SalaryByCity

Civil Engineers vs Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Civil Engineers

$99,590

Median annual salary

355,410 employed nationally

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

$59,810

Median annual salary

396,870 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Civil Engineers professionals earn $39,780 more per year than Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals — that's 66.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Civil Engineers earns $160,990 compared to $91,020 for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers.

Salary Range Comparison

Civil Engineers$65,920 – $160,990
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
$39,130$160,990

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileCivil EngineersHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersDifference
10th Percentile$65,920$39,130+$26,790
25th Percentile$78,790$47,850+$30,940
Median (50th)$99,590$59,810+$39,780
75th Percentile$128,290$74,820+$53,470
90th Percentile$160,990$91,020+$69,970
Mean (Average)$107,050$62,690+$44,360

Employment Numbers

Civil Engineers

355,410

employed nationwide

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

396,870

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Civil Engineers

CityMedian
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$130,310
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$129,260
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$126,560
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$109,250
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$108,010

Best Cities for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$83,980
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$77,600
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$76,760
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$76,090
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$75,500

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Civil Engineers or Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Civil Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $39,780 (66.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Civil Engineers?
Civil Engineers salaries range from $65,920 (10th percentile) to $160,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $99,590.
What is the salary range for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salaries range from $39,130 (10th percentile) to $91,020 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,810.
How many Civil Engineers and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers jobs are there?
There are approximately 355,410 Civil Engineers positions and 396,870 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers to Civil Engineers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Civil Engineers has a median salary of $99,590 while Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earns $59,810. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS