Career Paths From Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersCareer Change93.8% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 5% higher.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$63,800
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related RepairersLateral Move90.5% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 8% lower.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$56,210
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsLateral Move93.9% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 17% lower.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$50,620
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Ship EngineersCareer Change91.7% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Ship Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Ship Engineers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 80% higher.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$109,530
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Elevator and Escalator Installers and RepairersCareer Change90% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 80% higher.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$109,910
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Solar Photovoltaic InstallersCareer Change89.5% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Solar Photovoltaic Installers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Solar Photovoltaic Installers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 13% lower.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$53,140
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansCareer Change92.6% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 28% higher.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$78,190
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Audiovisual Equipment Installers and RepairersLateral Move92.4% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 14% lower.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$52,600
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and RepairersLateral Move90.9% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% higher.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$63,520
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesLateral Move88.9% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 7% higher.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$65,510
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Signal and Track Switch RepairersLateral Move86.5% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Signal and Track Switch Repairers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (87% match). Signal and Track Switch Repairers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 52% higher.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$92,460
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersLateral Move87.1% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (87% match). Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 35% lower.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$39,630
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansLateral Move86.4% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (86% match). Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 7% lower.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$56,550
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersCareer Change88.5% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 7% higher.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$65,380
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
MillwrightsLateral Move92.7% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Millwrights share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Millwrights sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 8% higher.
Current median salary
$61,010
Target median salary
$65,700
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.