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Maine · Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic · 5 counties
Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic prevailing wage, Penobscot County group, Maine (5 counties)
MDOL sets the same refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic rates, row for row, in 5 counties: Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis and Washington. Every figure on this page applies in each of them.
$37.29an hour, base wage + fringe benefits
$32.88 base wage + $4.41 fringe benefits · Building 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes) · Northern region
On Maine public works in each of these 5 counties, a refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic must be paid at least $37.29 an hour: a $32.88 base wage plus $4.41 in benefits.
MDOL 2026 rates, effective January 10, 2026; this rate, 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 against maine.gov on October 25, 2026.
MDOL lists 3 refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic rates for each of these counties, from $37.29 to $41.61 an hour. See all of them.
MDOL's website rates "are for reference only". Bidders get the project-specific determination from the agency soliciting bids (§1306).
Base wage and fringe benefits: $32.88 + $4.41
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. MDOL prints the benefits as one hourly figure, not itemized; it can go to health, pension, vacation and training plans, or be paid as cash where the state allows.
| Base wage (taxable) | $32.88 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $4.41 |
| Total hourly rate, as printed | $37.29 |
When does this rate change?
- A rate in a contract stays unchanged for the life of the contract (26 MRSA §1306), so later sets don't change existing jobs.
- MDOL publishes one set a year. The 2026 set took effect January 10, 2026 after a 30-day notice period; the next comes after the July 2026 survey (MDOL 2026 rates).
Every refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic rate in the Penobscot County group
As MDOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersHighway & Earthwork · Northern region$41.61
- Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersHeavy & Bridge · Northern region$41.61
- Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes) · Northern region$37.29
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes)Northern region | $32.88 | $4.41 | $37.29 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersHighway & EarthworkNorthern region | $35.68 | $5.93 | $41.61 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersHeavy & BridgeNorthern region | $35.68 | $5.93 | $41.61 | Jan 10, 2026 |
How the Penobscot County group compares
The main refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic rate in every county that has one, and how the pay splits here and nearby. All bars use the same scale.
Every county in Maine
Wage and benefits, nearby
- Penobscot County groupbase $32.88$37.29
- Piscataquis Countybase $32.88$37.29
- Hancock Countybase $32.88$37.29
- Somerset Countybase $36.59$43.71
Which county is in which refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic group
Every Maine county with a refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic rate. Counties MDOL treats alike share one page; the rest have their own.
| Counties | Main classification | Base wage | Total rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin County group, 4 localities: Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford, Somerset | Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $36.59 | $43.71 |
| Cumberland County group, 2 localities: Cumberland, York | Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $36.11 | $42.50 |
| Statewide | Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $35.55 | $41.57 |
| Kennebec County group, 5 localities: Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo | Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $34.53 | $39.82 |
| Penobscot County group, 5 localities: Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Washington | Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $32.88 | $37.29 |
4 groups of counties with identical MDOL rates, and 1 county with rates of its own.
Maine refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic prevailing wage by county, with a map
More from MDOL on this rate
- MDOL's 2026 fair minimum wage rates
- MDOL lists journey-level rates. Apprentice rates are those in a registered sponsorship agreement (26 MRSA §1314).
Every trade's rates, county by county: Aroostook · Hancock · Penobscot · Piscataquis · Washington
Are you being paid this rate?
You must get at least the minimum wage, and wage plus benefits of at least the total. Contractors post the rates on site and file payroll monthly with the public authority. An underpaid worker can recover the difference plus an equal penalty (26 MRSA §1312). MDOL Wage and Hour: (207) 623-7900.
Source
Department of Labor (MDOL), MDOL 2026 rates, effective January 10, 2026. For the row this page leads with:
- Aroostook: MDOL-2026-aroostook-b2, page 1
- Hancock: MDOL-2026-hancock-b2, page 1
- Penobscot: MDOL-2026-penobscot-b2, page 1
- Piscataquis: MDOL-2026-piscataquis-b2, page 1
- Washington: MDOL-2026-washington-b2, page 1
We read every row of MDOL's 2026 county and statewide PDFs and check every number with a second, separate reader. Wage plus benefit equals MDOL's printed total except for 28 one-cent rounding differences; we show the printed total. How we check · Download every Maine rate as CSV · Report an error