HVAC Tech Salary

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary in Lexington, SC: $54,066 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer in Lexington, SC earns a median $54,066/year (โ‰ˆ $26.00/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 โ€” projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 49-9021). Once you factor in Lexington's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.5), that paycheck buys what $59,089 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.5% below the South Carolina state average.

$54,066
Median Annual Salary
$26.00/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$35,876
Entry Level (P10)
$77,932
Top Earners (P90)

Based on BLS state-level estimates ยท View source

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary in Lexington, SC โ€” 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Lexington, SC heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

The projected median salary for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Lexington, South Carolina, is set at $54,066 for 2026. This figure reflects a competitive landscape, particularly when considering a salary range from $35,876 at the 10th percentile to $77,932 at the 90th percentile. Local estimates derived from 2025 BLS data and regional cost of living adjustments indicate that professionals in this field may experience earnings that vary significantly based on factors such as specialty and employer type. The impact of commission structures, especially within residential service companies, can lead to variable compensation that incentivizes higher performance, thereby enhancing overall earnings potential in Lexington's job market.

About the Lexington Market

Salary estimated from South Carolina average ($50,000) adjusted for local cost of living.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$35,876$17.24
Lower Range (P25)$42,588$20.47
Median (P50)(typical)$54,066$26.00
Upper Range (P75)$65,587$31.53
Top Earners (P90)$77,932$37.47

Median Salary Position

$35,876$77,932
City Median: $54,066
National: $60,174
P10โ€“P90 Range

10.15% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lexington

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installers in Lexington. The median salary is $54,066, compared to the national median of $60,174.$32.3K$44.7K$57.1K$69.4K$81.8K$35.9K10th Pctl$42.6K25th Pctl$54.1KMedian$65.6K75th Pctl$77.9K90th PctlUS Median$60.2K

In Lexington, SC, the heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $42,056 (2026 est.). At $54,066, the local median is 10.15% below the national median of $60,174.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer pay in the Lexington metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$1,040
per week
$4,506
per month
$54,073
per year

At 40 hours/week in Lexington: You'd be in the lower-middle range

How Lexington Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Pay Compares

Lexington median: $54,066/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryLexington Pays
South Carolina Average$57,213-5.50% less
National Average$60,174-10.15% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer median salary in Lexington ($54,066) with South Carolina average ($57,213) and the US national median ($60,174).Lexington$54,066South Carolina Avg$57,213-5.50%US National$60,174-10.15%

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installers in Lexington, SC earn a median of $54,066 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.15% lower than the national median of $60,174 and 5.50% below the South Carolina state average of $57,213.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$54,066
Nominal Salary
91.5
CoL Index
$59,089
Adjusted Salary

Lexington has a cost of living 8.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.

Adjusted salary = nominal ร— (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $54,066. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 91.5, the purchasing-power equivalent is $59,089, a gain of $5,023.$46.0K$51.8K$57.6K$63.4K$69.2K$54,066NominalSalary$59,089CoL Adjusted(CoL: 91.5)โ–ฒ 9.29%US Median $60.2K

Lexington, SC has a cost-of-living index of 91.5 (below the national average of 100). A heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer earning $54,066 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $59,089 in an average-cost city โ€” an effective 9.29% boost.

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2019 BLS Actual

$41,595

2025 BLS Actual

$52,077

2026 Current Est.

$54,066

2019โ€“2027 Growth

+34.9%

Salary Trajectory for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Lexington (2019โ€“2027)

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

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Lexington. Baseline $41,595 in 2025, projected to $56,132 by 2027.$38.6K$43.7K$48.8K$53.9K$59.1K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$41.6K$43.2K$41.5K$43.9K$48.9K$43.2K$52.1K$54.1K$56.1K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$41,595Actual
2020$43,183Actual
2021$41,510Actual
2022$43,866Actual
2023$48,910Actual
2024$43,213Actual
2025$52,077Actual
2026(current)$54,066Estimated
2027$56,132Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lexington metropolitan area, the median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary grew 25.2% from $41,595 (2019) to $52,077 (2025). At a 3.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $56,132 by 2027 โ€” a total increase of $14,537 (34.95%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019โ€“2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lexington metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026โ€“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.

Salary by Experience Level

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$35,876 โ€“ $42,588
3-5 years (Mid Career)$42,588 โ€“ $54,066
5+ years (Experienced)$54,066 โ€“ $65,587
10+ years (Top Earner)$65,587 โ€“ $77,932

HACR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Job Market in Lexington

In Lexington, the local job scene includes only five heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers, suggesting a niche market that may provide unique opportunities for skilled workers. With a cost-of-living index of 91.5, the purchasing power in Lexington is favorable compared to national averages, translating to more disposable income for those in the field. Employers such as residential service companies, commercial HVAC contractors, and large data center operations typically offer the highest salaries. The disparity in pay can stem from varying job responsibilities โ€” for instance, commercial roles often involve fixed salaries with overtime, in contrast to commission-heavy residential roles where technicians may earn substantially through spiffs and bonuses. To maximize earnings, technicians should consider pursuing specialty certifications like NATE or brand-specific credentials, enabling them to tap into the growing demand for heat pump installations linked to recent tax credits. Understanding both the dynamics of employer compensation and market trends will help HVAC professionals directly influence their earning potential in Lexington, SC.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The estimated 2026 median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary in Lexington is $54,066/year ($26.00/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 3.82% annual growth). Salaries range from $35,876 at entry level (10th percentile) to $77,932 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Lexington at 10.2% below the national median. Full-time heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Lexington, SC a good place to work as a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer?

Lexington heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salaries are 10.2% below the national average and 5.5% below the South Carolina state average. The metro area employs approximately 5 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers. With a cost-of-living index of 91.5, your salary stretches further here than in higher-cost metros. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make $100K in Lexington?

The median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary in Lexington is $54,066, and the 90th percentile earns $77,932. Reaching $100K in this market typically requires a combination of advanced certifications, working at multiple practices, or transitioning into education or consulting roles.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary in Lexington?

After adjusting for Lexington's cost-of-living index of 91.5 (where 100 equals the national average), the $54,066 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $59,089 in an average-cost city. This means your dollar goes 9.3% further in Lexington compared to the national average, making it an attractive location for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers seeking strong real wages.

How much does a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer make per hour in Lexington?

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Lexington earn a median hourly rate of $26.00, which translates to approximately $54,066/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $17.24 for entry-level positions to $37.47 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

Nearby Cities in South Carolina

JL

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

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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $52,077 for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installersin the Lexington metropolitan area. A 3.82% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10โ€“P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.

Data Sources & Methodology

Salary data for Lexington is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).

View estimation methodology

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. ยท View source data at BLS.gov

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