Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
SOC 49-9021BLS OEWS May 2025
Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.
National median · BLS
$61,010
▲ +2.01%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$64,780
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
409,670
Jobs (BLS)
Highest-paying state (cost-adjusted)Loading…
Most jobsLoading…
Highest-paying metro (cost-adjusted)Loading…
Check your salary
Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$40,050
25th
$48,360
Median (50th)
$61,010
75th
$77,060
90th — top pay
$95,210
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
Type in either box; the other updates instantly.
⇄
Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
BLS projects employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers to grow 10.9% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 40,600 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
440,900 → 489,100
+48,200 jobs
Projected change
+10.9%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
40,600
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
6.3% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operations Monitoring3.8
Troubleshooting3.8
Critical Thinking3.6
Repairing3.4
Equipment Maintenance3.3
Installation3.3
Reading Comprehension3.3
Complex Problem Solving3.1
Equipment Selection3.1
Judgment and Decision Making3.1
Top knowledge areas
Building and Construction4.5
Customer and Personal Service4.4
Mechanical4.3
Administration and Management3.9
Education and Training3.9
Mathematics3.9
Public Safety and Security3.8
Administrative3.6
Software and technology used
Adobe AcrobatAutodesk AutoCADMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordSAP softwareAlerton Ascent CompassAtlas Construction Business FormsBuilding automation softwareComputerized maintenance management system CMMSContact management systemsCworks CMMSData logging softwareDatabase softwareDelta Controls inteliWEBFacility energy management software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers do
Discuss heating or cooling system malfunctions with users to isolate problems or to verify that repairs corrected malfunctions.
Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.
Repair or replace defective equipment, components, or wiring.
Lay out and connect electrical wiring between controls and equipment, according to wiring diagrams, using electrician's hand tools.
Schedule work with customers and initiate work orders, house requisitions, and orders from stock.
Estimate, order, pick up, deliver, and install materials and supplies needed to maintain equipment in good working condition.
Install, connect, or adjust thermostats, humidistats, or timers.
Comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area.
Also called
HVAC Mechanic (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Mechanic)HVAC Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technician)Refrigeration MechanicRefrigeration Technician (Refrigeration Tech)AC Mechanic (Air Conditioner Mechanic)AC Tech (Air Conditioning Technician)HVAC Control Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Control Technician)HVAC Installer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Installer)HVAC Service Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Service Technician)Refrigeration Operator
More job titles for this occupation (40)
AC Installer (Air Conditioning Installer)AC Service Tech (Air Conditioning Service Technician)AC Servicer (Air Conditioning Servicer)Air Balancing Technician (Air Balancing Tech)Baseboard Heating InstallerCommercial HVAC Service Tech (Commercial Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Service Technician)Commercial HVAC Tech (Commercial Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technician)Commercial Refrigeration Service Technician (Commercial Refrigeration Service Tech)Cooling Technician (Cooling Tech)Furnace InstallerFurnace MechanicFurnace RepairerFurnace SetterGas Furnace InstallerHeat Pump InstallerHeater InstallerHeating and AC Installer (Heating and Air Conditioning Installer)Heating and AC Servicer (Heating and Air Conditioning Servicer)Heating and AC Tech (Heating and Air Conditioning Technician)Heating Equipment InstallerHeating InstallerHeating Repair Technician (Heating Repair Tech)Heating Systems InstallerHeating Technician (Heating Tech)Heating Unit MechanicHot Air Furnace InstallerHot Air Furnace RepairerHVAC Maintenance Technician (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Maintenance Technician)HVAC Operations Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Operations Technician)HVACR Service Tech (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Service Technician)HVACR Tech (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technician)HVACR Tech (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Refrigeration Technician)Hydronic Balancing Technician (Hydronic Balancing Tech)Refrigeration InstallerRefrigeration Repair Tech (Refrigeration Repair Technician)Refrigeration Service Technician (Refrigeration Service Tech)Refrigeration Systems InstallerRefrigeration Unit RepairerResidential Heating and Air Conditioning Installer (Residential Heating and AC Installer)Residential HVAC Service Technician (Residential Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Service Technician)
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $61,010.
