Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Salary
In Alaska, heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn $77,430 at the median, or about $37.23 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $74,231 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,643/month, about 30.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in Alaska?
About heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
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What this looks like in Alaska
Alaska sits well above the national pay line for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers, local pay runs about 27% higher than the U.S. median of $61K. Rent runs $1,643/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary by metro in Alaska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College | $94K | +21% | 90 |
| Anchorage | $86K | +11% | 330 |
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 Alaska 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 Alaska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 31.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/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 Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,915/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Alaska?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $77K here vs. $61K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers?
Alaska pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s +27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in Alaska?
The median is $77,430 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,580, and experienced heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers can clear $105,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,238/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 31.4% 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 Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary is worth about $74,231 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.