Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is $61,010, or $29.33 per hour. About 409,670 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $84,390 in District of Columbia to $48,110 in Arkansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $84,390 | $40.57 | 400 | 0.21 |
| 2 | Alaska | $77,430 | $37.23 | 610 | 0.72 |
| 3 | Illinois | $77,410 | $37.21 | 9,740 | 0.61 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $77,300 | $37.16 | 8,200 | 0.86 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $76,610 | $36.83 | 3,800 | 0.85 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $76,350 | $36.71 | 4,200 | 0.54 |
| 7 | Washington | $75,660 | $36.38 | 7,370 | 0.79 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $74,490 | $35.81 | 970 | 0.85 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $74,450 | $35.79 | 10,330 | 0.92 |
| 10 | New York | $74,430 | $35.78 | 24,430 | 0.96 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $73,850 | $35.51 | 2,560 | 1.42 |
| 12 | California | $72,560 | $34.88 | 35,130 | 0.73 |
| 13 | Maryland | $70,020 | $33.67 | 8,560 | 1.18 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $67,370 | $32.39 | 1,450 | 1.10 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $65,450 | $31.47 | 1,300 | 0.79 |
| 16 | Colorado | $65,200 | $31.35 | 8,940 | 1.18 |
| 17 | Maine | $63,170 | $30.37 | 2,250 | 1.33 |
| 18 | Oregon | $62,940 | $30.26 | 3,980 | 0.77 |
| 19 | Ohio | $62,510 | $30.06 | 14,150 | 0.97 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $62,400 | $30.00 | 15,880 | 0.99 |
| 21 | Delaware | $62,320 | $29.96 | 1,730 | 1.35 |
| 22 | Vermont | $62,150 | $29.88 | 970 | 1.22 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $61,710 | $29.67 | 6,630 | 0.86 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $61,390 | $29.51 | 1,610 | 1.34 |
| 25 | Montana | $60,850 | $29.26 | 1,230 | 0.91 |
| 26 | Michigan | $60,850 | $29.26 | 12,590 | 1.09 |
| 27 | Iowa | $60,680 | $29.17 | 3,840 | 0.93 |
| 28 | Nevada | $60,510 | $29.09 | 4,170 | 1.02 |
| 29 | Kansas | $60,460 | $29.07 | 3,770 | 0.99 |
| 30 | Indiana | $60,430 | $29.05 | 8,530 | 1.01 |
| 31 | Missouri | $59,950 | $28.82 | 7,220 | 0.93 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $59,850 | $28.77 | 3,020 | 1.12 |
| 33 | Virginia | $59,730 | $28.72 | 14,690 | 1.36 |
| 34 | Arizona | $59,400 | $28.56 | 10,860 | 1.27 |
| 35 | Utah | $58,730 | $28.24 | 5,580 | 1.22 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $58,650 | $28.20 | 5,380 | 1.05 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $58,620 | $28.18 | 5,100 | 0.97 |
| 38 | Texas | $57,760 | $27.77 | 34,730 | 0.94 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $57,560 | $27.67 | 5,650 | 1.25 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $57,260 | $27.53 | 15,230 | 1.17 |
| 41 | Florida | $56,670 | $27.24 | 39,160 | 1.50 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $56,610 | $27.22 | 6,920 | 1.14 |
| 43 | Georgia | $56,390 | $27.11 | 12,290 | 0.95 |
| 44 | Idaho | $56,240 | $27.04 | 4,550 | 2.02 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $55,490 | $26.68 | 9,740 | 1.13 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $54,700 | $26.30 | 690 | 0.93 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $50,270 | $24.17 | 1,950 | 0.85 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $48,850 | $23.49 | 1,690 | 0.91 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $48,680 | $23.41 | 2,700 | 0.88 |
| 50 | Alabama | $48,370 | $23.26 | 8,260 | 1.48 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $48,110 | $23.13 | 4,960 | 1.44 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make?
The median annual wage for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the United States is $61,010, or $29.33 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $40,050, and the top 10% earn $95,210.
How many heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers are employed in the U.S.?
About 409,670 people work as heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers nationwide.
Which state pays heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers the most?
District of Columbia pays the most at a median of $84,390, followed by Alaska ($77,430) and Illinois ($77,410).
Which state pays heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median at $48,110.
Where are heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Idaho at 2.02×.