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What does a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary really buy you in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is 9.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Massachusetts's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.4, meaning prices are 9.4% higher the national average. A Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earning $77,300 in Massachusetts has the equivalent purchasing power of $70,658 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $50,820 | $46,453 | $-4,366 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $61,070 | $55,822 | $-5,247 |
| Median (P50) | $77,300 | $70,658 | $-6,641 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $95,070 | $86,901 | $-8,168 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $102,410 | $93,610 | $-8,799 |
While $77,300 sounds high, Massachusetts's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $70,658. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Massachusetts's RPP of 109.4 puts it 9.4% above the national baseline cost of living. A Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying Massachusetts's RPP, the $77,300 median salary translates to $70,658 in real terms — a 8.6% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, Massachusetts places #7 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Massachusetts ranks #7 out of 51 states for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers take-home pay in Massachusetts after taxes →
A Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Massachusetts earns a median salary of $77,300 per year. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (RPP=109.4), the real purchasing power is $70,658 — a -8.6% difference.
Massachusetts's cost of living is 9.4% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Massachusetts is 109.4 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Massachusetts: $77,300 x (100 / 109.4) = $70,658. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers's nominal salary of $77,300 in Massachusetts has 8.6% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $70,658. However, Massachusetts may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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