SalaryByCity

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers vs Industrial Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

$59,810

Median annual salary

396,870 employed nationally

Industrial Engineers

$101,140

Median annual salary

350,230 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Industrial Engineers professionals earn $41,330 more per year than Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals — that's 69.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earns $91,020 compared to $157,140 for Industrial Engineers.

Salary Range Comparison

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
Industrial Engineers$70,000 – $157,140
$39,130$157,140

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersIndustrial EngineersDifference
10th Percentile$39,130$70,000$-30,870
25th Percentile$47,850$81,910$-34,060
Median (50th)$59,810$101,140$-41,330
75th Percentile$74,820$127,480$-52,660
90th Percentile$91,020$157,140$-66,120
Mean (Average)$62,690$107,900$-45,210

Employment Numbers

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

396,870

employed nationwide

Industrial Engineers

350,230

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

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

Best Cities for Industrial Engineers

CityMedian
New Orleans-Metairie, LA$139,130
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$136,290
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$133,790
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$126,530
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$126,310

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers or Industrial Engineers?
Industrial Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $41,330 (69.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
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.
What is the salary range for Industrial Engineers?
Industrial Engineers salaries range from $70,000 (10th percentile) to $157,140 (90th percentile), with a median of $101,140.
How many Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Industrial Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 396,870 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers positions and 350,230 Industrial Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Industrial Engineers to Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers has a median salary of $59,810 while Industrial Engineers earns $101,140. 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