SalaryByCity

Database Administrators vs Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Database Administrators

$135,980

Median annual salary

64,770 employed nationally

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

$59,810

Median annual salary

396,870 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Database Administrators professionals earn $76,170 more per year than Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals — that's 127.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Database Administrators earns $209,990 compared to $91,020 for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers.

Salary Range Comparison

Database Administrators$81,630 – $209,990
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
$39,130$209,990

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDatabase AdministratorsHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersDifference
10th Percentile$81,630$39,130+$42,500
25th Percentile$107,900$47,850+$60,050
Median (50th)$135,980$59,810+$76,170
75th Percentile$169,480$74,820+$94,660
90th Percentile$209,990$91,020+$118,970
Mean (Average)$142,620$62,690+$79,930

Employment Numbers

Database Administrators

64,770

employed nationwide

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

396,870

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Database Administrators

CityMedian
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$188,120
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$170,700
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$166,210
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$162,310
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$155,880

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: Database Administrators or Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Database Administrators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $76,170 (127.4% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Database Administrators?
Database Administrators salaries range from $81,630 (10th percentile) to $209,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $135,980.
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 Database Administrators and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers jobs are there?
There are approximately 64,770 Database Administrators 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 Database Administrators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Database Administrators has a median salary of $135,980 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