SalaryByCity

Electrical 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.

Electrical Engineers

$111,910

Median annual salary

188,790 employed nationally

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

$59,810

Median annual salary

396,870 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Electrical Engineers professionals earn $52,100 more per year than Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals — that's 87.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Electrical Engineers earns $175,460 compared to $91,020 for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers.

Salary Range Comparison

Electrical Engineers$74,670 – $175,460
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
$39,130$175,460

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileElectrical EngineersHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersDifference
10th Percentile$74,670$39,130+$35,540
25th Percentile$87,590$47,850+$39,740
Median (50th)$111,910$59,810+$52,100
75th Percentile$141,630$74,820+$66,810
90th Percentile$175,460$91,020+$84,440
Mean (Average)$120,980$62,690+$58,290

Employment Numbers

Electrical Engineers

188,790

employed nationwide

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

396,870

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Electrical Engineers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$186,920
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$163,840
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$136,820
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$135,480
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$134,900

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: Electrical Engineers or Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Electrical Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $52,100 (87.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Electrical Engineers?
Electrical Engineers salaries range from $74,670 (10th percentile) to $175,460 (90th percentile), with a median of $111,910.
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 Electrical Engineers and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers jobs are there?
There are approximately 188,790 Electrical 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 Electrical Engineers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Electrical Engineers has a median salary of $111,910 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