Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers in the UK earned a median £41,166 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £2,127 above the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That ranks 124th of 382 occupations on this measure.
A full-time median is published for men only; the sample of women is too small.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 44.1 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
ASHE counts roughly 7,000 employee jobs, 100% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 17.8%, from £34,943, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 11,500 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20th percentile | – | £672.40 | £16.59 | – | £672.40 | £16.59 |
| 25th percentile | £36,608 | £696.40 | £16.98 | £36,608 | £696.40 | £16.98 |
| 30th percentile | £38,536 | £709.10 | £17.39 | £38,536 | £709.10 | £17.39 |
| 40th percentile | £40,434 | £772.80 | £17.78 | £40,434 | £772.80 | £17.78 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £41,166 | £852.10 | £18.98 | £41,166 | £852.10 | £18.98 |
| 60th percentile | £44,877 | £885.30 | £19.93 | £44,877 | £885.30 | £19.93 |
| 70th percentile | – | £956.10* | £20.47* | – | £956.10* | £20.47* |
| Mean | £45,432 | £896.40 | £19.61 | £45,432 | £896.40 | £19.61 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £34,943* | £673.60* | £14.54 | £33,332* | £672.70* | 7* |
| 2022 revised | £36,405 | £712.50 | £16.43 | £36,270* | £712.50 | 7* |
| 2023 revised | £40,548* | £817.30 | £19.06 | £40,548* | £817.30 | – |
| 2024 revised | £41,055 | £814.40* | £18.13 | £40,563 | £775.70* | 7* |
| 2025 provisional | £41,166 | £852.10 | £18.98 | £41,166 | £852.10 | 7* |
Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers by region
UK: 11,500 (± 4,200), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers do
Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers install, service and repair air-conditioning and refrigeration systems in factories, offices, shops and homes. (ONS SOC 2020, 5225)
Also covers: air conditioning engineer, air conditioning fitter, refrigeration engineer, refrigeration technician, service engineer (refrigeration), refrigeration mechanic, refrigerator maker, air conditioning installer, air conditioning technician, refrigeration repair engineer and refrigeration service engineer.
- Examines the proposed site to establish if installation plans are practical
- Plans layout of the system (pipework, ducts and control panels)
- Produces detailed estimate of costs of the work
- Plans work schedule and installs the system
- Inspects and tests the installation
- Carries our maintenance checks and repairs
There are no formal academic entry requirements although some employers may request GCSEs/S grades. Training is via an apprenticeship, or BTEC, City & Guilds or other specialised qualification.
Related
Metal machining, fitting and instrument making trades (median £39,947) · Precision instrument makers and repairers · Metal working production and maintenance fitters and technicians · salary percentile · Average weekly hours worked in the UK · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026