Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers vs Personal Financial Advisors: 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
Which Career Pays More?
Personal Financial Advisors professionals earn $42,330 more per year than Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals — that's 70.8% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
Personal Financial Advisors$49,990 – N/A
$39,130$91,020
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | Personal Financial Advisors | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $39,130 | $49,990 | $-10,860 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,850 | $70,620 | $-22,770 |
| Median (50th) | $59,810 | $102,140 | $-42,330 |
| 75th Percentile | $74,820 | $172,540 | $-97,720 |
| 90th Percentile | $91,020 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $62,690 | $160,210 | $-97,520 |
Employment Numbers
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
396,870
employed nationwide
Personal Financial Advisors
270,480
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| 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 Personal Financial Advisors
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $168,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $157,510 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $128,400 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $126,690 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $126,480 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers or Personal Financial Advisors?
Personal Financial Advisors professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $42,330 (70.8% 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 Personal Financial Advisors?
Personal Financial Advisors salaries range from $49,990 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $102,140.
How many Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers and Personal Financial Advisors jobs are there?
There are approximately 396,870 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers positions and 270,480 Personal Financial Advisors positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Personal Financial Advisors 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 Personal Financial Advisors earns $102,140. 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