Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Hourly Pay in Bay City, MI: $28.53 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer working in Bay City, MI runs $28.53 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $59,346 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 49-9021). Weighted against Bay City's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.9, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $31.04 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,605 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Bay City, Michigan, earn a median hourly rate of $28.53, which is slightly below the national hourly median of $28.93. This wage offers a solid foundation for those interested in part-time work, where a typical schedule of three days a week could yield about $1,800 monthly before taxes. Workers are often deployed across various environments, including residential service calls, commercial rooftop units, supermarket refrigeration cases, and even specialized data center settings. The hourly pay within Bay City further varies, ranging from entry-level positions at $17.09 to seasoned professionals earning up to $38.57 hourly, as recorded in official BLS projections for 2026.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $17.09 | $136.71 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $21.43 | $171.43 |
| Median (P50) | $28.53 | $228.24 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $33.08 | $264.62 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $38.57 | $308.55 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Bay City
Based on $28.53/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.53/hr, a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Bay City, MI can expect to earn approximately $59,342 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $34,236. With a cost-of-living index of 91.92 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Bay City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Bay City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,141.19 | $4,945 | $59,342 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $684.71 | $2,967 | $35,605 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $456.48 | $1,978 | $23,737 |
Compare HACR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer (Bay City) | $28.53 |
| Electrician (National Avg) | $31.97 |
| Plumber (National Avg) | $32.85 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic (National Avg) | $29.53 |
| Auto Service Technician (National Avg) | $24.83 |
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installers in Bay City, MI earn a median of $59,346 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.38% lower than the national median of $60,174.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.53/hr = $35,605/year (purchasing power: $38,734).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $59,342/year (purchasing power: $64,557).
CoL index: 91.921 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$20.27/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$27.48/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.53/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+46.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Bay City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.82% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $20.27/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $21.06/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.66/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.17/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.37/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.22/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $27.48/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.53/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.62/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Bay City grew 35.6% from $20.27/hr (2019) to $27.48/hr (2025). At a 3.82% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.62/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bay City metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.82% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer in Bay City
When examining part-time earnings for a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer working 24 hours a week, annual gross income can be significantly lower compared to full-time counterparts, but still substantial, particularly for skilled technicians. Those engaged in per-diem trades can benefit from additional daily pay ranging from $80 to $150, with base hourly rates from $30 to $55. The profession sees variability in pay depending on employer type, with residential companies, commercial contractors, and refrigeration specialists offering different compensation structures. While some technicians may opt for lower hourly wages in exchange for health benefits, others may prefer the higher hourly rates found in self-employment or contract work, where top earners can make $90 to $160 an hour, particularly in high-cost markets. It's crucial for technicians in Bay City to know their worth and engage in savvy negotiations, leveraging their certifications and skills, especially with the growing demand for heat pump installations driven by climate initiatives and evolving refrigerant regulations.
More salary data for Bay City, MI:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Bay City in 2026?
How much do part-time heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in Bay City?
Are heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Bay City paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer make per year in Bay City?
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Written by Jordan Lee, HVAC Technician
Career Analyst
Jordan has 10 years of experience in HVAC systems. He specializes in residential installation and maintenance.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.82% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Bay City. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.82%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installers (SOC 49-9021).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, HVAC Technician, a licensed heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov