Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an HVAC Mechanic in California is $69,000 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.
However, an HVAC Mechanic's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
Smart Recruiting
HVAC Mechanic Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $75,062 | $6,255 | $1,444 | $36 |
| Average | $69,000 | $5,750 | $1,327 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,357 | $5,196 | $1,199 | $30 |
West Valley - Mission Community College District - Saratoga, CA
Epsilon Systems - Port Hueneme, CA
California Institute of Technology - Pasadena, CA
Santa Clara University - Santa Clara, CA
An HVAC Mechanic's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract HVAC Mechanics. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
For HVAC Mechanic roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 67% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, HVAC Mechanic positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view HVAC Mechanic as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet | $86,250 | $41.0 | 25% |
| Energy & Utilities | $82,800 | $40.0 | 20% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $81,420 | $39.0 | 18% |
| Insurance | $75,900 | $36.0 | 10% |
| Healthcare | $74,520 | $36.0 | 8% |
Understanding how an HVAC Mechanic's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $75,062 | $6,255 | $1,444 | $36 |
| Average | $69,000 | $5,750 | $1,327 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,357 | $5,196 | $1,199 | $30 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current HVAC Mechanic job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Southwestern Community College District
Chula Vista, CA
Southwestern Community College District | Chula Vista, CA
HVAC Mechanic. Under the direction of the Maintenance Supervisor, perform skilled mechanical work in repair, inspection, servicing and alteration of Distri... more
7 Days Ago
HKAA
Torrance, CA
HKAA | Torrance, CA
HVAC Facilities Technician. We're looking for a motivated HVAC Facilities Technician to support the operation, maintenance, diagnosis, and repair of commer... more
7 Days Ago
Capital Brand Group, LLC
San Diego, CA
Capital Brand Group, LLC | San Diego, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Capital Brand Group, LLC (CBG) is hiring six (6) HVAC Mechanics — four (4) for the San Diego Sector and two (2) for the E... more
8 Days Ago
Facility Services Inc.
San Diego, CA
Facility Services Inc. | San Diego, CA
HVAC Mechanic. HVAC Mechanic will perform heating, ventilations, and air-conditioning mechanic installation, perform preventive maintenance and repairs env... more
9 Days Ago
SolveNow
Torrance, CA
SolveNow | Torrance, CA
HVAC Mechanic I. Torrance, California, United States. Qualifications. Qualifications. Advanced students of an Applied Technologies HVAC program. EPA Refrig... more
7 Days Ago
Sycuan
El Cajon, CA
Sycuan | El Cajon, CA
Sycuan Tribe Hvac Technician. The ancestors of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation existed many centuries ago as a community of peoplea Tribe living tog... more
9 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
