SalaryByCity

Cooks, Restaurant vs Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Cooks, Restaurant

$36,830

Median annual salary

1,452,130 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 $22,980 more per year than Cooks, Restaurant professionals — that's 62.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Cooks, Restaurant earns $47,340 compared to $91,020 for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers.

Salary Range Comparison

Cooks, Restaurant$28,010 – $47,340
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
$28,010$91,020

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileCooks, RestaurantHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersDifference
10th Percentile$28,010$39,130$-11,120
25th Percentile$31,310$47,850$-16,540
Median (50th)$36,830$59,810$-22,980
75th Percentile$43,610$74,820$-31,210
90th Percentile$47,340$91,020$-43,680
Mean (Average)$37,730$62,690$-24,960

Employment Numbers

Cooks, Restaurant

1,452,130

employed nationwide

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

396,870

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Cooks, Restaurant

CityMedian
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$46,970
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$46,960
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$46,180
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$45,230
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$45,040

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: Cooks, Restaurant 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 $22,980 (62.4% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Cooks, Restaurant?
Cooks, Restaurant salaries range from $28,010 (10th percentile) to $47,340 (90th percentile), with a median of $36,830.
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 Cooks, Restaurant and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,452,130 Cooks, Restaurant 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 Cooks, Restaurant?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Cooks, Restaurant has a median salary of $36,830 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