SalaryByCity

Childcare Workers vs Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Childcare Workers

$32,050

Median annual salary

520,180 employed nationally

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

$59,810

Median annual salary

396,870 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals earn $27,760 more per year than Childcare Workers professionals — that's 86.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Childcare Workers earns $44,560 compared to $91,020 for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers.

Salary Range Comparison

Childcare Workers$22,900 – $44,560
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
$22,900$91,020

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileChildcare WorkersHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersDifference
10th Percentile$22,900$39,130$-16,230
25th Percentile$28,000$47,850$-19,850
Median (50th)$32,050$59,810$-27,760
75th Percentile$36,960$74,820$-37,860
90th Percentile$44,560$91,020$-46,460
Mean (Average)$33,140$62,690$-29,550

Employment Numbers

Childcare Workers

520,180

employed nationwide

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

396,870

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Childcare Workers

CityMedian
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$44,970
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$43,640
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$40,180
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$39,290
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$38,720

Best Cities for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$83,980
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$77,600
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$76,760
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$76,090
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$75,500

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Childcare Workers or Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $27,760 (86.6% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Childcare Workers?
Childcare Workers salaries range from $22,900 (10th percentile) to $44,560 (90th percentile), with a median of $32,050.
What is the salary range for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salaries range from $39,130 (10th percentile) to $91,020 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,810.
How many Childcare Workers and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers jobs are there?
There are approximately 520,180 Childcare Workers positions and 396,870 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers to Childcare Workers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Childcare Workers has a median salary of $32,050 while Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earns $59,810. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS