SalaryByCity

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers vs Nurse Practitioners: 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

Nurse Practitioners

$129,210

Median annual salary

307,390 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Nurse Practitioners professionals earn $69,400 more per year than Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals — that's 116.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earns $91,020 compared to $169,950 for Nurse Practitioners.

Salary Range Comparison

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
Nurse Practitioners$97,960 – $169,950
$39,130$169,950

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersNurse PractitionersDifference
10th Percentile$39,130$97,960$-58,830
25th Percentile$47,850$109,940$-62,090
Median (50th)$59,810$129,210$-69,400
75th Percentile$74,820$149,570$-74,750
90th Percentile$91,020$169,950$-78,930
Mean (Average)$62,690$132,000$-69,310

Employment Numbers

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

396,870

employed nationwide

Nurse Practitioners

307,390

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

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

Best Cities for Nurse Practitioners

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$225,730
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$220,330
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$164,520
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$164,510
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$162,470

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers or Nurse Practitioners?
Nurse Practitioners professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $69,400 (116.0% 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 Nurse Practitioners?
Nurse Practitioners salaries range from $97,960 (10th percentile) to $169,950 (90th percentile), with a median of $129,210.
How many Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Nurse Practitioners jobs are there?
There are approximately 396,870 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers positions and 307,390 Nurse Practitioners positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Nurse Practitioners 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 Nurse Practitioners earns $129,210. 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