Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary by state
Base salary plus target bonus using the Grahall equation. Bonus is a function of base; higher base means a higher target bonus.
Base salary
$67,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$2,500
3.5% of base
Total target cash
$69,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus range (25th to 75th percentile):$1,500 to $4,000
Long-term incentive (LTI) varies by industry and executive tier and is not included in this view.
About this role
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers is a professional role within the function in the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair job family.
Base salary plus target bonus using the Grahall equation. Bonus is a function of base; higher base means a higher target bonus.
Base salary
$67,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$2,500
3.5% of base
Total target cash
$69,500
Base plus target bonus
Bonus range (25th to 75th percentile):$1,500 to $4,000
Long-term incentive (LTI) varies by industry and executive tier and is not included in this view.
What Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installerss do
Typical education: Post-Secondary Certificate
Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.
Comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area.
Study blueprints, design specifications, or manufacturers' recommendations to ascertain the configuration of heating or cooling equipment components and to ensure the proper installation of components.
Discuss heating or cooling system malfunctions with users to isolate problems or to verify that repairs corrected malfunctions.
Connect heating or air conditioning equipment to fuel, water, or refrigerant source to form complete circuit.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringTroubleshootingCritical ThinkingRepairingReading ComprehensionInstallation
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pay by experience level
Entry level$41,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$50,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$63,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$80,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$98,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+8.1%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
40,100
projected openings per year
Growing faster than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
10,420 workers
$76,500
Repair and Maintenance
10,130 workers
$66,000
Administrative and Support Services
9,410 workers
$67,500
Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers
8,480 workers
$68,000
Fuel Dealers
8,480 workers
$68,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pays 1% above the average across 52 roles in the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair job family (family average $66,500).
Similar-paying roles in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers make?
The average base salary for a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in the United States is $67,000 per year, or about $32.21 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $50,000 and $80,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Installation, Maintenance, and Repair roles?
The Installation, Maintenance, and Repair job family averages $66,500 across 52 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
