Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Install, service, or repair heating and air conditioning systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves. May also install, service, or repair refrigeration equipment.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers install, service, or repair heating and air conditioning systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves. May also install, service, or repair refrigeration equipment. The role reports a median annual salary of $59,810 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $35,850 and $86,550 and is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Postsecondary nondegree award, and shows low AI exposure (0.40 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Troubleshooting, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Repairing.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Mechanical
- Building and Construction
- Customer and Personal Service
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Physics
- Design
- Public Safety and Security
A day in the life
You start the day loading your service van with refrigerant tanks, gauges, and tools, then head to your first call—a restaurant whose walk-in cooler stopped cooling overnight. You diagnose a faulty compressor, order the replacement part, and rig a temporary fix so their food does not spoil. By afternoon you might be at a new construction site running ductwork and brazing copper lines for a split-system AC unit, making sure every joint is leak-free. The job gets especially hectic during heat waves and cold snaps when everyone's system breaks at once, but being the person who restores comfort to a sweltering house or a freezing office is immediately gratifying.
Frequently asked questions
What does Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers do?
Install, service, or repair heating and air conditioning systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves. May also install, service, or repair refrigeration equipment.
What does a typical day look like in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
You start the day loading your service van with refrigerant tanks, gauges, and tools, then head to your first call—a restaurant whose walk-in cooler stopped cooling overnight. You diagnose a faulty compressor, order the replacement part, and rig a temporary fix so their food does not spoil. By afternoon you might be at a new construction site running ductwork and brazing copper lines for a split-system AC unit, making sure every joint is leak-free.
How much does Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earn?
The median annual salary for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in the US is $59,810. The middle 80% of workers earn between $35,850 and $86,550 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $43,910 and $73,750.
What is the job outlook for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
The role is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 425,200 workers.
How do I become heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers?
The typical entry education is a Postsecondary nondegree award. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Troubleshooting, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Repairing, Installation. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Our AI-durability model gives Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers a score of 0.40 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.
Is Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers right for you?
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