Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (SOC 49-9021) employed 409,670 people in May 2025. The median pay is $61,010 a year ($29.33 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $40,050 and the highest-paid 10% more than $95,210. BLS projects its employment to change by +10.9% between 2025 and 2035 (about 40,600 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($84,390), Alaska ($77,430), Illinois ($77,410). Most jobs: Florida (39,160), California (35,130), Texas (34,730).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,050 | $19.25 |
| 25th percentile | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Median | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| Mean | $64,780 | $31.14 |
| 75th percentile | $77,060 | $37.05 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $95,210 | $45.77 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 440,900 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 489,100 |
| Change in jobs | 48,200 |
| Percent change | +10.9% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 40,600 |
| Self-employed share | 6.3% |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Long-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 8,260 | 1.48 | $48,370 | $36,510 | $65,690 | -21% | 27% |
| Alaska | 610 | 0.72 | $77,430 | $48,580 | $105,140 | +27% | 22% |
| Arizona | 10,860 | 1.27 | $59,400 | $37,950 | $80,160 | -3% | 34% |
| Arkansas | 4,960 | 1.44 | $48,110 | $37,040 | $69,290 | -21% | 24% |
| California | 35,130 | 0.73 | $72,560 | $46,950 | $109,060 | +19% | 35% |
| Colorado | 8,940 | 1.18 | $65,200 | $48,220 | $103,640 | +7% | 34% |
| Connecticut | 3,800 | 0.85 | $76,610 | $45,280 | $100,160 | +26% | 24% |
| Delaware | 1,730 | 1.35 | $62,320 | $45,000 | $97,600 | +2% | 29% |
| District of Columbia | 400 | 0.21 | $84,390 | $49,940 | $108,240 | +38% | 27% |
| Florida | 39,160 | 1.50 | $56,670 | $38,370 | $78,210 | -7% | 38% |
| Georgia | 12,290 | 0.95 | $56,390 | $36,990 | $79,130 | -8% | 32% |
| Hawaii | 1,300 | 0.79 | $65,450 | $43,120 | $99,430 | +7% | 36% |
| Idaho | 4,550 | 2.02 | $56,240 | $38,660 | $80,780 | -8% | 30% |
| Illinois | 9,740 | 0.61 | $77,410 | $46,690 | $117,550 | +27% | 20% |
| Indiana | 8,530 | 1.01 | $60,430 | $40,460 | $97,800 | -1% | 22% |
| Iowa | 3,840 | 0.93 | $60,680 | $43,040 | $86,280 | -1% | 19% |
| Kansas | 3,770 | 0.99 | $60,460 | $43,660 | $83,500 | -1% | 21% |
| Kentucky | 5,100 | 0.97 | $58,620 | $38,790 | $80,020 | -4% | 20% |
| Louisiana | 5,380 | 1.05 | $58,650 | $36,950 | $78,210 | -4% | 22% |
| Maine | 2,250 | 1.33 | $63,170 | $47,090 | $82,090 | +4% | 23% |
| Maryland | 8,560 | 1.18 | $70,020 | $46,180 | $106,740 | +15% | 29% |
| Massachusetts | 8,200 | 0.86 | $77,300 | $50,820 | $102,410 | +27% | 29% |
| Michigan | 12,590 | 1.09 | $60,850 | $40,210 | $95,290 | -0% | 23% |
| Minnesota | 4,200 | 0.54 | $76,350 | $48,220 | $100,030 | +25% | 20% |
| Mississippi | 2,700 | 0.88 | $48,680 | $36,160 | $76,240 | -20% | 24% |
| Missouri | 7,220 | 0.93 | $59,950 | $39,180 | $88,760 | -2% | 21% |
| Montana | 1,230 | 0.91 | $60,850 | $41,900 | $81,230 | -0% | 23% |
| Nebraska | 3,020 | 1.12 | $59,850 | $43,540 | $81,110 | -2% | 22% |
| Nevada | 4,170 | 1.02 | $60,510 | $41,040 | $89,750 | -1% | 34% |
| New Hampshire | 2,560 | 1.42 | $73,850 | $47,520 | $97,140 | +21% | 25% |
| New Jersey | 10,330 | 0.92 | $74,450 | $48,020 | $116,550 | +22% | 29% |
| New Mexico | 1,950 | 0.85 | $50,270 | $37,380 | $75,770 | -18% | 27% |
| New York | 24,430 | 0.96 | $74,430 | $48,560 | $100,680 | +22% | 26% |
| North Carolina | 15,230 | 1.17 | $57,260 | $37,780 | $77,160 | -6% | 28% |
| North Dakota | 970 | 0.85 | $74,490 | $46,610 | $94,060 | +22% | 16% |
| Ohio | 14,150 | 0.97 | $62,510 | $38,630 | $98,310 | +2% | 21% |
| Oklahoma | 5,650 | 1.25 | $57,560 | $36,050 | $79,660 | -6% | 22% |
| Oregon | 3,980 | 0.77 | $62,940 | $46,990 | $94,520 | +3% | 30% |
| Pennsylvania | 15,880 | 0.99 | $62,400 | $45,970 | $89,440 | +2% | 24% |
| Rhode Island | 1,450 | 1.10 | $67,370 | $38,100 | $104,080 | +10% | 25% |
| South Carolina | 6,920 | 1.14 | $56,610 | $39,170 | $75,530 | -7% | 27% |
| South Dakota | 1,610 | 1.34 | $61,390 | $48,420 | $75,190 | +1% | 20% |
| Tennessee | 9,740 | 1.13 | $55,490 | $38,540 | $81,590 | -9% | 28% |
| Texas | 34,730 | 0.94 | $57,760 | $38,100 | $81,860 | -5% | 31% |
| Utah | 5,580 | 1.22 | $58,730 | $37,570 | $80,500 | -4% | 33% |
| Vermont | 970 | 1.22 | $62,150 | $50,280 | $93,110 | +2% | 25% |
| Virginia | 14,690 | 1.36 | $59,730 | $39,760 | $83,420 | -2% | 33% |
| Washington | 7,370 | 0.79 | $75,660 | $48,810 | $120,360 | +24% | 29% |
| West Virginia | 1,690 | 0.91 | $48,850 | $36,160 | $72,640 | -20% | 22% |
| Wisconsin | 6,630 | 0.86 | $61,710 | $45,930 | $98,070 | +1% | 22% |
| Wyoming | 690 | 0.93 | $54,700 | $37,840 | $79,050 | -10% | 22% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 330 | $85,620 | $58,070 | $105,140 | 0.71 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,740 | $82,050 | $57,170 | $136,650 | 0.58 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,940 | $80,100 | $51,380 | $129,390 | 0.72 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 560 | $79,510 | $49,200 | $122,600 | 1.04 |
| Peoria, IL | 370 | $78,710 | $47,100 | $105,450 | 0.85 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 6,050 | $78,530 | $50,890 | $103,050 | 0.85 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,980 | $78,490 | $49,180 | $129,380 | 0.64 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 21,820 | $77,990 | $50,690 | $108,780 | 0.87 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 7,210 | $77,960 | $47,460 | $117,940 | 0.61 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,050 | $77,490 | $45,230 | $100,360 | 0.98 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,420 | $77,490 | $48,660 | $100,660 | 0.47 |
| New Haven, CT | 550 | $76,880 | $43,200 | $101,930 | 0.74 |
| Springfield, MA | 460 | $76,530 | $47,940 | $98,870 | 0.87 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,320 | $76,180 | $46,190 | $100,430 | 0.84 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 370 | $75,920 | $46,450 | $95,950 | 0.95 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 390 | $75,710 | $47,540 | $102,520 | 0.51 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 520 | $75,660 | $47,530 | $109,220 | 1.53 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 430 | $75,240 | $47,730 | $111,720 | 0.68 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 460 | $75,000 | $46,620 | $101,310 | 0.79 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3,210 | $74,880 | $46,710 | $113,990 | 0.79 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 10,720 | $73,830 | $46,590 | $109,010 | 0.65 |
| Worcester, MA | 800 | $73,800 | $48,300 | $96,800 | 0.86 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 460 | $73,330 | $50,870 | $96,780 | 1.85 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 870 | $73,090 | $46,840 | $96,730 | 1.66 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 390 | $72,710 | $44,850 | $94,390 | 0.92 |
| Salinas, CA | 300 | $72,550 | $49,590 | $115,990 | 0.60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 8,730 | $71,920 | $46,920 | $105,180 | 1.06 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 4,360 | $71,580 | $49,010 | $104,880 | 1.03 |
| Boulder, CO | 340 | $71,080 | $48,900 | $113,670 | 0.67 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 750 | $69,710 | $45,910 | $100,220 | 0.88 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 480 | $68,430 | $50,910 | $95,850 | 1.50 |
| Vallejo, CA | 490 | $67,950 | $49,440 | $98,800 | 1.29 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,930 | $67,380 | $44,970 | $104,080 | 1.03 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 2,940 | $66,670 | $46,620 | $101,260 | 1.03 |
| Syracuse, NY | 970 | $66,600 | $47,320 | $96,780 | 1.22 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 680 | $66,400 | $46,210 | $95,730 | 0.76 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 930 | $66,290 | $48,280 | $105,020 | 2.09 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 1,450 | $66,040 | $47,510 | $97,810 | 1.22 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 1,150 | $65,530 | $43,370 | $92,900 | 1.62 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,060 | $65,450 | $43,120 | $99,100 | 0.90 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,580 | $65,260 | $48,650 | $98,810 | 0.81 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 410 | $65,190 | $45,790 | $100,270 | 0.87 |
| Salem, OR | 350 | $65,050 | $46,810 | $91,330 | 0.71 |
| Visalia, CA | 330 | $64,990 | $44,720 | $101,780 | 0.74 |
| Modesto, CA | 470 | $64,760 | $47,820 | $90,480 | 0.91 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 8,610 | $64,580 | $45,510 | $100,800 | 1.13 |
| Columbus, OH | 3,000 | $64,440 | $40,680 | $100,590 | 1.03 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4,820 | $64,300 | $46,760 | $95,910 | 1.07 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 920 | $64,090 | $51,970 | $80,960 | 1.21 |
| Rochester, NY | 1,850 | $63,570 | $45,860 | $91,190 | 1.42 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 1,280 | $63,500 | $38,300 | $81,610 | 1.09 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 3,960 | $63,180 | $45,040 | $103,320 | 1.11 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 5,740 | $63,170 | $42,840 | $95,610 | 1.14 |
| Madison, WI | 1,020 | $63,150 | $45,450 | $100,900 | 0.95 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 1,000 | $63,130 | $48,400 | $94,580 | 1.00 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 2,980 | $63,000 | $45,870 | $100,180 | 0.84 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 1,180 | $62,940 | $38,490 | $80,080 | 1.09 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,620 | $62,930 | $46,350 | $99,740 | 0.75 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 610 | $62,840 | $45,690 | $94,380 | 0.90 |
| Cleveland, OH | 2,610 | $62,790 | $39,220 | $98,310 | 0.96 |
The median is $61,010 a year ($29.33 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $40,050 and the highest-paid tenth over $95,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
409,670 in May 2025, and BLS projects +10.9% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $84,390 (among states with published figures).