Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pay in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA), the median pay for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is $36.00 an hour ($74,880 a year). About 3,210 people work in this job there.

$36.00Median hourly pay
$58,330–$91,690Middle half of workers, yearly
3,210People in this job in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA)

That is 23% higher than the U.S. median ($61,010). It is 3% higher than the California median ($72,560).

Pay range for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$22.46$46,710
25% of workers$28.05$58,330
Half of workers (median)$36.00$74,880
75% of workers$44.08$91,690
90% of workers$54.80$113,990

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pay in California metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Napa$84,57070
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$82,0501,740
Santa Rosa-Petaluma$79,510560
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara$78,640260
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$78,4903,980
Santa Cruz-Watsonville$78,330210
Stockton-Lodi$75,710390
El Centro$75,220120
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles$75,160200
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (this page)$74,8803,210
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$73,83010,720
Salinas$72,550300
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura$69,710750
Vallejo$67,950490
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$66,6702,940
Bakersfield-Delano$66,400680
Visalia$64,990330
Modesto$64,760470
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$64,3004,820
Merced$64,040190
Redding$63,020160
Chico$62,920120
Yuba City$62,85090
Hanford-Corcoran$62,67080
Fresno$62,5801,300

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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (CA)

JobMedian yearly pay
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$54,530
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$72,510
Mechanical Engineers$121,750
Industrial Machinery Mechanics$67,480
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$50,560

Other job titles for this job

Heating TechnicianFurnace MechanicAc TechAc InstallerAc MechanicAc Service TechAc ServicerAir Balancing TechnicianAir Balancing TechBaseboard Heating InstallerCommercial Hvac Service TechCommercial Hvac Tech

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Source: 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.