Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary in El Centro, CA
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in the El Centro, CA metro area earn a median of $75,220 a year ($36.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $111,110 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $61,010. Pay here is 4% higher than the California statewide median of $72,560. There are 1.8 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $77,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in El Centro, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,370 | $22.78 |
| 25th percentile | $59,960 | $28.83 |
| Median | $75,220 | $36.16 |
| 75th percentile | $95,910 | $46.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $111,110 | $53.42 |
| Average (mean) | $77,740 | $37.38 |
Half of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,268.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,134.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,893.08 |
| Weekly | $1,446.54 |
| Hourly | $36.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $75,220 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $84,570 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $82,050 | 1,740 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $79,510 | 560 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,640 | 260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $78,490 | 3,980 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $78,330 | 210 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $75,710 | 390 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $75,160 | 200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $74,880 | 3,210 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $73,830 | 10,720 |
| Salinas, CA | $72,550 | 300 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $69,710 | 750 |
| Vallejo, CA | $67,950 | 490 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $66,670 | 2,940 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $66,400 | 680 |
| Visalia, CA | $64,990 | 330 |
| Modesto, CA | $64,760 | 470 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $64,300 | 4,820 |
| Merced, CA | $64,040 | 190 |
| Redding, CA | $63,020 | 160 |
| Chico, CA | $62,920 | 120 |
| Yuba City, CA | $62,850 | 90 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $62,670 | 80 |
| Fresno, CA | $62,580 | 1,300 |
Highest-paying states for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $84,390 |
| Alaska | $77,430 |
| Illinois | $77,410 |
| Massachusetts | $77,300 |
| Connecticut | $76,610 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 |
| Washington | $75,660 |
| North Dakota | $74,490 |
| New Jersey | $74,450 |
| New York | $74,430 |
See Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in El Centro, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $47,870 | $23.02 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $75,890 | $36.48 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other | $39,550 | $19.01 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $134,950 | $64.88 |
| Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | $101,650 | $48.87 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $54,330 | $26.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $80,640 | $38.77 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | $70,360 | $33.83 |
| Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $70,710 | $33.99 |
| Tire Repairers and Changers | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairers | $68,410 | $32.89 |
| Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | $89,600 | $43.08 |
More: Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations · all salaries in El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 49-9021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in El Centro, CA?
The median salary for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the El Centro, CA metro area is $75,220 a year, or $36.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $111,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers make in El Centro, CA?
The top 10% of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the El Centro, CA metro area earn at least $111,110 a year. The top 25% earn $95,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in El Centro, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,370 a year, and a quarter of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn $59,960 or less.
How many heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers work in El Centro, CA?
About 120 heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers are employed in the El Centro, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.