What apprenticeships are available for refrigeration technicians in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Arkansas Department of Career Education - 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 Arkansas (2026)

Q: How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Arkansas?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), refrigeration technicians in Arkansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,110. Employment concentration in Arkansas is about 1.44 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Arkansas currently employs approximately 4,960 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

Arkansas heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $48,110 ($23.13/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,960 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -21.1% below the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $48,110 ($23.13/hr)
25th percentile: $42,830 per year
75th percentile: $59,760 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $69,290 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,040 per year
Workers employed in Arkansas: 4,960
Versus national median: -21.1% below the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.44 - this occupation is more concentrated in Arkansas than the national average

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

Arkansas employs about 4,960 refrigeration technicians earning a median $48,110 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most refrigeration technicians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Arkansas.

Compare Refrigeration Technician Schools in Arkansas

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	Arkansas Tech University	58.4	$8,674 - $22,808	$49,759	49%	Yes*	In-state
2	University of Arkansas at Monticello	49.8	$9,292 - $22,519	$48,735	46%	Yes*	In-state
3	Arkansas State University-Beebe	49.5	$3,336 - $18,771	$41,404	40%	Yes*	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.

Arkansas employs approximately 4,960 refrigeration technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,110 ¹. The state’s concentration of refrigeration technician jobs is 1.44x 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 Arkansas, including 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 (Arkansas): $48,110 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Arkansas

How to become a Refrigeration Technician in Arkansas? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for refrigeration technicians in Arkansas.

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.

What do refrigeration technicians earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Arkansas is $48,110 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,040 and experienced professionals can earn $69,290 or more ¹.

How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Arkansas

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Arkansas 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 Arkansas that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor as part of a registered apprenticeship or employer program in Arkansas.
Earn your journey card or employer qualification. Complete the registered apprenticeship or approved program, earn the journey card or employer qualification used in Arkansas, and confirm contractor versus worker rules with the state before working unsupervised.

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

Refrigeration Technician Apprenticeship Information in Arkansas

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

Contact Information:

Office: Arkansas Office of Skills Development
Address: 1 Commerce Way, Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: (501) 683-1152
Email: [email protected]

Refrigeration Technician Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	1,740	$56,780	$60,300	$38,820	$87,650
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway	1,470	$48,000	$50,270	$36,710	$63,360
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers	1,240	$53,620	$54,830	$38,300	$74,600
Fort Smith	410	$48,160	$49,780	$36,020	$64,450
Jonesboro	170	$47,230	$50,140	$38,010	$63,430
Hot Springs	150	$46,630	$48,950	$36,510	$65,590
Texarkana	130	$47,760	$52,490	$37,150	$71,570

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 Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 4,960 refrigeration technicians ¹. Nationally, refrigeration technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Arkansas is $48,110, which is $11,700 below the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data ¹.

In Arkansas

Best Trade Schools in Arkansas (2026)

Explore More Trades in Arkansas

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

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)