How To Become An Ammonia Refrigeration Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is an ammonia refrigeration technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Many cooling systems use ammonia because it has a very low boiling point and is more efficient than other cooling systems. Although the average household refrigerator does not use ammonia refrigeration, industrial fridges and large cooling systems still do. Ammonia refrigeration technicians help maintain and fix these systems.

The ammonia refrigeration technician works with ammonia refrigeration systems at every step of the way, from installing them to making sure they are working properly to troubleshooting any problems that may arise. The job of an ammonia refrigeration technician is very important because an ammonia leak can be very dangerous.

Most ammonia refrigeration technicians do not have a bachelor's degree. Instead, they learn on the job by working with experienced technicians or in a technical school. Ammonia refrigeration technicians need to have excellent mechanical and chemical knowledge in order to fix problems in the machines. They also need to be good communicators to explain to customers what went wrong.

ScoreAmmonia Refrigeration TechnicianUS Average

Salary

4.4

Avg. Salary $56,255

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.1

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.74%

Asian 2.75%

Black or African American 9.05%

Hispanic or Latino 17.07%

Unknown 4.21%

White 66.19%

Gender

female 3.78%

male 96.22%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

2.9

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an ammonia refrigeration technician

Explore ammonia refrigeration technician education requirements

Most common ammonia refrigeration technician degrees

Associate

41.2 %

High School Diploma

20.6 %

Bachelor's

19.1 %

Start to develop specific ammonia refrigeration technician skills

Skills	Percentages
HVAC	10.13%
Condensers	9.16%
Preventive Maintenance	8.79%
Safety Management	8.27%
Evaporators	7.88%

Complete relevant ammonia refrigeration technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New ammonia refrigeration technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an ammonia refrigeration technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real ammonia refrigeration technician resumes.

Gain additional ammonia refrigeration technician certifications

Ammonia refrigeration technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific ammonia refrigeration technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for ammonia refrigeration technicians include Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator (CIRO) and EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA).

More About Certifications

Research ammonia refrigeration technician duties and responsibilities

Assist with and, on occasion, manage installation and modification of building HVAC/R systems.
Clean the HVAC condensers and evaporators units.
Maintain all ammonia compressors and evaporators and refrigeration equipment.
Maintain OSHA compliance throughout entire refrigeration area.

Prepare your ammonia refrigeration technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your ammonia refrigeration technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an ammonia refrigeration technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable ammonia refrigeration technician resume templates

Build a professional ammonia refrigeration technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your ammonia refrigeration technician resume.