Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $105,180 or more. The middle half of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Washington earn between $57,670 and $89,240.
- $47K10th
- $58K25th
- $72KMedian
- $89K75th
- $105K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,740 | $6,145 | $35.45 |
| Median | $71,920 | $5,993 | $34.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,670 | $4,806 | $27.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,240 | $7,437 | $42.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Washington earn 13% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($84,920) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($64,780). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $61,010.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $73,740 | $71,920 | $46,920 | $105,180 | 8,730 |
| Washington, D.C. | $84,920 | $84,390 | $49,940 | $108,240 | 400 |
| United States | $64,780 | $61,010 | $40,050 | $95,210 | 409,670 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $73,740, a single filer in Washington takes home about $57,359 a year, or $4,780 a month and $2,206 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $58,218 | $4,851 |
| Working in MD | $57,415 | $4,785 |
| Working in DC | $57,359 | $4,780 |
| Working in VA | $57,280 | $4,773 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $73,740 buys what about $67,723 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$60,820
- Baltimore, MD$70,450
- Winchester, VA$54,920
- Lexington Park, MD$70,160
- Gettysburg, PA$61,890
- Chambersburg, PA$62,830
Highest-paying cities for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,280).
- San Jose, CA$91,280
- San Francisco, CA$86,540
- Seattle, WA$85,420
- Anchorage, AK$85,290
- Fairbanks, AK$84,820
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary by city
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary in Washington: questions
How much do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make an hour in Washington?
$35.45 an hour on average, and $34.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers take-home pay in Washington?
About $57,359 a year ($4,780 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,740.
Do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($64,780).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 49-9021; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.06, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.