What does a refrigeration technician do?
A refrigeration technician is responsible for managing refrigeration and cooling systems for private households and commercial establishments. Refrigeration technicians install refrigeration components, requiring them to have an excellent analysis of blueprints and schematics. They inspect the system components and inform the household owners and management for preventive maintenance and troubleshooting for minor defects and inconsistencies, as well as calculating costs and materials for repairs. A refrigeration technician must be well-equipped with mechanical knowledge to identify failures and upgrade units as necessary.
Refrigeration technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real refrigeration technician resumes:
- 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.
- Install compressors, capacitors and contactors.
- Clean strainers and pumpdown compressors for pms.
- Maintain freon systems and other small appliance systems.
- Access and resolve PLC wiring and peripherals faults.
- Apply OSHA regulation on job sites and within shop.
- Evacuate freon out of systems and recharge the system.
- Assist in maintaining PSM records keeping them up to date.
- Perform daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly PMs.
- Balance building air flows - calibrate VAV pneuamtic or digital control.
- Install compressors, mini-split system, diagnosing, repairing and retrofit units
- Wire signal loop for PLC's, transfer switches and emergency/standby equipment.
Refrigeration technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 8% of Refrigeration Technicians are proficient in Preventative Maintenance, Hand Tools, and Ladders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Math skills, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Refrigeration Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Preventative Maintenance, 8%
Operated an anhydrous ammonia refrigeration system and also performed maintenance and preventative maintenance repairs to the same equipment.
- Hand Tools, 5%
Mounted compressors, condensers, evaporators and other boiler components; using hand tools and cutting/welding tools.
- Ladders, 5%
Work from ladders, scaffolds, and roofs to install, maintain or repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures.
- Refrigeration Equipment, 5%
Serviced and installed commercial refrigeration equipment
- Customer Satisfaction, 5%
Evaluated technical requirements and improved customer satisfaction by ensuring service delivery was compliant to customer needs.
- OSHA, 4%
Followed OSHA compliance's including valve tagging, and pipe labeling, all corresponding with the P&ID's.
Most refrigeration technicians use their skills in "preventative maintenance," "hand tools," and "ladders" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential refrigeration technician responsibilities here:
Detail oriented. The most essential soft skill for a refrigeration technician to carry out their responsibilities is detail oriented. This skill is important for the role because "hvacr technicians must carefully maintain records of all work performed." Additionally, a refrigeration technician resume shows how their duties depend on detail oriented: "detailed electrical systems and controls knowledge for operation of hvac/r systems for troubleshooting and repair. "
Math skills. Another essential skill to perform refrigeration technician duties is math skills. Refrigeration technicians responsibilities require that "hvacr technicians need to calculate the correct load requirements to ensure that the hvacr equipment properly heats or cools the space required." Refrigeration technicians also use math skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "blue print reading mathematics customer service time management troubleshooting mechanical"
Mechanical skills. refrigeration technicians are also known for mechanical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to refrigeration technician responsibilities, because "hvacr technicians install and work on complicated climate-control systems, so they must understand the hvac components and be able to properly assemble, disassemble, and, if needed, program them." A refrigeration technician resume example shows how mechanical skills is used in the workplace: "replace compressor mechanical seals, switches, and transducers. "
Physical strength. For certain refrigeration technician responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "physical strength." The day-to-day duties of a refrigeration technician rely on this skill, as "hvacr technicians may have to lift and support heavy equipment and components, often without help." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what refrigeration technicians do: "renovated and maintained physical formation of the set-up such as sealants and wallboards routinely maintained hvac equipment and heating exchange. "
Time-management skills. Another common skill required for refrigeration technician responsibilities is "time-management skills." This skill comes up in the duties of refrigeration technicians all the time, as "hvacr technicians frequently have a set number of daily maintenance calls." An excerpt from a real refrigeration technician resume shows how this skill is central to what a refrigeration technician does: "meet company deadlines per consumer requirements for great customer service. "
Customer-service skills. While "customer-service skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to refrigeration technician responsibilities. Much of what a refrigeration technician does relies on this skill, seeing as "hvacr technicians often work in customers’ homes or business offices, so it is important that they be friendly, polite, and punctual." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of refrigeration technicians: "sized evaps, condensers, installed all piping, wiring and satisfied each customer to desired temp whether cooler or freezer. "
The three companies that hire the most refrigeration technicians are:
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Compare different refrigeration technicians
Refrigeration technician vs. Hvac installer
An HVAC installer is responsible for working on office and house appliances, including heating systems, ventilation, and air conditioning units. HVAC installers follow and analyze the item's schematics and blueprints and conduct regular maintenance to ensure the efficiency of its systems. They also advise the clients of instruction manuals, especially the proper usage and basic troubleshooting of defects. An HVAC installer must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry, as well as excellent communication skills to respond to customers' concerns and resolve complaints.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, refrigeration technician responsibilities require skills like "osha," "industrial maintenance," "hazmat," and "psm." Meanwhile a typical hvac installer has skills in areas such as "hvac," "furnaces," "epa," and "strong work ethic." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Hvac installers really shine in the transportation industry with an average salary of $46,478. Comparatively, refrigeration technicians tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $56,136.hvac installers tend to reach similar levels of education than refrigeration technicians. In fact, hvac installers are 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Refrigeration technician vs. Maintenance helper
A maintenance helper performs basic support tasks to assist maintenance technicians in installing and repairing machines and equipment. Their responsibilities typically include gathering and handing tools, changing fixtures such as light bulbs and faucets, preparing workspaces, and cleaning work areas and equipment. They may also liaise with vendors or suppliers, build positive relationships with clients, and handle calls and correspondence. Moreover, maintenance helper must utilize their experiences to learn more complex tasks and gain industry insight.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that refrigeration technician responsibilities requires skills like "preventative maintenance," "refrigeration equipment," "customer satisfaction," and "customer service." But a maintenance helper might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "preventive maintenance," "hvac," "mowing," and "maintenance tasks."
On average, maintenance helpers earn a lower salary than refrigeration technicians. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, maintenance helpers earn the most pay in the energy industry with an average salary of $37,360. Whereas refrigeration technicians have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $56,136.In general, maintenance helpers achieve similar levels of education than refrigeration technicians. They're 0.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Refrigeration technician vs. Hvac apprentice
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) apprentices are trainees who work under HVAC maintenance workers. They train under HVAC maintenance workers to gain actual, on-the-job experience. To be an apprentice, one should have a formal training background related to HVAC repair and maintenance. They may be enrolled in a technical-vocational school specializing in HVAC repair and maintenance. As such, apprenticeship is part of their curriculum or class requirements. During their apprenticeship, HVAC apprentices will experience installing, diagnosing, repair, and maintaining HVAC units firsthand.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a refrigeration technician is likely to be skilled in "osha," "industrial maintenance," "hazmat," and "psm," while a typical hvac apprentice is skilled in "air-conditioning systems," "strong work ethic," "duct systems," and "install equipment."
Hvac apprentices make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $41,468. On the other hand, refrigeration technicians are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $56,136.When it comes to education, hvac apprentices tend to earn similar degree levels compared to refrigeration technicians. In fact, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Refrigeration technician vs. Repair servicer
Types of refrigeration technician
Updated January 8, 2025
