# Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

> Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers
- SOC code: 49-9021.00
- Career family: Installation and repair
- Median annual pay: $61,010 (10th percentile $40,050, 90th percentile $95,210)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +10.9%
- Openings a year: 40,600
- Typical entry education: Postsecondary certificate
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 99 |
| Investigative (I) | 30 |
| Artistic (A) | 1 |
| Social (S) | 8 |
| Enterprising (E) | 3 |
| Conventional (C) | 55 |

## What you'd do

- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 96/100)
- Getting Information (importance 89/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 89/100)
- Processing Information (importance 88/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 87/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 86/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 84/100)
- Scheduling Work and Activities (importance 84/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 84/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 81/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Troubleshooting, Critical Thinking, Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Installation, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Equipment Selection, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Building and Construction, Customer and Personal Service, Mechanical, Administration and Management, Education and Training, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security, Administrative, Design, Production and Processing

## Also called

AC Installer (Air Conditioning Installer), AC Mechanic (Air Conditioner Mechanic), AC Service Tech (Air Conditioning Service Technician), AC Servicer (Air Conditioning Servicer), AC Tech (Air Conditioning Technician), Air Balancing Technician (Air Balancing Tech), Baseboard Heating Installer, Commercial HVAC Service Tech (Commercial Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Service Technician), Commercial HVAC Tech (Commercial Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technician), Commercial Refrigeration Service Technician (Commercial Refrigeration Service Tech)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4702) (CIP 4702, 438 colleges)
- [Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1505) (CIP 1505, 283 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [The University of Findlay](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-findlay-2754) | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $94,131 | not reported |
| [Rochester Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rochester-institute-of-technology-2250) | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $84,755 | $22,250 |
| [Appalachian State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/appalachian-state-university-93) | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | $47,866 | $69,956 | $22,500 |
| [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh-1884) | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | $60,183 | $66,491 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/stationary-engineers-and-boiler-operators): $78,620 median pay
- [Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters): $63,800 median pay
- [Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/control-and-valve-installers-and-repairers-except-mechanical-door): $74,340 median pay
- [Home Appliance Repairers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/home-appliance-repairers): $50,990 median pay
- [Boilermakers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/boilermakers): $76,410 median pay
- [Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/solar-thermal-installers-and-technicians): $63,800 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.