SalaryByCity

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers vs Pharmacy Technicians: 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

Pharmacy Technicians

$43,460

Median annual salary

487,920 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals earn $16,350 more per year than Pharmacy Technicians professionals — that's 37.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earns $91,020 compared to $59,450 for Pharmacy Technicians.

Salary Range Comparison

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
Pharmacy Technicians$35,100 – $59,450
$35,100$91,020

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPharmacy TechniciansDifference
10th Percentile$39,130$35,100+$4,030
25th Percentile$47,850$36,920+$10,930
Median (50th)$59,810$43,460+$16,350
75th Percentile$74,820$48,580+$26,240
90th Percentile$91,020$59,450+$31,570
Mean (Average)$62,690$44,800+$17,890

Employment Numbers

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

396,870

employed nationwide

Pharmacy Technicians

487,920

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 Pharmacy Technicians

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$70,740
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$61,990
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$59,960
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$55,810
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$54,740

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers or Pharmacy Technicians?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $16,350 (37.6% 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 Pharmacy Technicians?
Pharmacy Technicians salaries range from $35,100 (10th percentile) to $59,450 (90th percentile), with a median of $43,460.
How many Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Pharmacy Technicians jobs are there?
There are approximately 396,870 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers positions and 487,920 Pharmacy Technicians positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Pharmacy Technicians 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 Pharmacy Technicians earns $43,460. 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