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

What is a transportation refrigeration technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The average transportation refrigeration technician salary is $46,626. The most common degree is a associate degree degree with an automotive technology major. It usually takes 2-4 years of experience to become a transportation refrigeration technician. Transportation refrigeration technicians with a EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 20,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreTransportation Refrigeration TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $46,626

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 2.71%

Black or African American 8.70%

Hispanic or Latino 19.43%

Unknown 4.19%

White 64.23%

Gender

female 0.00%

male 100.00%

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 transportation refrigeration technician

Explore transportation refrigeration technician education requirements

Most common transportation refrigeration technician degrees

Associate

29.4 %

High School Diploma

23.5 %

Diploma

23.5 %

Start to develop specific transportation refrigeration technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Hand Tools	37.59%
HVAC	22.15%
Brazing	9.70%
Freon	9.57%
A/C	7.89%

Complete relevant transportation refrigeration technician training and internships

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

Research transportation refrigeration technician duties and responsibilities

Assist with and, on occasion, manage installation and modification of building HVAC/R systems.
Provide compassion and efficient movement for clients between healthcare facilities.
Train to operate stretchers, hospital beds, and van-mount lift equipment.
Inspect storm drains, water and sewer lines, conventional and nuclear density, asphalt and concrete roadways.

Prepare your transportation refrigeration technician resume

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

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Choose from 10+ customizable transportation refrigeration technician resume templates

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