Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (SOC 49-9021) earn a median $61,010 a year ($29.33 an hour) in the United States, with 409,670 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers do
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC and refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces and heating stoves. They study blueprints, design specifications or manufacturers' recommendations to learn the configuration of the equipment components and to make sure they are installed properly. Equipment is connected to fuel, water or refrigerant sources to form a complete circuit, system controls are adjusted to the manufacturer's recommended settings to balance the system, and electrical circuits and components are tested for continuity with electrical test equipment. On service calls the technician discusses malfunctions with users to isolate problems and to verify that repairs corrected them, and inspects and tests systems to locate malfunctions and confirm compliance with plans and specifications. They recommend, develop or perform preventive maintenance such as cleaning, power-washing or vacuuming equipment, oiling parts and changing filters, and comply with safety procedures and keep the work area clean. Titles include air conditioning technician, baseboard heating installer and blower mechanic.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a postsecondary certificate, meaning training completed after high school but short of a degree.
Also called: A/C Installer-Servicer (Air Conditioning Installer-Servicer), A/C Mechanic (Air Conditioner Mechanic), A/C Service Tech (Air Conditioning Service Technician), A/C Tech (Air Conditioning Technician), Air and Hydronic Balancing Technician.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $19.25 | $23.25 | $29.33 | $37.05 | $45.78 | $31.14 | 409,670 |
| Annual | $40,050 | $48,360 | $61,010 | $77,060 | $95,210 | $64,780 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $24.01 | $37.37 | $40.57 | $49.01 | $52.04 | $40.83 | 400 | 0.57 | 0.21 |
| Annual | $49,940 | $77,730 | $84,390 | $101,940 | $108,240 | $84,920 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $23.36 | $28.22 | $37.23 | $49.12 | $50.55 | $38.53 | 610 | 1.89 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $48,580 | $58,700 | $77,430 | $102,170 | $105,140 | $80,150 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $22.45 | $28.94 | $37.21 | $46.17 | $56.51 | $37.29 | 9,740 | 1.60 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $46,690 | $60,200 | $77,410 | $96,030 | $117,550 | $77,570 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $24.44 | $29.36 | $37.16 | $45.71 | $49.23 | $37.38 | 8,200 | 2.26 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $50,820 | $61,070 | $77,300 | $95,070 | $102,410 | $77,760 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $21.77 | $29.02 | $36.83 | $41.66 | $48.15 | $35.38 | 3,800 | 2.24 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $45,280 | $60,360 | $76,610 | $86,650 | $100,160 | $73,590 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.45 | $22.51 | $27.24 | $30.59 | $37.60 | $27.55 | 39,160 | 3.94 | 1.50 |
| Annual | $38,370 | $46,830 | $56,670 | $63,620 | $78,210 | $57,310 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $22.57 | $28.02 | $34.88 | $43.65 | $52.44 | $36.24 | 35,130 | 1.93 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $46,950 | $58,280 | $72,560 | $90,780 | $109,060 | $75,370 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $18.32 | $22.50 | $27.77 | $33.59 | $39.36 | $28.43 | 34,730 | 2.47 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $38,100 | $46,800 | $57,760 | $69,860 | $81,860 | $59,130 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.35 | $28.71 | $35.78 | $42.37 | $48.40 | $35.94 | 24,430 | 2.52 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $48,560 | $59,720 | $74,430 | $88,130 | $100,680 | $74,760 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $22.10 | $24.44 | $30.00 | $35.88 | $43.00 | $31.19 | 15,880 | 2.62 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $45,970 | $50,840 | $62,400 | $74,620 | $89,440 | $64,880 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Fairbanks-College, AK | Hourly | $26.11 | $28.83 | $45.11 | $49.18 | $50.86 | $40.78 | 90 | 2.52 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $54,310 | $59,960 | $93,820 | $102,290 | $105,800 | $84,820 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $27.92 | $35.03 | $41.16 | $49.54 | $50.55 | $41.01 | 330 | 1.86 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $58,070 | $72,850 | $85,620 | $103,050 | $105,140 | $85,290 | ||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $24.71 | $30.88 | $40.66 | $49.13 | $52.33 | $40.70 | 70 | 0.95 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $51,400 | $64,220 | $84,570 | $102,200 | $108,850 | $84,650 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $27.49 | $30.69 | $39.45 | $51.26 | $65.70 | $43.89 | 1,740 | 1.53 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $57,170 | $63,820 | $82,050 | $106,630 | $136,650 | $91,280 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $24.70 | $29.98 | $38.51 | $48.65 | $62.21 | $41.07 | 3,940 | 1.89 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $51,380 | $62,360 | $80,100 | $101,190 | $129,390 | $85,420 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $24.37 | $29.49 | $37.50 | $44.88 | $52.30 | $38.33 | 21,820 | 2.30 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $50,690 | $61,350 | $77,990 | $93,340 | $108,780 | $79,730 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $19.37 | $23.01 | $28.63 | $35.71 | $40.81 | $29.69 | 10,910 | 2.69 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $40,290 | $47,860 | $59,560 | $74,270 | $84,880 | $61,760 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.40 | $27.99 | $35.49 | $40.14 | $52.41 | $35.88 | 10,720 | 1.71 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $46,590 | $58,220 | $73,830 | $83,490 | $109,010 | $74,630 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $19.00 | $23.29 | $27.90 | $34.90 | $38.57 | $28.85 | 9,140 | 3.24 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $39,520 | $48,440 | $58,040 | $72,580 | $80,220 | $60,000 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $22.56 | $27.72 | $34.58 | $42.90 | $50.57 | $35.45 | 8,730 | 2.78 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $46,920 | $57,670 | $71,920 | $89,240 | $105,180 | $73,740 | ||||
Top industries employing heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
Building Equipment Contractors employ 74.5% of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers nationally (305,330 jobs) at a median $60,070 a year ($28.88 an hour), followed by Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) (3.0%) and Fuel Dealers (2.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Equipment Contractors NAICS 238200 | 305,330 | 74.5% | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) NAICS 4230A1 | 12,190 | 3.0% | $75,490 | $36.29 |
| Fuel Dealers NAICS 457200 | 8,480 | 2.1% | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 6,960 | 1.7% | $79,360 | $38.15 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811300 | 6,790 | 1.7% | $64,710 | $31.11 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (409,670). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,630 for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in May 2021 and $61,010 in May 2025, with employment of 356,960 and 409,670.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,630 | $23.38 | 356,960 |
| May 2022 | $51,390 | $24.71 | 374,770 |
| May 2023 | $57,300 | $27.55 | 397,450 |
| May 2024 | $59,810 | $28.75 | 396,870 |
| May 2025 | $61,010 | $29.33 | 409,670 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $40.57 | $84,390 | $49,940 | $108,240 | 400 | 0.57 | 0.21 |
| 2 | Alaska profile | $37.23 | $77,430 | $48,580 | $105,140 | 610 | 1.89 | 0.72 |
| 3 | Illinois profile | $37.21 | $77,410 | $46,690 | $117,550 | 9,740 | 1.60 | 0.61 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $37.16 | $77,300 | $50,820 | $102,410 | 8,200 | 2.26 | 0.86 |
| 5 | Connecticut profile | $36.83 | $76,610 | $45,280 | $100,160 | 3,800 | 2.24 | 0.85 |
| 6 | Minnesota profile | $36.71 | $76,350 | $48,220 | $100,030 | 4,200 | 1.42 | 0.54 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $36.38 | $75,660 | $48,810 | $120,360 | 7,370 | 2.07 | 0.79 |
| 8 | North Dakota profile | $35.81 | $74,490 | $46,610 | $94,060 | 970 | 2.25 | 0.85 |
| 9 | New Jersey profile | $35.79 | $74,450 | $48,020 | $116,550 | 10,330 | 2.41 | 0.92 |
| 10 | New York profile | $35.78 | $74,430 | $48,560 | $100,680 | 24,430 | 2.52 | 0.96 |
| 11 | New Hampshire profile | $35.51 | $73,850 | $47,520 | $97,140 | 2,560 | 3.75 | 1.42 |
| 12 | California profile | $34.88 | $72,560 | $46,950 | $109,060 | 35,130 | 1.93 | 0.73 |
| 13 | Maryland profile | $33.67 | $70,020 | $46,180 | $106,740 | 8,560 | 3.10 | 1.18 |
| 14 | Rhode Island profile | $32.39 | $67,370 | $38,100 | $104,080 | 1,450 | 2.89 | 1.10 |
| 15 | Hawaii profile | $31.47 | $65,450 | $43,120 | $99,430 | 1,300 | 2.07 | 0.79 |
| 16 | Colorado profile | $31.35 | $65,200 | $48,220 | $103,640 | 8,940 | 3.11 | 1.18 |
| 17 | Maine profile | $30.37 | $63,170 | $47,090 | $82,090 | 2,250 | 3.51 | 1.33 |
| 18 | Oregon profile | $30.26 | $62,940 | $46,990 | $94,520 | 3,980 | 2.03 | 0.77 |
| 19 | Ohio profile | $30.06 | $62,510 | $38,630 | $98,310 | 14,150 | 2.55 | 0.97 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania profile | $30.00 | $62,400 | $45,970 | $89,440 | 15,880 | 2.62 | 0.99 |
| 21 | Delaware profile | $29.96 | $62,320 | $45,000 | $97,600 | 1,730 | 3.57 | 1.35 |
| 22 | Vermont profile | $29.88 | $62,150 | $50,280 | $93,110 | 970 | 3.20 | 1.22 |
| 23 | Wisconsin profile | $29.67 | $61,710 | $45,930 | $98,070 | 6,630 | 2.25 | 0.86 |
| 24 | South Dakota profile | $29.51 | $61,390 | $48,420 | $75,190 | 1,610 | 3.52 | 1.34 |
| 25 | Michigan profile | $29.26 | $60,850 | $40,210 | $95,290 | 12,590 | 2.86 | 1.09 |
| 26 | Montana profile | $29.26 | $60,850 | $41,900 | $81,230 | 1,230 | 2.41 | 0.91 |
| 27 | Iowa profile | $29.17 | $60,680 | $43,040 | $86,280 | 3,840 | 2.46 | 0.93 |
| 28 | Nevada profile | $29.09 | $60,510 | $41,040 | $89,750 | 4,170 | 2.69 | 1.02 |
| 29 | Kansas profile | $29.07 | $60,460 | $43,660 | $83,500 | 3,770 | 2.62 | 0.99 |
| 30 | Indiana profile | $29.05 | $60,430 | $40,460 | $97,800 | 8,530 | 2.67 | 1.01 |
| 31 | Missouri profile | $28.82 | $59,950 | $39,180 | $88,760 | 7,220 | 2.46 | 0.93 |
| 32 | Nebraska profile | $28.77 | $59,850 | $43,540 | $81,110 | 3,020 | 2.95 | 1.12 |
| 33 | Virginia profile | $28.72 | $59,730 | $39,760 | $83,420 | 14,690 | 3.57 | 1.36 |
| 34 | Arizona profile | $28.56 | $59,400 | $37,950 | $80,160 | 10,860 | 3.35 | 1.27 |
| 35 | Utah profile | $28.24 | $58,730 | $37,570 | $80,500 | 5,580 | 3.21 | 1.22 |
| 36 | Louisiana profile | $28.20 | $58,650 | $36,950 | $78,210 | 5,380 | 2.78 | 1.05 |
| 37 | Kentucky profile | $28.18 | $58,620 | $38,790 | $80,020 | 5,100 | 2.55 | 0.97 |
| 38 | Texas profile | $27.77 | $57,760 | $38,100 | $81,860 | 34,730 | 2.47 | 0.94 |
| 39 | Oklahoma profile | $27.67 | $57,560 | $36,050 | $79,660 | 5,650 | 3.31 | 1.25 |
| 40 | North Carolina profile | $27.53 | $57,260 | $37,780 | $77,160 | 15,230 | 3.08 | 1.17 |
| 41 | Florida profile | $27.24 | $56,670 | $38,370 | $78,210 | 39,160 | 3.94 | 1.50 |
| 42 | South Carolina profile | $27.22 | $56,610 | $39,170 | $75,530 | 6,920 | 3.00 | 1.14 |
| 43 | Georgia profile | $27.11 | $56,390 | $36,990 | $79,130 | 12,290 | 2.51 | 0.95 |
| 44 | Idaho profile | $27.04 | $56,240 | $38,660 | $80,780 | 4,550 | 5.31 | 2.02 |
| 45 | Tennessee profile | $26.68 | $55,490 | $38,540 | $81,590 | 9,740 | 2.97 | 1.13 |
| 46 | Wyoming profile | $26.30 | $54,700 | $37,840 | $79,050 | 690 | 2.46 | 0.93 |
| 47 | New Mexico profile | $24.17 | $50,270 | $37,380 | $75,770 | 1,950 | 2.24 | 0.85 |
| 48 | West Virginia profile | $23.49 | $48,850 | $36,160 | $72,640 | 1,690 | 2.40 | 0.91 |
| 49 | Mississippi profile | $23.41 | $48,680 | $36,160 | $76,240 | 2,700 | 2.33 | 0.88 |
| 50 | Alabama profile | $23.26 | $48,370 | $36,510 | $65,690 | 8,260 | 3.91 | 1.48 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $23.13 | $48,110 | $37,040 | $69,290 | 4,960 | 3.80 | 1.44 |
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-9021 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-9021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-9021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.