AntonioKat:
Back to your original question, $1K to replace an AC compressor is not out of line.
You don’t need to take your vehicle to a dealer to correctly repair this. You will likely get your repair performed correctly at a dealer, but do understand they have an inherent higher cost model. It might cost more at a dealer.
There are many good local and trusted independent garages who can do this repair correctly as well. It will take homework on your part to find a trusted garage.
I would steer away from the chain shops, as you just learned.