Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Salary
In Alabama, heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn $48,370 at the median, or about $23.26 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $54,742 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 32.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Alabama?
About heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Alabama runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $61K. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary by metro in Alabama
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $50K | +3% | 770 |
| Gadsden | $49K | +2% | 120 |
| Decatur | $49K | +1% | 330 |
| Birmingham | $49K | +1% | 2,370 |
| Montgomery | $49K | +1% | 540 |
| Tuscaloosa | $48K | +0% | 450 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $48K | -0% | 260 |
| Mobile | $48K | -1% | 820 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $48K | -1% | 130 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $47K | -3% | 540 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $47K | -4% | 250 |
| Dothan | $46K | -4% | 250 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 33.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,191/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installer a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $48K here vs. $61K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers?
Alabama pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in Alabama?
The median is $48,370 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,510, and experienced heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers can clear $65,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,221/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 33.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary is worth about $54,742 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.