HVAC Tech Salary

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary in Port St. Lucie, FL: $56,426 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer in Port St. Lucie, FL earns a median $56,426/year (≈ $27.13/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 49-9021). Once you factor in Port St. Lucie's price level (0% above national, BEA RPP 100.2), that paycheck buys what $56,298 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.6% above the Florida state average.

$56,426
Median Annual Salary
$27.13/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$36,927
Entry Level (P10)
$77,246
Top Earners (P90)

Official BLS data · View source

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Salary in Port St. Lucie, FL — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Port St. Lucie, FL heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In Port St. Lucie, the projected median annual salary for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers stands at $56,426 for 2026. This salary reflects a competitive local market when compared to the national median of $60,174, illustrating a slight variance of 6.23%. Professionals in this field can expect salaries to range from $36,927 at the lower end (P10) to as much as $77,246 for the top earners (P90). Derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, these figures highlight the importance of commission structures in residential services that significantly boost compensation through performance-based incentives. Given the growth of the residential sector in Port St. Lucie, there is a notable opportunity for mechanics and installers to leverage additional income through sales and spiffs directly tied to service and installations.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$36,927$17.75
Lower Range (P25)$46,691$22.45
Median (P50)(typical)$56,426$27.13
Upper Range (P75)$63,547$30.55
Top Earners (P90)$77,246$37.14

Median Salary Position

$36,927$77,246
City Median: $56,426
National: $60,174
P10–P90 Range

6.23% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Port St. Lucie

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installers in Port St. Lucie. The median salary is $56,426, compared to the national median of $60,174.$33.2K$45.2K$57.2K$69.1K$81.1K$36.9K10th Pctl$46.7K25th Pctl$56.4KMedian$63.5K75th Pctl$77.2K90th PctlUS Median$60.2K

In Port St. Lucie, FL, the heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $40,319 (2026 est.). At $56,426, the local median is 6.23% below the national median of $60,174.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer pay in the Port St. Lucie metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$1,085
per week
$4,702
per month
$56,427
per year

At 40 hours/week in Port St. Lucie: You'd be in the lower-middle range

How Port St. Lucie Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Pay Compares

Port St. Lucie median: $56,426/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryPort St. Lucie Pays
Florida Average$53,945+4.60% more
National Average$60,174-6.23% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer median salary in Port St. Lucie ($56,426) with Florida average ($53,945) and the US national median ($60,174).Port St. Lucie$56,426Florida Avg$53,945+4.60%US National$60,174-6.23%

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installers in Port St. Lucie, FL earn a median of $56,426 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.23% lower than the national median of $60,174 and 4.60% above the Florida state average of $53,945.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$56,426
Nominal Salary
100.228
CoL Index
$56,298
Adjusted Salary

Port St. Lucie has a cost of living 0.23% above the national average.

Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $56,426. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 100.228, the purchasing-power equivalent is $56,298, a loss of $128.$47.9K$53.2K$58.5K$63.9K$69.2K$56,426NominalSalary$56,298CoL Adjusted(CoL: 100.228) -0.23%US Median $60.2K

Port St. Lucie, FL has a cost-of-living index of 100.228 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $56,426 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $56,298 — a 0.23% reduction.

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2019 BLS Actual

$35,900

2025 BLS Actual

$54,350

2026 Current Est.

$56,426

2019–2027 Growth

+63.2%

Salary Trajectory for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Port St. Lucie (20192027)

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

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in Port St. Lucie. Baseline $35,900 in 2025, projected to $58,582 by 2027.$26.1K$35.6K$45.1K$54.5K$64.0K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$35.9K$31.5K$46.2K$46.0K$47.8K$49.8K$54.4K$56.4K$58.6K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$35,900Actual
2020$31,530Actual
2021$46,230Actual
2022$45,980Actual
2023$47,790Actual
2024$49,780Actual
2025$54,350Actual
2026(current)$56,426Estimated
2027$58,582Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Port St. Lucie metropolitan area, the median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary grew 51.4% from $35,900 (2019) to $54,350 (2025). At a 3.82% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,582 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,682 (63.18%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Port St. Lucie metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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.

Salary by Experience Level

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$36,927$46,691
3-5 years (Mid Career)$46,691$56,426
5+ years (Experienced)$56,426$63,547
10+ years (Top Earner)$63,547$77,246

HACR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer Job Market in Port St. Lucie

With around 830 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers employed in the area, Port St. Lucie presents a robust job market for professionals in this trade. The local cost-of-living index of 100.228 indicates that while salaries may be slightly lower than the national average, they maintain sufficient purchasing power amidst the rising living expenses. Employers such as Carrier dealers, Trane Comfort Specialists, and multi-location franchises like One Hour Heating & Air offer some of the higher pay rates; however, specialized knowledge in areas like commercial controls or data center precision cooling can further enhance earning potential. The variability in compensation can largely be attributed to specialty skills, on-call rotation premiums, and brand-specific certifications such as NATE. For those entering this field in Port St. Lucie, focusing on building a well-rounded skill set, obtaining relevant certifications, and understanding the nuances of commission-driven roles will be essential strategies for maximizing pay and career growth in a competitive market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in Port St. Lucie, FL in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary in Port St. Lucie is $56,426/year ($27.13/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 3.82% annual growth). Salaries range from $36,927 at entry level (10th percentile) to $77,246 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Port St. Lucie at 6.2% below the national median. Full-time heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Port St. Lucie, FL a good place to work as a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer?

Port St. Lucie heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salaries are 6.2% below the national average and 4.6% above the Florida state average. The metro area employs approximately 830 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers. With a cost-of-living index of 100.228, you should factor in higher living costs when evaluating compensation. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make $100K in Port St. Lucie?

The median heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary in Port St. Lucie is $56,426, and the 90th percentile earns $77,246. Reaching $100K in this market typically requires a combination of advanced certifications, working at multiple practices, or transitioning into education or consulting roles.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer salary in Port St. Lucie?

After adjusting for Port St. Lucie's cost-of-living index of 100.228 (where 100 equals the national average), the $56,426 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $56,298 in an average-cost city. This means living costs in Port St. Lucie reduce the effective value of your salary by 0.2% compared to the national average — consider negotiating higher base pay or exploring nearby lower-cost metros.

How much does a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanic and installer make per hour in Port St. Lucie?

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Port St. Lucie earn a median hourly rate of $27.13, which translates to approximately $56,426/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $17.75 for entry-level positions to $37.14 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

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JL

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

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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $54,350 for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installersin the Port St. Lucie metropolitan area. A 3.82% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.

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

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