Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Salary
In Tennessee, heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn $55,490 at the median, or about $26.68 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $61,807 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 31.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $55K get you in Tennessee?
About heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $55K locally vs. $61K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary by metro in Tennessee
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $60K | +9% | 3,500 |
| Knoxville | $57K | +2% | 1,470 |
| Memphis | $57K | +2% | 1,740 |
| Jackson | $54K | -2% | 260 |
| Chattanooga | $51K | -8% | 850 |
| Clarksville | $50K | -9% | 330 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $49K | -12% | 290 |
| Morristown | $49K | -12% | 50 |
| Johnson City | $48K | -13% | 230 |
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 31.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,312/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $55K locally vs. $61K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers?
Tennessee pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in Tennessee?
The median is $55,490 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,540, and experienced heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers can clear $81,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,885/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 31.3% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $61,807 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.