SOC 5225 Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades

Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers Salary

Median salary £41,166 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £41,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers, £41,166 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +5.0% versus the national average.

About this role

Air-conditioning and refrigeration engineers install, maintain, service and repair heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and refrigeration systems in commercial, industrial and residential buildings.

Key responsibilities

Installing HVAC and refrigeration systems
Servicing and maintaining climate control equipment
Diagnosing and repairing system faults
Handling refrigerant gases in compliance with F-gas regulations
Commissioning systems and verifying performance

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires City & Guilds or NVQ qualifications in refrigeration and air conditioning. F-gas certification is legally required for handling fluorinated greenhouse gases. BESA (Building Engineering Services Association) membership is valued.

Career outlook

Strong demand driven by heat pump installations, data centre cooling and F-gas regulation compliance. Skills shortage in the sector creates good employment prospects.

Key skills

HVAC systems knowledge Refrigerant handling Electrical skills Fault diagnosis F-gas compliance

Common industries

Building services
Facilities management
Refrigeration companies
Supermarket chains
Data centres

Data coverage

SOC code 5225

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Median Salary

£41,166

Mean Salary

£45,432

Jobs (000s)

N/A

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £36,608Median: £41,166

P10: --P25: £37kMedian: £41kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£36,608

0-2 years

Mid Level

£36,608

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +33.8%Real growth: -3.0%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£41,166

Full-time Only

£41,166

Full-time premium: +£0

Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers salary: common questions

How much do air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers earn in the UK?

Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers earn a median of £41,166 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £41,166 a good salary in the UK?

For air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers, £41,166 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +5.0% versus the national average.

What is the starting salary for air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers?

Entry-level air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £36,608, though this varies by employer and region.

Have air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers pay has risen from £31,310 to £41,166 — +31% in cash terms, or -5.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).