Salary comparison
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: Chicago vs San Jose
San Jose, CA pays about 5.2% more for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers on paper — $82,050 vs $77,960. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, San Jose comes out ahead by $4,090 a year in real buying power.
Chicago, IL
$77,960
$61,050
$96,790
$37.48
100
$77,960/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
San Jose, CA
$82,050
$63,820
$106,630
$39.45
100
$82,050/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $4,090 a year (5.2%) in favor of San Jose. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Chicago runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; San Jose sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, San Jose is the better deal by $4,090 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Chicago to San Jose for this role, the raise needs to beat 5.2% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn more, Chicago or San Jose?
San Jose pays $82,050 on median — about 5.2% more than Chicago ($77,960). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
San Jose. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, San Jose gives you roughly$82,050 of real buying power versus $77,960 in the other city.