Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Salary in Knoxville, TN
In Knoxville, TN, heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn $50,030 at the median — $24.05 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $54,046 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,471/month — about 42.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Knoxville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Knoxville’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $84K | +40% | 790 |
| District of Columbia | $83K | +39% | 370 |
| Massachusetts | $77K | +29% | 7,960 |
| Connecticut | $74K | +24% | 4,440 |
| Minnesota | $73K | +23% | 5,190 |
| Illinois | $72K | +20% | 8,510 |
| New Jersey | $70K | +17% | 10,680 |
| Washington | $68K | +13% | 7,090 |
| North Dakota | $67K | +12% | 1,100 |
| New York | $67K | +11% | 22,710 |
| California | $65K | +9% | 34,020 |
| Maryland | $65K | +9% | 6,380 |
| New Hampshire | $64K | +8% | 2,120 |
| Hawaii | $64K | +7% | 1,110 |
| Rhode Island | $64K | +6% | 1,320 |
| Oregon | $63K | +5% | 3,690 |
| Maine | $62K | +4% | 2,110 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | +4% | 5,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | +2% | 16,930 |
| Virginia | $61K | +1% | 13,640 |
| Ohio | $60K | +1% | 13,570 |
| Missouri | $60K | +1% | 8,360 |
| Indiana | $60K | +1% | 7,620 |
| Vermont | $60K | +1% | 1,050 |
| Michigan | $60K | +0% | 13,720 |
| Delaware | $60K | +0% | 1,790 |
| Nebraska | $60K | -0% | 3,080 |
| Iowa | $59K | -1% | 3,990 |
| South Dakota | $59K | -1% | 1,130 |
| Nevada | $59K | -1% | 4,240 |
| Kentucky | $59K | -2% | 6,230 |
| Montana | $59K | -2% | 1,050 |
| Kansas | $57K | -5% | 4,100 |
| Arizona | $57K | -5% | 10,850 |
| Utah | $56K | -6% | 5,370 |
| South Carolina | $55K | -8% | 6,370 |
| Georgia | $55K | -8% | 12,210 |
| New Mexico | $55K | -8% | 1,820 |
| Texas | $54K | -10% | 32,070 |
| Louisiana | $54K | -11% | 5,040 |
| Idaho | $53K | -12% | 3,570 |
| North Carolina | $52K | -13% | 13,750 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -14% | 10,510 |
| Wyoming | $51K | -15% | 570 |
| Oklahoma | $51K | -15% | 4,820 |
| Florida | $51K | -15% | 38,290 |
| Alabama | $49K | -18% | 7,330 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -21% | 2,960 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -21% | 4,890 |
| West Virginia | $46K | -23% | 1,450 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $50,030 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,320, and experienced heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers can clear $78,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,520/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 41.8% 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 Knoxville?
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 $54,046 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.