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Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary in California

Median: $72,560 / year · $34.88 / hr · 2025

19% above the U.S. average

Mean
$75,370
$36.24 / hr
Median hourly
$34.88 / hr
10th–90th percentile
$46,950 – $109,060
U.S. median
$61,010
Wage distribution (annual)
  • 10th percentile$46,950
  • Median$72,560
  • Mean$75,370
  • 90th percentile$109,060

U.S. median $61,010

Take-home estimate

$56,302

On a $72,560 OEWS median, single filer (2024). Not tax advice.

  • Federal income tax$7,804 (10.8%)
  • State income tax$2,903 (4.0%)
  • Social Security$4,499 (6.2%)
  • Medicare$1,052 (1.4%)
  • Net take-home$56,302 (77.6%)
  • Share of $72,560 gross (single filer). Not tax advice.

Open take-home calculator →

Living-cost context

$65,535

U.S.-average purchasing power of this median. California RPP is 110.7 (11% above the U.S. average).

California cost of living →

Related occupations in California

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $64,980 −$7,580 vs this job Electricians $76,160 +$3,600 vs this job Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,230 −$12,330 vs this job Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $72,830 +$270 vs this job Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $58,060 −$14,500 vs this job

ZIP codes in California

92336Fontana city90011Los Angeles city90650Norwalk city94565Pittsburg city91331Los Angeles city90044Los Angeles city92335Fontana city90250Hawthorne city90805Long Beach city90201Bell Gardens city91342Los Angeles city90280South Gate city

All California ZIP codes →

Highest-paying states for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

California ranks #12 of 51 states and DC with a published OEWS median ($72,560).

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers median salary by state
RankStateMedian
#1 Highest District of Columbia$84,390
#2Alaska$77,430
#3Illinois$77,410
#4Massachusetts$77,300
#5Connecticut$76,610
#6Minnesota$76,350
#7Washington$75,660
#8North Dakota$74,490
#9New Jersey$74,450
#10New York$74,430
#11New Hampshire$73,850
#12California$72,560
#13Maryland$70,020
#14Rhode Island$67,370
#15Hawaii$65,450
#16Colorado$65,200
#17Maine$63,170
#18Oregon$62,940
#19Ohio$62,510
#20Pennsylvania$62,400
#21Delaware$62,320
#22Vermont$62,150
#23Wisconsin$61,710
#24South Dakota$61,390
#25Michigan$60,850
#26Montana$60,850
#27Iowa$60,680
#28Nevada$60,510
#29Kansas$60,460
#30Indiana$60,430
#31Missouri$59,950
#32Nebraska$59,850
#33Virginia$59,730
#34Arizona$59,400
#35Utah$58,730
#36Louisiana$58,650
#37Kentucky$58,620
#38Texas$57,760
#39Oklahoma$57,560
#40North Carolina$57,260
#41Florida$56,670
#42South Carolina$56,610
#43Georgia$56,390
#44Idaho$56,240
#45Tennessee$55,490
#46Wyoming$54,700
#47New Mexico$50,270
#48West Virginia$48,850
#49Mississippi$48,680
#50Alabama$48,370
#51 Lowest Arkansas$48,110

Frequently asked questions

What is the median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary in California?
The OEWS median is $72,560 per year ($34.88 / hr) (2025), 19% above the U.S. average.
How much does a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make per hour in California?
The OEWS hourly median is $34.88 / hr.
Is this take-home pay?
No. OEWS is pre-tax. A single-filer estimate on this median is about $56,302 after federal, state, and FICA. Use the take-home calculator to change the gross.
How does heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers pay compare nationally?
The California median is 19% above the U.S. average versus the U.S. OEWS median of $61,010.
Which states pay heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installerss the most?
District of Columbia has the highest published OEWS median at $84,390. California ranks #12 of 51.
What is that salary worth after California living costs?
BEA all-items RPP is 110.7 (U.S. = 100), 11% above the U.S. average. $72,560 in California has about the same purchasing power as $65,535 at U.S. average prices.