Fridge Jobs field guide
Compare all 50 states using the May 2025 BLS statewide estimates for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers. These are worker wages, not posted refrigeration pay.
All 50 states, ranked by median hourly wage
May 2025 OEWS data, published by BLS in May 2026. The occupation is SOC 49-9021, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers. The 25th–75th range and estimated employment are statewide. Employment counts workers, not current openings. This combined occupation does not isolate commercial or industrial refrigeration roles.
On a phone, swipe the table to see the range, worker estimate, and source.
| Rank | State | Median/hour | 25th–75th/hour | Estimated workers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $37.23 | $28.22–$49.12 | 610 | BLS source |
| 2 | Illinois | $37.21 | $28.94–$46.17 | 9,740 | BLS source |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $37.16 | $29.36–$45.71 | 8,200 | BLS source |
| 4 | Connecticut | $36.83 | $29.02–$41.66 | 3,800 | BLS source |
| 5 | Minnesota | $36.71 | $28.30–$41.92 | 4,200 | BLS source |
| 6 | Washington | $36.38 | $28.93–$45.18 | 7,370 | BLS source |
| 7 | North Dakota | $35.81 | $27.29–$37.94 | 970 | BLS source |
| 8 | New Jersey | $35.79 | $27.26–$46.59 | 10,330 | BLS source |
| 9 | New York | $35.78 | $28.71–$42.37 | 24,430 | BLS source |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $35.51 | $28.63–$38.51 | 2,560 | BLS source |
| 11 | California | $34.88 | $28.02–$43.65 | 35,130 | BLS source |
| 12 | Maryland | $33.67 | $27.06–$46.05 | 8,560 | BLS source |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $32.39 | $23.44–$39.23 | 1,450 | BLS source |
| 14 | Hawaii | $31.47 | $26.75–$37.11 | 1,300 | BLS source |
| 15 | Colorado | $31.35 | $27.91–$39.43 | 8,940 | BLS source |
| 16 | Maine | $30.37 | $27.52–$36.98 | 2,250 | BLS source |
| 17 | Oregon | $30.26 | $27.09–$37.93 | 3,980 | BLS source |
| 18 | Ohio | $30.06 | $23.27–$37.59 | 14,150 | BLS source |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $30.00 | $24.44–$35.88 | 15,880 | BLS source |
| 20 | Delaware | $29.96 | $25.51–$36.89 | 1,730 | BLS source |
| 21 | Vermont | $29.88 | $28.27–$36.13 | 970 | BLS source |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $29.67 | $24.44–$38.03 | 6,630 | BLS source |
| 23 | South Dakota | $29.51 | $24.75–$31.70 | 1,610 | BLS source |
| 24 | Michigan | $29.26 | $23.09–$37.40 | 12,590 | BLS source |
| 25 | Montana | $29.26 | $23.15–$36.44 | 1,230 | BLS source |
| 26 | Iowa | $29.17 | $23.34–$36.51 | 3,840 | BLS source |
| 27 | Nevada | $29.09 | $23.26–$36.82 | 4,170 | BLS source |
| 28 | Kansas | $29.07 | $23.57–$35.02 | 3,770 | BLS source |
| 29 | Indiana | $29.05 | $23.33–$38.09 | 8,530 | BLS source |
| 30 | Missouri | $28.82 | $22.61–$35.87 | 7,220 | BLS source |
| 31 | Nebraska | $28.77 | $22.96–$35.66 | 3,020 | BLS source |
| 32 | Virginia | $28.72 | $23.03–$35.31 | 14,690 | BLS source |
| 33 | Arizona | $28.56 | $22.68–$35.49 | 10,860 | BLS source |
| 34 | Utah | $28.24 | $22.75–$34.60 | 5,580 | BLS source |
| 35 | Louisiana | $28.20 | $21.62–$31.73 | 5,380 | BLS source |
| 36 | Kentucky | $28.18 | $22.97–$32.47 | 5,100 | BLS source |
| 37 | Texas | $27.77 | $22.50–$33.59 | 34,730 | BLS source |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $27.67 | $21.25–$34.67 | 5,650 | BLS source |
| 39 | North Carolina | $27.53 | $22.52–$30.92 | 15,230 | BLS source |
| 40 | Florida | $27.24 | $22.51–$30.59 | 39,160 | BLS source |
| 41 | South Carolina | $27.22 | $22.39–$30.28 | 6,920 | BLS source |
| 42 | Georgia | $27.11 | $22.24–$31.82 | 12,290 | BLS source |
| 43 | Idaho | $27.04 | $22.71–$32.23 | 4,550 | BLS source |
| 44 | Tennessee | $26.68 | $22.59–$31.53 | 9,740 | BLS source |
| 45 | Wyoming | $26.30 | $21.42–$29.11 | 690 | BLS source |
| 46 | New Mexico | $24.17 | $21.71–$30.24 | 1,950 | BLS source |
| 47 | West Virginia | $23.49 | $18.46–$29.23 | 1,690 | BLS source |
| 48 | Mississippi | $23.41 | $19.05–$29.51 | 2,700 | BLS source |
| 49 | Alabama | $23.26 | $19.39–$28.86 | 8,260 | BLS source |
| 50 | Arkansas | $23.13 | $20.59–$28.73 | 4,960 | BLS source |
Use the table for a job decision
- Open the state source and compare the exact geography with the posting location.
- Read the posting for equipment, schedule, travel, license, and on-call terms.
- Compare the written offer with local costs; the statewide median is not a promised rate.