Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Salary in Raleigh, NC
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $58,900 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,665 take-home, or $3,972 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,888
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,652
- Medicare (1.45%)$854
- North Carolina income tax$1,841
- Take-home pay$47,665
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
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 Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,160 | $18.83 | $32,591 | $2,716 |
| 25th percentile | $47,480 | $22.83 | $38,944 | $3,245 |
| Median (50th) | $58,900 | $28.32 | $47,665 | $3,972 |
| 75th percentile | $65,350 | $31.42 | $52,590 | $4,382 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,830 | $37.42 | $60,987 | $5,082 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,900 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers's $47,665 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,560 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Raleigh, NC has 1.3× the national concentration of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #29 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 |
| 29 | Raleigh, NC | $58,900 | $47,665 | $48,560 |
*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.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $59,840
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in Raleigh, NC?
The median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $58,900 a year, or about $28.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,480 and $65,350.
What is a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $58,900 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $47,665 a year ($3,972 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,841 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $61,010. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,560 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #29 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 Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 40% 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%.