Also called: HVAC Mechanics
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers build operations monitoring, troubleshooting and repairing skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (91%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 91% | $63,800 | +5% | None |
| 2 | Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | 87% | $56,210 | −8% | None |
| 3 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 86% | $78,620 | +29% | None |
| 4 | Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | 83% | $109,910 | +80% | None |
| 5 | Boilermakers | 79% | $76,410 | +25% | None |
| 6 | Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | 78% | $84,890 | +39% | None |
| 7 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | 78% | $102,040Pay for the broader BLS group “Power Plant Operators” | Not compared | None |
| 8 | Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians | 78% | $63,800Pay for the broader BLS group “Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | 77% | $50,620 | −17% | None |
| 10 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 77% | $74,090 | +21% | None |
Compared with Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, median $61,010. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
91% skill match · $63,800 · +5% pay
87% skill match · $56,210 · −8% pay
Quality Control Analysis · Repairing · Equipment Maintenance
86% skill match · $78,620 · +29% pay
Negotiation · Operation and Control · Operations Monitoring
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (91% skill match, median $63,800), Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (87% skill match, median $56,210) and Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (86% skill match, median $78,620), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 16 pay more than heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers at the median. The biggest increases: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers (+80%, $109,910), Ship Engineers (+80%, $109,530) and Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment (+39%, $84,890).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.