Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary in Florida: $54,319 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Florida's 87 metropolitan areas, the average median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer pay sits at $54,319/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 49-9021. Because Florida sits at BEA RPP 100.8 (1% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $53,888 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sarasota ($56,950), Naples ($56,563), West Palm Beach ($56,380).

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary in Florida - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Florida heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary overview (2026)

$54,319

Avg Median Salary

$26.12

Avg Hourly Rate

38,278

Metro Employed

Cities

In Florida, the salary for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers averages $54,320, which is 9.7% lower than the national median of $60,174. The salary range across the state reflects significant variation among cities; for example, Sarasota offers the highest pay at $59,125, while Sebring provides the lowest at $44,107, creating a gap of $15,018. This difference is often driven by factors such as the cost of living, local demand for services, and the number of competing professionals in each area. Florida’s regulatory environment requires professionals to hold proper state licenses, which can vary by city and may influence salary potential. The demand for HVACR services is strong, underscored by a projected annual growth rate of 3.82%, contributing to the stability of job opportunities in the field. Other cities, such as Naples ($58,724), West Palm Beach ($58,534), North Port ($58,261), and Fort Myers ($57,944), also reflect favorable salary prospects, indicative of the ongoing need for skilled technicians in residential and commercial sectors throughout the state. Overall, while salaries in Florida are below the national average, the consistent demand for HVACR services supports a positive job outlook for aspiring mechanics and installers.

Florida Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$37,835

avg across 87 cities

Median

$54,319

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$76,975

avg across 87 cities

Overall salary range in Florida: $31,033 (lowest entry-level) to $90,727 (highest top earner)

Florida vs National Average

Florida

$54,319

National Median

$60,174

Florida heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn 9.73% less than the national median ($-5,855/year difference).

Florida Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary Distribution (2026)

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer salaries in Florida range from $37,835 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $76,975 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $54,319. The Florida median is $5,855 below the US national median of $60,174. The average hourly rate is $26.12/hr. Approximately 38,278 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installers are employed across 87 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$43,163

2025 BLS Actual

$52,321

2026 Current Est.

$54,319

2019–2027 Growth

+30.7%

Salary Trajectory for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Florida (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.82% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$43,163	Actual
2020	$44,023	Actual
2021	$46,765	Actual
2022	$47,141	Actual
2023	$49,340	Actual
2024	$50,991	Actual
2025	$52,321	Actual
2026(current)	$54,319	Estimated
2027	$56,394	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Florida metropolitan area, the median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary grew 21.2% from $43,163 (2019) to $52,321 (2025). At a 3.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $56,394 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,231 (30.65%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Florida 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Florida

Sarasota

10 employed · $28.43/hr

$59,125

+8.85% vs avg

Naples

910 employed · $28.23/hr

$58,724

+8.11% vs avg

West Palm Beach

29 employed · $28.15/hr

$58,534

+7.76% vs avg

North Port

1,870 employed · $28.01/hr

$58,261

+7.26% vs avg

Fort Myers

23 employed · $27.85/hr

$57,944

+6.67% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Florida

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Sebring	$44,107	-18.80%	$21.21
Homosassa Springs	$46,820	-13.81%	$22.51
Daytona Beach	$47,784	-12.03%	$22.98
Ormond Beach	$47,866	-11.88%	$23.02
Crestview	$48,141	-11.37%	$23.15

Best Value Cities for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Florida

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Florida cities offer the most purchasing power for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Wildwood	$50,518	85.424	$59,138
Sarasota	$59,125	100.8	$58,656
Pensacola	$57,235	97.717	$58,572
Jacksonville	$57,787	99.484	$58,087
West Palm Beach	$58,534	100.8	$58,069

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Florida

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$37,835	$18.19	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$54,319	$26.12	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$76,975	$37.01	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Florida metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 87 Cities in Florida

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sarasota	$59,125	$28.43	$37,826	$89,691	10
2	Naples	$58,724	$28.23	$39,442	$82,059	910
3	West Palm Beach	$58,534	$28.15	$37,594	$90,727	29
4	North Port	$58,261	$28.01	$37,242	$77,178	1,870
5	Fort Myers	$57,944	$27.85	$36,854	$89,814	23
6	Jacksonville	$57,787	$27.78	$37,400	$78,815	3,340
7	Melbourne	$57,758	$27.77	$37,948	$88,569	12
8	Cape Coral	$57,373	$27.58	$37,312	$77,000	2,110
9	Miami	$57,244	$27.52	$38,978	$79,120	9,140
10	Pensacola	$57,235	$27.52	$36,681	$75,826	950
11	Winter Haven	$57,050	$27.43	$37,250	$88,428	10
12	Bradenton	$57,032	$27.42	$38,005	$88,122	13
13	Hialeah	$56,738	$27.27	$35,137	$87,944	35
14	Titusville	$56,467	$27.15	$36,057	$86,822	7
15	Palm Bay	$56,455	$27.14	$36,957	$77,384	1,130
16	Port St. Lucie	$56,426	$27.13	$36,927	$77,246	830
17	Fort Lauderdale	$56,413	$27.12	$37,435	$87,439	29
18	Punta Gorda	$56,308	$27.08	$38,200	$76,378	290
19	Lakeland	$55,903	$26.88	$36,868	$75,225	1,120
20	Coral Springs	$55,602	$26.73	$35,557	$86,183	34
21	Pembroke Pines	$55,096	$26.48	$34,488	$85,399	40
22	Gainesville	$54,907	$26.40	$35,576	$74,208	480
23	Doral	$54,667	$26.29	$35,988	$83,777	16
24	Largo	$54,411	$26.16	$35,402	$82,862	12
25	Davie	$54,333	$26.12	$37,023	$84,217	18
26	Hollywood	$54,224	$26.07	$36,833	$84,047	37
27	Delray Beach	$54,074	$26.00	$34,635	$83,814	15
28	Miramar	$53,972	$25.94	$36,216	$83,656	21
29	Palm Coast	$53,932	$25.93	$34,317	$83,595	12
30	Boca Raton	$53,805	$25.87	$34,029	$83,398	17
31	Cutler Bay	$53,608	$25.78	$36,403	$81,677	10
32	Boynton Beach	$53,561	$25.75	$33,484	$81,952	12
33	Winter Park	$53,483	$25.72	$36,163	$81,370	7
34	Leesburg	$53,475	$25.71	$34,308	$79,448	4
35	North Miami	$53,450	$25.70	$33,237	$81,560	11
36	Port Orange	$53,434	$25.69	$33,149	$82,822	10
37	Jupiter	$53,360	$25.65	$32,983	$82,708	14
38	Miami Gardens	$53,331	$25.64	$34,855	$82,664	21
39	Plantation	$53,232	$25.59	$36,958	$82,509	15
40	Aventura	$53,219	$25.58	$35,486	$78,401	8
41	Royal Palm Beach	$53,207	$25.58	$35,513	$80,405	6
42	Pompano Beach	$53,161	$25.56	$34,484	$82,400	28
43	Homestead	$53,151	$25.55	$36,772	$82,383	14
44	Key West	$53,140	$25.55	$35,132	$78,293	4
45	Tamarac	$53,035	$25.50	$36,509	$82,205	11
46	Apopka	$53,023	$25.49	$36,534	$82,186	8
47	Oviedo	$52,972	$25.47	$34,964	$82,107	10
48	Tallahassee	$52,954	$25.46	$35,151	$72,295	620
49	Pinellas Park	$52,933	$25.45	$36,113	$82,046	13
50	Deerfield Beach	$52,894	$25.43	$34,645	$81,986	12
51	Estero	$52,734	$25.35	$34,356	$81,739	6
52	Wellington	$52,715	$25.34	$35,782	$81,707	10
53	St. Cloud	$52,715	$25.34	$35,782	$81,707	11
54	Coconut Creek	$52,595	$25.29	$35,567	$81,523	11
55	Altamonte Springs	$52,537	$25.26	$33,735	$78,088	9
56	Lauderhill	$52,532	$25.26	$35,422	$81,424	19
57	Sunrise	$52,407	$25.20	$34,929	$81,231	23
58	Palm Beach Gardens	$52,403	$25.20	$34,920	$81,225	9
59	Margate	$52,387	$25.19	$34,882	$81,178	13
60	North Lauderdale	$52,320	$25.16	$33,457	$77,214	7
61	Haines City	$52,320	$25.16	$33,457	$80,567	5
62	DeLand	$52,294	$25.15	$37,491	$80,479	7
63	Bonita Springs	$52,241	$25.11	$34,718	$80,973	13
64	Winter Garden	$52,018	$25.01	$37,061	$79,521	10
65	Clermont	$51,989	$25.00	$36,991	$79,420	11
66	Sanford	$51,755	$24.89	$33,514	$79,015	16
67	Dunedin	$51,688	$24.85	$36,068	$78,382	6
68	Winter Springs	$51,663	$24.83	$36,228	$78,297	8
69	Ocoee	$51,650	$24.83	$36,199	$78,253	10
70	Oakland Park	$51,478	$24.75	$35,799	$77,537	6
71	North Miami Beach	$51,232	$24.63	$35,229	$78,637	11
72	Plant City	$51,047	$24.54	$34,591	$78,005	7
73	Panama City	$50,893	$24.47	$36,266	$74,791	450
74	Orlando	$50,754	$24.40	$37,499	$76,773	5,140
75	Wildwood	$50,518	$24.28	$37,144	$77,000	200
76	Clearwater	$50,180	$24.13	$31,033	$77,780	19
77	Kissimmee	$49,916	$23.99	$33,575	$77,369	20
78	Tampa	$49,847	$23.97	$39,077	$74,268	6,090
79	Sebastian	$49,779	$23.93	$36,799	$74,169	340
80	St. Petersburg	$49,578	$23.84	$32,649	$76,847	42
81	Deltona	$48,615	$23.37	$36,927	$73,292	820
82	Ocala	$48,348	$23.25	$34,846	$73,785	600
83	Crestview	$48,141	$23.15	$37,085	$74,041	570
84	Ormond Beach	$47,866	$23.02	$33,331	$72,149	7
85	Daytona Beach	$47,784	$22.98	$32,099	$74,065	14
86	Homosassa Springs	$46,820	$22.51	$37,223	$72,887	170
87	Sebring	$44,107	$21.21	$32,824	$61,544	170

More Florida Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer hourly pay in Florida cities.

Sarasota →Naples →West Palm Beach →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.

Sarasota →Naples →West Palm Beach →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.

Sarasota →Naples →West Palm Beach →

Compare Cities in Florida

Miami, FLvsTampa, FL Miami, FLvsOrlando, FL Miami, FLvsJacksonville, FL Miami, FLvsCape Coral, FL Tampa, FLvsOrlando, FL Miami, FLvsNorth Port, FL

View all comparisons →

Explore More Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in Florida in 2026?

The average median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary in Florida is $54,319/year across 87 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $44,107 in Sebring to $59,125 in Sarasota. This makes Florida 9.73% below the national median of $60,174. The state employs approximately 38,278 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.

What is the highest paying city for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Florida?

Sarasota offers the highest heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary in Florida at $59,125/year ($28.43/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sarasota ($59,125), Naples ($58,724), West Palm Beach ($58,534). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for hvac services, and competition among employers for licensed heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.

How does Florida heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer pay compare to the national average?

Florida's average heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary of $54,319 is 9.73% below the national median of $60,174 in 2026. The state employs approximately 38,278 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers across 87 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary in Florida?

Entry-level heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (10th percentile) in Florida earn approximately $37,835/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $31,033 in lower-paying areas to $39,442 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers are employed in Florida?

Florida employs approximately 38,278 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers across 87 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Florida one of the larger employers of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the hvac field expands and the population ages.

Which Florida city offers the best value for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers?

When adjusted for cost of living, Wildwood offers the highest purchasing power for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Florida, with an adjusted salary of $59,138 (nominal: $50,518, CoL index: 85.424). This means your dollar goes 17% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

Written by Jordan Lee, HVAC Technician

Career Analyst

Jordan has 10 years of experience in HVAC systems. He specializes in residential installation and maintenance.

Clinically reviewed by Maria Gonzalez, HVAC InstructorData verified by David Patel, HVAC Supervisor

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary 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 each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer compensation across Florida. State averages are employment-weighted across 87 metro areas — larger metro areas with more heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). 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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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