Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair · SOC 49-9021 · O*NET 49-9021.00
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers fall under the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair category in the U.S. occupational classification. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earn a median salary of $59,810 per year, ranking in the top 49% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +8.1% job growth through 2034, projected to grow faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn?
The median annual wage for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is $59,810. That puts heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers at #396 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is +8.1%, projected to grow faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 425K positions in 2024 to 459K in 2034, a net change of 34K. Faster-than-average growth means hiring is consistently outpacing the labor market overall. New entrants generally find their first roles faster than peers in stable fields.
What education does my child need to become heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installer?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
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- Signal and Track Switch Repairers$83,600 median
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment$82,730 median
- Avionics Technicians$81,390 median
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$78,680 median
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
What is the median salary for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers?
The median annual salary for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is $59,810 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers a growing career?
BLS projects +8.1% growth for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers from 2024 through 2034, which is fast growth projected to grow faster than the US average.
What education does my child need to become heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installer?
The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers?
Related occupations within the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.