Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary in California: $70,902 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 158 metropolitan areas, the average median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer pay sits at $70,902/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 49-9021. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $62,690 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Napa ($80,342), Sunnyvale ($79,778), Santa Clara ($79,254).

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary overview (2026)

$70,902

Avg Median Salary

$34.09

Avg Hourly Rate

37,189

Metro Employed

158

Cities

The salary landscape for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in California is notably higher than the national average. In 2026, the average median salary in California is projected to be $70,902, which is 17.8% above the national median of $60,174. This figure reflects the strong demand for skilled tradespeople in the state, driven by its diverse climate and the growing emphasis on energy efficiency. There is a significant salary range within California, where the highest paying city, Napa, offers an average of $83,411, while Fresno, the lowest paying city, has an average of $61,722, a difference of $21,689. Factors influencing this disparity include local cost of living, competition among employers, and specific regional demand for HVAC services. California also has distinct state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that can affect earnings and employment opportunities. The job market shows a positive outlook, with a projected growth rate of 3.82% annually. With a total employment figure of 37,189 in this sector, prospects remain strong for individuals pursuing careers in heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers across the state.

California Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$46,685

avg across 158 cities

Median

$70,902

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$108,138

avg across 158 cities

Overall salary range in California: $37,620 (lowest entry-level) to $134,777 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$70,902

National Median

$60,174

California heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn 17.83% more than the national median (+$10,728/year difference).

California Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary Distribution (2026)

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer salaries in California range from $46,685 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $108,138 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $70,902. The California median is $10,728 above the US national median of $60,174. The average hourly rate is $34.09/hr. Approximately 37,189 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installers are employed across 158 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$57,332

2025 BLS Actual

$68,293

2026 Current Est.

$70,902

2019–2027 Growth

+28.4%

Salary Trajectory for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.82% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$57,332	Actual
2020	$60,324	Actual
2021	$58,744	Actual
2022	$62,106	Actual
2023	$64,204	Actual
2024	$68,330	Actual
2025	$68,293	Actual
2026(current)	$70,902	Estimated
2027	$73,610	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary grew 19.1% from $57,332 (2019) to $68,293 (2025). At a 3.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $73,610 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,278 (28.39%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.82% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Napa

70 employed · $40.11/hr

$83,411

+17.64% vs avg

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $39.81/hr

$82,826

+16.82% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $39.56/hr

$82,282

+16.05% vs avg

San Jose

1,740 employed · $38.91/hr

$80,926

+14.14% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $38.06/hr

$79,176

+11.67% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Fresno	$61,722	-12.95%	$29.68
Hanford	$61,811	-12.82%	$29.71
Yuba City	$61,989	-12.57%	$29.81
Chico	$62,057	-12.47%	$29.84
Redding	$62,156	-12.34%	$29.89

Best Value Cities for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
El Centro	$74,189	95.174	$77,951
Napa	$83,411	112.554	$74,108
San Jose	$80,926	110.423	$73,287
Sunnyvale	$82,826	113.1	$73,233
Santa Rosa	$78,420	107.784	$72,757

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$46,685	$22.44	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$70,902	$34.09	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$108,138	$51.99	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 158 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Napa	$83,411	$40.11	$50,695	$107,358	70
2	Sunnyvale	$82,826	$39.81	$53,404	$128,380	26
3	Santa Clara	$82,282	$39.56	$52,185	$127,537	32
4	San Jose	$80,926	$38.91	$56,387	$134,777	1,740
5	Oakland	$79,176	$38.06	$49,506	$122,724	78
6	Santa Rosa	$78,420	$37.71	$48,525	$120,919	560
7	Petaluma	$77,671	$37.34	$53,189	$120,390	12
8	Santa Maria	$77,562	$37.29	$47,885	$118,779	260
9	Fremont	$77,430	$37.23	$45,751	$120,017	43
10	San Francisco	$77,414	$37.21	$48,506	$127,606	3,980
11	Santa Cruz	$77,257	$37.15	$47,105	$114,203	210
12	Stockton	$74,673	$35.90	$46,888	$101,114	390
13	El Centro	$74,189	$35.66	$46,721	$109,587	120
14	San Luis Obispo	$74,130	$35.64	$47,530	$110,918	200
15	Anaheim	$74,114	$35.63	$45,708	$114,877	51
16	Chula Vista	$73,940	$35.55	$43,509	$114,606	51
17	San Diego	$73,853	$35.51	$46,070	$112,428	3,210
18	Lodi	$73,642	$35.40	$49,855	$114,145	14
19	Carlsbad	$73,236	$35.21	$49,012	$113,516	23
20	Long Beach	$73,060	$35.12	$43,517	$113,244	89
21	Santa Ana	$72,848	$35.02	$43,959	$112,915	69
22	Los Angeles	$72,818	$35.01	$45,952	$107,516	10,720
23	Salinas	$71,556	$34.41	$48,911	$114,400	300
24	Fontana	$71,500	$34.37	$43,207	$110,825	32
25	Irvine	$71,422	$34.33	$46,180	$110,704	72
26	Pomona	$71,073	$34.17	$45,541	$110,163	36
27	Simi Valley	$71,034	$34.15	$45,667	$110,102	23
28	Escondido	$71,017	$34.15	$45,701	$110,076	31
29	Fairfield	$70,889	$34.08	$45,342	$109,879	25
30	Fullerton	$70,629	$33.96	$44,547	$109,475	25
31	Daly City	$70,567	$33.93	$44,411	$109,380	20
32	El Monte	$70,545	$33.92	$44,645	$109,344	20
33	Vista	$70,506	$33.90	$44,559	$109,285	24
34	Concord	$70,490	$33.89	$44,521	$109,259	29
35	Clovis	$70,384	$33.83	$44,286	$108,537	19
36	Garden Grove	$70,312	$33.80	$43,844	$108,984	37
37	Temecula	$70,295	$33.79	$44,089	$108,401	25
38	Santa Clarita	$70,248	$33.77	$45,704	$108,884	41
39	Lancaster	$70,156	$33.73	$43,782	$108,742	40
40	Inglewood	$70,156	$33.73	$43,782	$108,742	21
41	Corona	$70,067	$33.69	$43,515	$108,604	24
42	Richmond	$70,057	$33.68	$43,280	$108,587	25
43	Rialto	$70,022	$33.67	$43,488	$108,534	17
44	Torrance	$69,934	$33.63	$43,012	$108,398	26
45	Elk Grove	$69,800	$33.55	$42,930	$108,191	25
46	Oceanside	$69,784	$33.55	$42,893	$108,165	28
47	Whittier	$69,764	$33.54	$46,042	$107,057	22
48	San Rafael	$69,758	$33.53	$45,958	$106,992	11
49	Rancho Cucamonga	$69,695	$33.50	$42,699	$108,028	46
50	Hayward	$69,656	$33.49	$42,613	$107,967	23
51	Woodland	$69,638	$33.48	$45,683	$107,940	15
52	Buena Park	$69,627	$33.47	$45,729	$106,747	20
53	Encinitas	$69,622	$33.47	$45,717	$106,549	16
54	Downey	$69,618	$33.47	$42,319	$107,907	22
55	Dublin	$69,578	$33.45	$45,616	$106,571	14
56	Redlands	$69,556	$33.44	$45,567	$107,812	16
57	Chino	$69,519	$33.42	$45,409	$106,180	17
58	Westminster	$69,497	$33.41	$45,146	$107,721	21
59	Santa Monica	$69,491	$33.41	$45,346	$106,082	20
60	San Mateo	$69,484	$33.41	$42,238	$107,700	21
61	Tulare	$69,464	$33.40	$45,284	$105,985	17
62	San Buenaventura	$69,440	$33.39	$47,378	$107,632	19
63	Mission Viejo	$69,393	$33.36	$45,194	$105,911	23
64	Moreno Valley	$69,392	$33.36	$44,141	$107,558	53
65	Pleasanton	$69,382	$33.36	$45,169	$107,542	16
66	Pasadena	$69,284	$33.31	$45,325	$107,390	35
67	Santee	$69,235	$33.28	$44,834	$105,348	9
68	Glendale	$69,173	$33.25	$46,780	$107,218	36
69	Mountain View	$69,137	$33.24	$44,610	$104,999	13
70	Pittsburg	$69,132	$33.23	$44,316	$107,154	19
71	Novato	$69,110	$33.22	$44,479	$104,726	11
72	Costa Mesa	$69,084	$33.21	$44,881	$107,080	23
73	Berkeley	$69,012	$33.18	$46,420	$106,389	23
74	Huntington Beach	$68,995	$33.17	$46,590	$106,942	50
75	Jurupa Valley	$68,934	$33.14	$46,454	$106,848	24
76	Hemet	$68,914	$33.13	$44,105	$104,208	14
77	Union City	$68,908	$33.13	$44,093	$104,190	11
78	West Covina	$68,901	$33.13	$46,380	$106,797	25
79	Chino Hills	$68,881	$33.12	$43,961	$106,419	21
80	Gilroy	$68,783	$33.07	$43,810	$106,614	10
81	Oxnard	$68,755	$33.06	$45,281	$98,846	750
82	San Marcos	$68,745	$33.05	$43,443	$106,556	17
83	Tustin	$68,685	$33.03	$43,309	$105,907	18
84	San Ramon	$68,680	$33.01	$43,577	$105,713	19
85	Eastvale	$68,615	$32.98	$43,431	$105,480	10
86	Murrieta	$68,612	$32.98	$45,806	$106,348	25
87	Vacaville	$68,612	$32.98	$45,806	$106,348	15
88	Brentwood	$68,581	$32.97	$43,357	$106,301	13
89	Hesperia	$68,549	$32.95	$43,284	$106,251	14
90	Lake Elsinore	$68,544	$32.95	$43,272	$106,243	18
91	Thousand Oaks	$68,477	$32.92	$46,566	$106,138	32
92	Citrus Heights	$68,457	$32.91	$43,077	$105,095	19
93	El Cajon	$68,396	$32.88	$43,096	$106,013	18
94	San Clemente	$68,375	$32.87	$42,824	$105,980	10
95	Bellflower	$68,348	$32.86	$42,833	$105,939	11
96	Palmdale	$68,318	$32.85	$45,087	$105,892	29
97	La Mirada	$68,317	$32.85	$46,346	$101,617	10
98	Apple Valley	$68,304	$32.84	$42,735	$104,380	19
99	Menifee	$68,284	$32.83	$45,082	$105,841	20
100	Yucaipa	$68,255	$32.82	$42,626	$105,796	14
101	Norwalk	$68,250	$32.82	$44,940	$105,787	22
102	Rancho Cordova	$68,190	$32.79	$42,481	$105,695	20
103	Montebello	$68,125	$32.76	$42,336	$105,593	16
104	Compton	$68,098	$32.73	$42,206	$103,650	25
105	Porterville	$68,048	$32.71	$42,166	$103,651	11
106	Lompoc	$68,039	$32.71	$45,763	$100,656	8
107	Hawthorne	$67,934	$32.66	$41,912	$103,248	13
108	Antioch	$67,912	$32.65	$44,197	$105,263	17
109	Burbank	$67,907	$32.65	$42,038	$105,255	22
110	Alhambra	$67,749	$32.57	$46,924	$105,011	13
111	Livermore	$67,749	$32.57	$44,669	$105,011	21
112	Orange	$67,728	$32.56	$43,865	$104,979	21
113	South Gate	$67,727	$32.56	$46,596	$104,977	25
114	Victorville	$67,711	$32.56	$43,829	$104,953	30
115	West Sacramento	$67,689	$32.55	$46,509	$104,917	9
116	Poway	$67,671	$32.54	$44,899	$99,553	8
117	San Leandro	$67,580	$32.49	$46,469	$104,748	23
118	Indio	$67,504	$32.45	$46,089	$104,631	23
119	Lake Forest	$67,504	$32.45	$46,089	$104,631	14
120	Carson	$67,383	$32.39	$46,093	$104,444	21
121	Rocklin	$67,373	$32.39	$46,068	$104,428	10
122	Newport Beach	$67,259	$32.34	$45,810	$104,251	12
123	Redwood City	$67,254	$32.33	$45,729	$104,243	13
124	Turlock	$67,237	$32.33	$45,691	$104,218	17
125	Manteca	$67,215	$32.32	$45,711	$104,183	13
126	Perris	$67,210	$32.31	$45,423	$104,175	12
127	Madera	$67,155	$32.29	$45,575	$104,090	8
128	Baldwin Park	$67,036	$32.23	$45,236	$103,905	19
129	Palo Alto	$67,036	$32.23	$45,306	$103,905	15
130	Vallejo	$67,019	$32.23	$48,762	$97,445	490
131	Lakewood	$67,009	$32.22	$45,245	$103,864	19
132	Beaumont	$66,812	$32.12	$44,530	$103,559	9
133	Tracy	$66,796	$32.11	$44,767	$103,357	14
134	Alameda	$66,774	$32.10	$44,718	$103,499	12
135	Laguna Niguel	$66,757	$32.09	$44,408	$103,474	16
136	Milpitas	$66,725	$32.08	$44,609	$103,424	16
137	Camarillo	$66,583	$32.01	$44,293	$102,783	13
138	Oakley	$66,556	$32.00	$42,324	$102,210	8
139	Davis	$66,540	$31.99	$44,128	$102,418	14
140	Upland	$66,490	$31.97	$43,814	$103,060	18
141	La Habra	$66,393	$31.92	$43,801	$102,909	16
142	Lynwood	$66,366	$31.90	$43,808	$102,023	16
143	Folsom	$66,201	$31.83	$41,496	$101,770	17
144	Sacramento	$65,756	$31.62	$45,981	$99,872	2,940
145	Bakersfield	$65,490	$31.48	$45,577	$94,418	680
146	Roseville	$65,486	$31.49	$44,459	$101,503	35
147	Brea	$65,233	$31.36	$44,659	$99,815	10
148	Ontario	$64,273	$30.90	$40,434	$99,623	42
149	Visalia	$64,100	$30.81	$44,107	$100,385	330
150	Modesto	$63,872	$30.70	$47,164	$89,240	470
151	San Bernardino	$63,497	$30.52	$37,620	$98,421	33
152	Riverside	$63,418	$30.49	$46,119	$94,596	4,820
153	Merced	$63,162	$30.37	$46,829	$96,588	190
154	Redding	$62,156	$29.89	$46,020	$92,307	160
155	Chico	$62,057	$29.84	$43,121	$92,987	120
156	Yuba City	$61,989	$29.81	$46,099	$87,632	90
157	Hanford	$61,811	$29.71	$44,650	$97,958	80
158	Fresno	$61,722	$29.68	$43,318	$100,286	1,300

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer hourly pay in California cities.

Napa →Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.

Napa →Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.

Napa →Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →

Compare Cities in California

Los Angeles, CAvsRiverside, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSan Francisco, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSan Diego, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSacramento, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSan Jose, CA Los Angeles, CAvsFresno, CA

View all comparisons →

Explore More Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in California in 2026?

The average median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary in California is $70,902/year across 158 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $61,722 in Fresno to $83,411 in Napa. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 17.83% above the national median of $60,174. The state employs approximately 37,189 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.

What is the highest paying city for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in California?

Napa offers the highest heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary in California at $83,411/year ($40.11/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Napa ($83,411), Sunnyvale ($82,826), Santa Clara ($82,282). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for hvac services, and competition among employers for licensed heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.

How does California heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer pay compare to the national average?

California's average heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary of $70,902 is 17.83% above the national median of $60,174 in 2026. The state employs approximately 37,189 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers across 158 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary in California?

Entry-level heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $46,685/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $37,620 in lower-paying areas to $56,387 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers are employed in California?

California employs approximately 37,189 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers across 158 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the hvac field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers?

When adjusted for cost of living, El Centro offers the highest purchasing power for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in California, with an adjusted salary of $77,951 (nominal: $74,189, CoL index: 95.174). This means your dollar goes 5% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

Written by Jordan Lee, HVAC Technician

Career Analyst

Jordan has 10 years of experience in HVAC systems. He specializes in residential installation and maintenance.

Clinically reviewed by Maria Gonzalez, HVAC InstructorData verified by David Patel, HVAC Supervisor

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.82% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 158 metro areas — larger metro areas with more heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.82%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installers (SOC 49-9021).

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, HVAC Technician, a licensed heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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