Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers vs. Maintenance and Repair Workers, General: Who Earns More?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers out-earn Maintenance and Repair Workers, General by $11K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers land at $61,010 and Maintenance and Repair Workers, General at $49,590. The education gap is real: heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installer programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while maintenance and repair workers, general programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers is District of Columbia ($84,390); for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General it's District of Columbia ($60,310).
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 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General?
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 $49,590 for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General, a difference of $11K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers or Maintenance and Repair Workers, General?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers has the better 10-year outlook at 8.1% projected growth, compared to 3.8% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers or Maintenance and Repair Workers, General?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Maintenance and Repair Workers, General requires high school diploma or equivalent. 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. Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 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. $60,310 for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.