Tech & EngineeringGrowingBright Outlook

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Q: What is the salary of a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?

The typical salary range is $41,867 - $83,734 per year.

Operational-level

Also known as: A/C Installer-Servicer (Air Conditioning Installer-Servicer), A/C Mechanic (Air Conditioner Mechanic), A/C Service Tech (Air Conditioning Service Technician), A/C Tech (Air Conditioning Technician)

Tech & EngineeringBachelor's Degree

Job Description

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

HVAC TechnologyRefrigeration SystemsMechanical Systems InstallationSkilled TradesTechnical ServicesEngineeringBuilding SystemsTechnicalAutomotiveOil and Gas

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Hot technologies

Adobe Acrobat Autodesk AutoCAD Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word SAP software

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Bright Outlook

O*NET flags this career as a Bright Outlook occupation: grows rapidly over the next decade.

Projected growth

+10.9%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

40,600

per year (US)

Jobs today

440,900

in 2025 → 489,100 (2035)

Typical entry education

Postsecondary nondegree award

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication

High

Working in a team

High

Contact with others

High

Freedom to make decisions

High

Time pressure

High

Time spent sitting

Low

Working outdoors

High

Indoor, climate-controlled

High

Dealing with customers

Low

Level of competition

Moderate

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Growing Job Market

This field is experiencing expansion with increasing job opportunities and career advancement potential. Market demand is rising, with new positions being created.

Career ladder

Often before this role

Apprenti CVC
Aide-mécanicien
Technicien de maintenance junior

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Where it can lead

Technicien CVC Senior/Maître
Superviseur CVC
Ingénieur en systèmes CVC

Impact of AI on this Job

AI will increasingly impact this career through smart diagnostic tools, predictive maintenance algorithms, and automated system monitoring, making troubleshooting more efficient. While AI may streamline some tasks, the need for skilled human installers and repairers for complex physical work and system integration will remain essential. It will evolve the role towards managing advanced systems rather than solely manual repairs.

Salary

$61,010

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position