HVAC Repair Methodology & Sources

The localization formula

LocalRange(job, metro) = NationalBase(job) × index(metro)

The index blends the metro's wage relativity (BLS OEWS 49-9021) with regional service-price data (BEA Regional Price Parities), holds materials at the national baseline, and is clamped to a sane band so no metro's index runs implausibly far from the national base. The exact blend weights are proprietary to CostAndPrice; every input series is public and named below. Each range is then rounded to $5, with a minimum width of ±15%.

wage_rel

The metro's median wage for BLS OEWS occupation 49-9021 (heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers) divided by the national median. Where a metro's wage cell is suppressed we fall back to progressively broader official series, and the basis used is named on each metro page and in the citation line.

weights (labor / materials / overhead)

The index is a weighted blend of the labor (wage) term and the regional service-price term, with materials held at the national baseline (materials ship at national prices). The exact blend weights are proprietary to CostAndPrice.

RPP_services_other

BEA Regional Price Parity, "other services" for the metro, centered on the national baseline (broader official parities are used where a metro value is unavailable).

clamp

The index is clamped to a sane band so no metro's index ever runs implausibly far below or above the national base.

rounding

Each end of every range is rounded to the nearest $5. We publish ranges only — never a single point estimate — with a minimum width of ±15%.