Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pay in California
In California, the median pay for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is $34.88 an hour ($72,560 a year). About 35,130 people work in this job there.
That is 19% higher than the U.S. median ($61,010). California ranks 12th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $22.57 | $46,950 |
| 25% of workers | $28.02 | $58,280 |
| Half of workers (median) | $34.88 | $72,560 |
| 75% of workers | $43.65 | $90,780 |
| 90% of workers | $52.44 | $109,060 |
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Napa | $84,570 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $82,050 | 1,740 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $79,510 | 560 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $78,640 | 260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $78,490 | 3,980 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $78,330 | 210 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $75,710 | 390 |
| El Centro | $75,220 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $75,160 | 200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $74,880 | 3,210 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $73,830 | 10,720 |
| Salinas | $72,550 | 300 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $69,710 | 750 |
| Vallejo | $67,950 | 490 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $66,670 | 2,940 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $66,400 | 680 |
| Visalia | $64,990 | 330 |
| Modesto | $64,760 | 470 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $64,300 | 4,820 |
| Merced | $64,040 | 190 |
| Redding | $63,020 | 160 |
| Chico | $62,920 | 120 |
| Yuba City | $62,850 | 90 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $62,670 | 80 |
| Fresno | $62,580 | 1,300 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Long-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +10.9% over ten years, much faster than average · about 40,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
Other job titles for this job
Open heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.