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

What is a refrigeration technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

We should be able to sleep well at night knowing that our appliances will not break down. This is why the moment an appliance seems to be exhibiting problems, we call on technicians right away. Some of us might have favorite appliances. Maybe you like the refrigerator because it stores food. Maybe you love the air conditioning system because it ensures proper ventilation and heating at home. If you are having problems with these appliances, you better call a refrigeration technician.

We might think that refrigeration technicians specialize only in refrigerators. They actually specialize in appliances that use the same technology, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) appliances, beverage equipment, and even ice machines. They install, maintain, diagnose, and fix these appliances and equipment. As such, they should be familiar with the basic mechanics behind those machines.

If you enjoy tinkering with appliances and have a special place for the aforementioned ones, this is a good role for you. You just need to secure experience in order to build a good client base.

ScoreRefrigeration TechnicianUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $50,701

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.1

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 2.52%

Black or African American 7.24%

Hispanic or Latino 23.72%

Unknown 4.14%

White 61.64%

Gender

female 2.76%

male 97.24%

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 a refrigeration technician

Explore refrigeration technician education requirements

Most common refrigeration technician degrees

Associate

30.8 %

High School Diploma

22.3 %

Diploma

18.7 %

Start to develop specific refrigeration technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Preventative Maintenance	7.96%
Hand Tools	5.33%
Ladders	5.09%
Refrigeration Equipment	4.77%
Customer Satisfaction	4.67%

Complete relevant refrigeration technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 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 a refrigeration technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real refrigeration technician resumes.

Gain additional refrigeration technician certifications

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 refrigeration technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for refrigeration technicians include EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) and Journeyman Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.

More About Certifications

Research refrigeration technician duties and responsibilities

Assist with and, on occasion, manage installation and modification of building HVAC/R systems.
Operate, inspect, service, and maintain industrial ammonia refrigeration systems.
Repair and maintain residential heating and air conditioning systems, replacing compressors, condensers and evaporators.
Run PVC piping for drainage systems.

Prepare your refrigeration technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 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 a 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 refrigeration technician resume templates

Build a professional 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 refrigeration technician resume.