State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers is $61,010 a year ($29.33/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 8.1% through 2034, with about 40,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
SOC 49-9021Installation, Maintenance, and RepairLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $61,010
- Projected growth
- +8.1%
- Openings a year
- 40,100
- Typical education
- Certificate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: A/C Tech (Air Conditioning Technician), HVAC Installer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Installer), HVAC Mechanic (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Mechanic), HVAC Service Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Service Technician), HVAC Specialist (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Specialist), HVAC Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technician).
How much do Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers make?
10th percentile$40,050
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$48,360
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$61,010
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$77,060
Upper quartile
90th percentile$95,210
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $61,010 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $29.33/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $64,780 |
| People employed | 409,670 |
Versus all US occupations
At $61,010, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earn 20% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $10,030 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
The median is typical for the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $60,460.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $95,210 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,050, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 43% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($84,390), but once local prices are taken into account North Dakota leads at $83,735 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $84,390 | $76,787 | 400 |
| Alaska | $77,430 | $75,646 | 610 |
| Illinois | $77,410 | $77,443 | 9,740 |
| Massachusetts | $77,300 | $73,092 | 8,200 |
| Connecticut | $76,610 | $73,941 | 3,800 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 | $77,418 | 4,200 |
| Washington | $75,660 | $70,702 | 7,370 |
| North Dakota | $74,490 | $83,735 | 970 |
| New Jersey | $74,450 | $68,425 | 10,330 |
| New York | $74,430 | $68,967 | 24,430 |
Is Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer a growing career?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers8.1%
All US occupations3.1%
+8.1% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers to change 8.1% over 2024–2034, roughly 2.6× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 34,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 40,100 openings are projected each year, 9.4% of the 425,200 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Commercial and residential building construction is expected to drive employment growth. The growing number of sophisticated climate-control systems is also expected to increase demand for qualified heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (HVAC technicians).
Repair and replacement of HVACR systems is a large part of what technicians do. The growing emphasis on energy efficiency and pollution reduction is likely to increase the demand for HVAC technicians as climate-control systems are retrofitted, upgraded, or replaced entirely.
How to become a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (HVAC technicians) typically need a postsecondary nondegree award, although some enter the occupation with less education. Once hired, they typically have a lengthy period of on-the-job training to attain competency. HVAC technicians may need a license or certification.
| Typical entry-level education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Long-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.
- Post-Secondary Certificate68.1%
- Less than a High School Diploma20.2%
- Some College Courses6.9%
- High School Diploma3.3%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)1.5%
What does a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer do?
Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers work on heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) systems that control the temperature and air quality in buildings.
Day-to-day tasks
- Comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area.
- Perform mechanical overhauls and refrigerant reclaiming.
- Install expansion and control valves, using acetylene torches and wrenches.
- Estimate, order, pick up, deliver, and install materials and supplies needed to maintain equipment in good working condition.
- Install dehumidifiers or related equipment for spaces that require cool, dry air to operate efficiently, such as computer rooms.
- Cut or drill holes in floors, walls, or roof to install equipment, using power saws or drills.
- Keep records of repairs and replacements made and causes of malfunctions.
- 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers work
| Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors | 70% |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 5% |
| Wholesale trade | 3% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 3% |
| Retail trade | 3% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.5/5
- Reading Comprehension3.4/5
- Active Listening3.3/5
- Speaking3.1/5
- Active Learning3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Writing2.9/5
- Learning Strategies2.8/5
Transferable skills
- Operations Monitoring3.6/5
- Troubleshooting3.5/5
- Installation3.4/5
- Repairing3.4/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.3/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.3/5
- Equipment Maintenance3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Facilities management software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary7.0
Investigative2.8
Artistic1.0
Social1.5
Enterprising1.2
Conventionalprimary4.3
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer: frequently asked questions
How much do Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers make?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earn a median of $61,010 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 20% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $29.33/hr. The middle half earn between $48,360 and $77,060. The top 10% earn $95,210 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialled training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or licence programme) as the typical entry route for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 68.1% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 8.1% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 40,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer do?
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers work on heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) systems that control the temperature and air quality in buildings. A core O*NET task: comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Document management software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers the most?
The highest state medians for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers are District of Columbia ($84,390), Alaska ($77,430), Illinois ($77,410) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, North Dakota moves to the top at $83,735.
What personality type suits a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer?
O*NET scores Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.