SalaryByCity

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers vs Registered Nurses: 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

Registered Nurses

$93,600

Median annual salary

3,282,010 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Registered Nurses professionals earn $33,790 more per year than Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals — that's 56.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earns $91,020 compared to $135,320 for Registered Nurses.

Salary Range Comparison

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
Registered Nurses$66,030 – $135,320
$39,130$135,320

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersRegistered NursesDifference
10th Percentile$39,130$66,030$-26,900
25th Percentile$47,850$78,610$-30,760
Median (50th)$59,810$93,600$-33,790
75th Percentile$74,820$107,960$-33,140
90th Percentile$91,020$135,320$-44,300
Mean (Average)$62,690$98,430$-35,740

Employment Numbers

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

396,870

employed nationwide

Registered Nurses

3,282,010

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 Registered Nurses

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$208,940
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$188,020
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$169,210
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$133,440
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$133,090

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers or Registered Nurses?
Registered Nurses professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $33,790 (56.5% 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 Registered Nurses?
Registered Nurses salaries range from $66,030 (10th percentile) to $135,320 (90th percentile), with a median of $93,600.
How many Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Registered Nurses jobs are there?
There are approximately 396,870 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers positions and 3,282,010 Registered Nurses positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Registered Nurses 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 Registered Nurses earns $93,600. 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