Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers · California

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Salary in California

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in California earn a median annual wage of $72,560 —18.9% above the national median of $61,010. That ranks CA #12 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$72,560
Median hourly
$34.88
Entry level (P10)
$46,950
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$109,060
90th percentile
Employment
35,130
1.9 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+18.9%
U.S. $61,010

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$46,950
$58,280
$72,560
$90,780
$46,950$72,560$109,060
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $72,560.

Employment is only 0.73× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

Highest-paying states for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$84,390$40.574000.21
2Alaska$77,430$37.236100.72
3Illinois$77,410$37.219,7400.61
4Massachusetts$77,300$37.168,2000.86
5Connecticut$76,610$36.833,8000.85
6Minnesota$76,350$36.714,2000.54
7Washington$75,660$36.387,3700.79
8North Dakota$74,490$35.819700.85
9New Jersey$74,450$35.7910,3300.92
10New York$74,430$35.7824,4300.96

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in California?

The median annual wage for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in California is $72,560, or $34.88 per hour. That is 18.9% above the national median of $61,010.

What is the entry-level heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $46,950 per year ($22.57/hour). The 25th percentile is $58,280.

How many people work as heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in California?

About 35,130 people work in this occupation in California, or 1.9 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers?

California ranks #12 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.73x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.

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

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $84,390 per year, followed by Alaska ($77,430) and Illinois ($77,410).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes