Jobs Similar to Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Also called: HVAC Mechanics
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: $61,010 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | 83% | $109,910+80% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 81% | $63,800+5% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | 80% | $56,210−8% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorSame group | 79% | $74,340+22% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Solar Photovoltaic Installers | 78% | $53,140−13% | High school |
| 6 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersSame group | 78% | $39,630−35% | High school |
| 7 | Geothermal TechniciansSame group | 78% | $49,230Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 8 | Rail Car Repairers | 78% | $67,530+11% | High school |
| 9 | Helpers--Electricians | 78% | $42,670−30% | High school |
| 10 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | 78% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 11 | Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralSame group | 78% | $49,590−19% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | 78% | $50,620−17% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 77% | $74,090+21% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | 77% | $63,890+5% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | 77% | $65,510+7% | Training or associate |
| 16 | MillwrightsSame group | 77% | $65,700+8% | High school |
| 17 | Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians | 77% | $52,000−15% | High school |
| 18 | Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers | 76% | $60,070−2% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersSame group | 76% | $95,320+56% | High school |
| 20 | Industrial Machinery MechanicsSame group | 76% | $64,520+6% | Training or associate |
- 1Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
83% similar · $109,910 (+80%) · Training or associate
- 2Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
81% similar · $63,800 (+5%) · Training or associate
- 3Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
80% similar · $56,210 (−8%) · Training or associate
- 4Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
79% similar · $74,340 (+22%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 5Solar Photovoltaic Installers
78% similar · $53,140 (−13%) · High school
- 6Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
78% similar · $39,630 (−35%) · High school · Same group
- 7Geothermal Technicians
78% similar · $49,230 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 8Rail Car Repairers
78% similar · $67,530 (+11%) · High school
- 9Helpers--Electricians
78% similar · $42,670 (−30%) · High school
- 10Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
78% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 11Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
78% similar · $49,590 (−19%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 12Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
78% similar · $50,620 (−17%) · Training or associate
- 13Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
77% similar · $74,090 (+21%) · Training or associate
- 14Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers
77% similar · $63,890 (+5%) · Training or associate
- 15Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
77% similar · $65,510 (+7%) · Training or associate
- 16Millwrights
77% similar · $65,700 (+8%) · High school · Same group
- 17Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians
77% similar · $52,000 (−15%) · High school
- 18Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
76% similar · $60,070 (−2%) · Training or associate
- 19Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
76% similar · $95,320 (+56%) · High school · Same group
- 20Industrial Machinery Mechanics
76% similar · $64,520 (+6%) · Training or associate · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers.
- Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers83% similar · $109,910 (+80%)
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers76% similar · $95,320 (+56%)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door79% similar · $74,340 (+22%)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment77% similar · $74,090 (+21%)
- Rail Car Repairers78% similar · $67,530 (+11%)
- Millwrights77% similar · $65,700 (+8%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers78% similar · High school
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers78% similar · High school
- Geothermal Technicians78% similar · High school
- Rail Car Repairers78% similar · High school
- Helpers--Electricians78% similar · High school
- Millwrights77% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (88)
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians (81)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (80)
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (78)
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians (78)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (77)
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers (77)
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers (77)
- Photonics Technicians (76)
- Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians (76)
Questions about jobs like heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
What jobs are most similar to heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers (83% similar), Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (81% similar), Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (80% similar), Control and Valve Installers and Repairers (79% similar) and Solar Photovoltaic Installers (78% similar).
Which jobs like heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers ($109,910, +80%; usually training or an associate degree), Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers ($95,320, +56%; usually a high school diploma) and Control and Valve Installers and Repairers ($74,340, +22%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers ($61,010). Without more preparation than heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers usually need: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers, Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers and Control and Valve Installers and Repairers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.