $79,6605,650
North Carolina $57,260+10.2%$46,412 $37,780 – $77,16015,230
Florida $56,670+12.0%$47,714 $38,370 – $78,21039,160
South Carolina $56,610+2.4%$45,427 $39,170 – $75,5306,920
Georgia $56,390+2.5%$45,186 $36,990 – $79,13012,290
Idaho $56,240+6.7%$45,496 $38,660 – $80,7804,550
Tennessee $55,490+7.8%$46,766 $38,540 – $81,5909,740
Wyoming $54,700+7.4%$46,131 $37,840 – $79,050690
New Mexico $50,270−8.6%$41,375 $37,380 – $75,7701,950
West Virginia $48,850+6.1%$39,961 $36,160 – $72,6401,690
Mississippi $48,680+3.0%$40,079 $36,160 – $76,2402,700
Alabama $48,370−1.9%$38,892 $36,510 – $65,6908,260
Arkansas $48,110+1.8%$39,173 $37,040 – $69,2904,960

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,850High school diploma or equivalent-1.9%
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons$61,290High school diploma or equivalent-13.7%
Medical Equipment Repairer$61,660Associate's degree+12.6%
Rigger$62,640High school diploma or equivalent+3.9%
Wind Turbine Service Technician$64,120Postsecondary nondegree award+29.5%
Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,520High school diploma or equivalent+17.8%
Millwright$65,700High school diploma or equivalent+0.9%
Mechanical Door Repairer$55,720High school diploma or equivalent+6.4%
Watch and Clock Repairer$67,230High school diploma or equivalent-0.3%
Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other$68,990High school diploma or equivalent+2.5%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make?

The national median salary for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is $61,010 a year ($29.33 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,050 and the top 10% earn over $95,210. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $84,390. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers are there in the U.S.?

About 409,670 people work as heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers nationwide.

All 41 cities