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Maine refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic prevailing wage, county by county

A refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic's prevailing wage on Maine public works runs from $37.29 an hour in Washington County to $43.71 in Androscoggin County. The median county is $39.82.

Main refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic classification in each county (Heating and air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers), MDOL 2026 rates, effective January 10, 2026. A rate written into a contract "must remain unchanged during the time the contract is in effect" (26 MRSA §1306). Checked October 25, 2026.

Aroostook County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $37.29 per hourWashington County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $37.29 per hourYork County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $42.50 per hourHancock County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $37.29 per hourWaldo County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $39.82 per hourSomerset County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $43.71 per hourSagadahoc County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $39.82 per hourAndroscoggin County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $43.71 per hourOxford County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $43.71 per hourCumberland County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $42.50 per hourKnox County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $39.82 per hourKennebec County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $39.82 per hourPenobscot County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $37.29 per hourPiscataquis County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $37.29 per hourLincoln County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $39.82 per hourFranklin County refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic: $43.71 per hour
$37$37$39$39$43$43Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic, main rate, total per hour. Each shade holds about a fifth of the counties.

How much does a refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic make on prevailing wage in Maine?

4 groups of counties with identical rates and 1 with rates of their own, highest main rate first. The table below lists which counties are in each group.

  1. Androscoggin County group4 counties · Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigerati$43.71
  2. Cumberland County group2 counties · Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigerati$42.50
  3. Statewide1 county · Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigerati$41.57
  4. Kennebec County group5 counties · Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigerati$39.82
  5. Penobscot County group5 counties · Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigerati$37.29

Which counties pay which rate

CountiesMain classificationTotalBase
Androscoggin County group, 4 localities: Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford, SomersetHeating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$43.71 $36.59 
Cumberland County group, 2 localities: Cumberland, YorkHeating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$42.50 $36.11 
StatewideHeating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$41.57 $35.55 
Kennebec County group, 5 localities: Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, WaldoHeating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39.82 $34.53 
Penobscot County group, 5 localities: Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, WashingtonHeating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$37.29 $32.88 

4 groups of counties with identical MDOL rates, and 1 county with rates of its own.

MDOL's determinations list journey-level rates only. Registered apprentices are paid "the rates recognized in the sponsorship agreement for registered apprentices working in the pertinent classification" (every MDOL determination; 26 MRSA §1314(2)). Holders of a state apprentice licence who aren't in a registered program are not apprentices for this purpose.

Questions about Maine refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic pay

What is the refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic prevailing wage in Cumberland County?

$42.50 an hour: a $36.11 base wage plus $6.39 in benefits, under MDOL 2026 rates, effective January 10, 2026. Overtime and every refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic classification in Cumberland County.

Does refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic prevailing wage include fringe benefits?

Yes. In Cumberland County the $42.50 total is a $36.11 base wage plus $6.39 in benefits, about 15% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.

Does refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic prevailing wage pay overtime in Maine?

MDOL's determinations print no overtime and the prevailing wage law sets none. Maine's general wage law applies: 1½ times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a week, with no daily overtime (26 MRSA §664(3)).

Do apprentice refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics get this rate?

MDOL's determinations list journey-level rates only. Registered apprentices are paid "the rates recognized in the sponsorship agreement for registered apprentices working in the pertinent classification" (every MDOL determination; 26 MRSA §1314(2)). Holders of a state apprentice licence who aren't in a registered program are not apprentices for this purpose.

Why do some counties have the same refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic rate?

MDOL often publishes the same refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic rates for several counties. Across Maine, the 16 counties with a refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic rate fall into 5 distinct sets of rates, and 4 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 5 counties (the Kennebec County group).