Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers vs Lawyers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
$59,810
Median annual salary
396,870 employed nationally
Which Career Pays More?
Lawyers professionals earn $91,350 more per year than Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals — that's 152.7% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
Lawyers$72,780 – N/A
$39,130$91,020
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | Lawyers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $39,130 | $72,780 | $-33,650 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,850 | $99,760 | $-51,910 |
| Median (50th) | $59,810 | $151,160 | $-91,350 |
| 75th Percentile | $74,820 | $215,420 | $-140,600 |
| 90th Percentile | $91,020 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $62,690 | $182,760 | $-120,070 |
Employment Numbers
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
396,870
employed nationwide
Lawyers
747,750
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Best Cities for Lawyers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $215,090 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $205,900 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $203,450 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $194,740 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $191,880 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers or Lawyers?
Lawyers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $91,350 (152.7% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
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.
What is the salary range for Lawyers?
Lawyers salaries range from $72,780 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $151,160.
How many Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Lawyers jobs are there?
There are approximately 396,870 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers positions and 747,750 Lawyers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Lawyers to Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers has a median salary of $59,810 while Lawyers earns $151,160. 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