Salary comparison
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: Napa vs San Jose
Napa, CA pays about 3.1% more for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers on paper — $84,570 vs $82,050. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Napa comes out ahead by $2,520 a year in real buying power.
Napa, CA
$84,570
$64,220
$102,200
$40.66
100
$84,570/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 $2,520 a year (3.1%) in favor of Napa. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Napa runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; San Jose sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Napa is the better deal by $2,520 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from San Jose to Napa for this role, the raise needs to beat 3.1% 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, Napa or San Jose?
Napa pays $84,570 on median — about 3.1% more than San Jose ($82,050). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Napa. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Napa gives you roughly$84,570 of real buying power versus $82,050 in the other city.