What apprenticeships are available for refrigeration technicians in Arizona?

In Arizona, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Arizona Department of Economic Security - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Arizona (2026)

Q: How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Arizona?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), refrigeration technicians in Arizona earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,400. Employment concentration in Arizona is about 1.27 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: Do refrigeration technicians need a license in Arizona?

Yes. Arizona has state-level licensing or registration requirements for refrigeration technicians. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

Q: What is the job outlook for refrigeration technicians in Arizona?

Arizona currently employs approximately 10,860 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arizona heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $59,400 ($28.56/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 10,860 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.6% below the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,400 ($28.56/hr)
25th percentile: $47,170 per year
75th percentile: $73,810 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $80,160 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,950 per year
Workers employed in Arizona: 10,860
Versus national median: -2.6% below the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.27 - this occupation is more concentrated in Arizona than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Arizona employs about 10,860 refrigeration technicians earning a median $59,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most refrigeration technicians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Arizona.

Compare Refrigeration Technician Schools in Arizona

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Carrington College-Phoenix North	60.9	Contact school for pricing	$39,609	58%	Yes*	In-state
2	Arizona Western College	51.2	Contact school for pricing	$48,286	22%	Yes*	In-state
3	Miller-Motte College-Arizona Automotive Institute	37.5	Contact school for pricing	$34,393	55%	—	In-state

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Arizona employs approximately 10,860 refrigeration technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,400 ¹. The state’s concentration of refrigeration technician jobs is 1.27x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, refrigeration technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 40,100 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Refrigeration Technician in Arizona, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Arizona): $59,400 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Quick Answers About How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Arizona

How to become a Refrigeration Technician in Arizona? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and obtain any licenses or certifications required by Arizona.

How long does it take? Most paths into the refrigeration technician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Arizona? Yes. Arizona has licensing or registration requirements for refrigeration technicians. See the licensing section below for details.

What do refrigeration technicians earn in Arizona? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Arizona is $59,400 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,950 and experienced professionals can earn $80,160 or more ¹.

How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Arizona

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Arizona training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Arizona that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Pass the state exam and apply for your license. Pass the required examination and obtain the Arizona refrigeration technician license before working unsupervised.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Refrigeration Technician License Requirements in Arizona

License Types

License	Requirements
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: State exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ³.

Refrigeration Technician Apprenticeship Information in Arizona

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Arizona’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Arizona Department of Economic Security - Registered Apprenticeship ⁴.

Contact Information:

Office: Arizona Apprenticeship Office Department of Economic Security
Address: 1789 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-6013
Email: [email protected]

Refrigeration Technician Wages by Metro Area in Arizona

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Wages by Metro Area in Arizona

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers wages in Arizona vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler	8,070	$61,170	$62,210	$38,210	$83,180
Tucson	1,380	$56,070	$55,830	$36,050	$75,860
Yuma	280	$57,290	$59,040	$38,760	$75,970
Lake Havasu City-Kingman	270	$56,810	$58,230	$38,090	$78,520
Prescott Valley-Prescott	260	$58,280	$60,530	$37,320	$79,090
Flagstaff	140	$58,360	$61,330	$38,710	$80,340
Sierra Vista-Douglas	120	$49,080	$52,310	$36,090	$74,120

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for refrigeration technicians in Arizona? Arizona currently employs approximately 10,860 refrigeration technicians ¹. Nationally, refrigeration technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a refrigeration technician in Arizona with an out-of-state license? Reciprocity varies. Contact the Arizona licensing authority for details on transferring credentials.

What training programs are available in Arizona? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Arizona. You can also contact the Arizona Department of Economic Security - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Arizona compared to the national average? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Arizona is $59,400, which is $410 below the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data ¹.

In Arizona

Best Trade Schools in Arizona (2026)

Explore More Trades in Arizona

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Arizona Department of Economic Security - Registered Apprenticeship: https://des.az.gov/sites/default/files/Registered-Apprenticeship-Program-List.pdf ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)