Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers vs. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics: Who Earns More?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers out-earn Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics by $10K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers land at $61,010 and Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics at $50,620. The education gap is real: heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installer programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while automotive service technicians and mechanic programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers is District of Columbia ($84,390); for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics it's District of Columbia ($68,660).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earn more nationally. The median is $61,010 for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers versus $50,620 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, a difference of $10K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers has the better 10-year outlook at 8.1% projected growth, compared to 4.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics requires postsecondary nondegree award. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers get paid the most?
District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers at $84,390/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers vs. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earn $84,390 vs. $68,660 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.