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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

49-9021 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.


National estimates for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Industry profile for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Geographic profile for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

National estimates for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
374,770 1.1 % $ 27.63 $ 57,460 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 17.39 $ 21.20 $ 24.71 $ 31.56 $ 39.73
Annual Wage (2) $ 36,170 $ 44,100 $ 51,390 $ 65,630 $ 82,630


Industry profile for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Building Equipment Contractors 278,800 11.89 $ 27.08 $ 56,330
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) 10,120 0.70 $ 29.99 $ 62,370
Fuel Dealers 9,100 12.84 $ 27.53 $ 57,250
Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance 6,430 2.91 $ 29.82 $ 62,030
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 5,440 0.18 $ 28.00 $ 58,230

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Fuel Dealers 9,100 12.84 $ 27.53 $ 57,250
Building Equipment Contractors 278,800 11.89 $ 27.08 $ 56,330
Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance 6,430 2.91 $ 29.82 $ 62,030
Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance 2,090 2.49 $ 22.67 $ 47,160
Facilities Support Services 3,020 1.74 $ 30.24 $ 62,900

Top paying industries for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (8) (8) $ 45.45 $ 94,540
Scheduled Air Transportation 50 0.01 $ 45.38 $ 94,390
Natural Gas Distribution 1,640 1.50 $ 43.28 $ 90,020
Telecommunications 170 0.03 $ 39.42 $ 82,000
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 280 0.08 $ 39.35 $ 81,840


Geographic profile for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 38,370 2.18 0.86 $ 32.42 $ 67,430
Florida 33,560 3.64 1.44 $ 23.74 $ 49,380
Texas 30,670 2.36 0.93 $ 24.90 $ 51,790
New York 20,150 2.21 0.87 $ 33.43 $ 69,540
Pennsylvania 17,730 3.05 1.20 $ 26.62 $ 55,380


Map of location quotient of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Vermont 1,340 4.57 1.80 $ 26.79 $ 55,730
Idaho 3,110 3.90 1.54 $ 23.63 $ 49,160
Florida 33,560 3.64 1.44 $ 23.74 $ 49,380
Nebraska 3,330 3.43 1.35 $ 26.05 $ 54,190
Oklahoma 5,370 3.35 1.32 $ 23.58 $ 49,050


Map of annual mean wages of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 360 0.52 0.20 $ 35.89 $ 74,660
Alaska 500 1.65 0.65 $ 34.71 $ 72,200
Hawaii 1,260 2.11 0.83 $ 34.29 $ 71,310
Minnesota 4,490 1.59 0.63 $ 33.69 $ 70,080
Massachusetts 6,400 1.79 0.71 $ 33.66 $ 70,010



Map of employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 19,480 2.12 0.84 $ 35.01 $ 72,820
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 10,780 1.77 0.70 $ 33.02 $ 68,680
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 10,230 2.69 1.06 $ 26.36 $ 54,840
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 9,130 3.48 1.37 $ 24.23 $ 50,410
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 7,960 1.80 0.71 $ 31.47 $ 65,460
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 7,800 2.82 1.11 $ 29.73 $ 61,830
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 7,700 2.54 1.00 $ 31.49 $ 65,510
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 7,380 2.71 1.07 $ 27.13 $ 56,430
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 6,610 2.16 0.85 $ 25.91 $ 53,900
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 5,920 2.66 1.05 $ 26.40 $ 54,910


Map of location quotient of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Panama City, FL 570 7.00 2.76 $ 24.79 $ 51,570
Punta Gorda, FL 300 5.81 2.29 $ 22.86 $ 47,540
Coeur d'Alene, ID 390 5.68 2.24 $ 23.96 $ 49,830
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL 300 5.48 2.16 $ 22.88 $ 47,580
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL 1,640 5.30 2.09 $ 23.28 $ 48,410
Sebring, FL 130 5.08 2.00 $ 21.59 $ 44,910
Homosassa Springs, FL 170 5.06 1.99 $ 20.81 $ 43,290
Decatur, AL 280 5.00 1.97 $ 24.22 $ 50,380
Lancaster, PA 1,210 4.97 1.96 $ 25.83 $ 53,720
Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA 280 4.87 1.92 $ 23.45 $ 48,780


Map of annual mean wages of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 2,310 2.06 0.81 $ 42.79 $ 88,990
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 4,540 1.90 0.75 $ 38.61 $ 80,300
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 2,910 1.54 0.61 $ 36.29 $ 75,490
Fairbanks, AK 90 2.53 1.00 $ 36.05 $ 74,990
Anchorage, AK 300 1.83 0.72 $ 35.42 $ 73,660
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 130 1.84 0.73 $ 35.32 $ 73,470
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 19,480 2.12 0.84 $ 35.01 $ 72,820
Urban Honolulu, HI 990 2.34 0.92 $ 34.94 $ 72,660
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 4,730 1.75 0.69 $ 34.73 $ 72,230
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 160 1.69 0.67 $ 34.65 $ 72,060

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 810 2.10 0.83 $ 22.19 $ 46,150
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 770 2.39 0.94 $ 24.89 $ 51,770
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 730 2.79 1.10 $ 24.02 $ 49,960
Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 720 2.95 1.16 $ 22.57 $ 46,940
Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area 700 2.81 1.11 $ 21.02 $ 43,720

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 500 5.02 1.98 $ 25.31 $ 52,640
Maryland nonmetropolitan area 240 4.15 1.64 $ 26.11 $ 54,320
South Florida nonmetropolitan area 330 4.13 1.63 $ 25.14 $ 52,290
Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area 280 4.11 1.62 $ 25.75 $ 53,560
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 490 3.97 1.56 $ 27.35 $ 56,880

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area 180 1.66 0.65 $ 34.00 $ 70,730
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 100 1.02 0.40 $ 31.79 $ 66,120
Connecticut nonmetropolitan area 110 3.42 1.35 $ 31.02 $ 64,520
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 150 2.37 0.93 $ 30.42 $ 63,270
Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area 70 0.97 0.38 $ 30.18 $ 62,780


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023