Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $80,240 +34.2% vs national
Median hourly $38.58
10th percentile $48,370
90th percentile $128,170
Employed locally 190
National median $59,810

Compare Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary & buying power

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Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
in
Santa Cruz, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $48,370
    25th
    $60,890
    50th (median)
    $80,240
    75th
    $97,230
    90th
    $128,170

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary vs area income 73% Median Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary is 27% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Anchorage, AK $96,610
    Fairbanks-College, AK $84,230
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $83,980
    Alaska $83,660
    District of Columbia $83,390
    Longview-Kelso, WA $80,890

    Nearby metros — Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $83,980
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $77,600
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $76,760
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $74,890
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $74,400
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $72,180

    Related occupations in Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $48,870
    Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $66,170
    First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $79,290
    Industrial Machinery Mechanics $70,150
    Automotive Body and Related Repairers $61,290
    Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other $50,960

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Santa Cruz, CA is $38.58, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $55.67 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salaries?

    The median Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 34.2% above the national median of $59,810. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (10th percentile) earn around $48,370 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $60,890.