What apprenticeships are available for refrigeration technicians in Delaware?

In Delaware, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Delaware Office of Apprenticeship and Training, 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 Delaware (2026)

Q: How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Delaware?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), refrigeration technicians in Delaware earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,320. Employment concentration in Delaware is about 1.35 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: Do refrigeration technicians need a license in Delaware?

Yes. Delaware requires state-level licensing or registration for refrigeration technicians, administered by the Delaware Department of State - Board of Plumbing/Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

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

Delaware currently employs approximately 1,730 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

Delaware heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $62,320 ($29.96/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,730 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 2.1% above the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,320 ($29.96/hr)
25th percentile: $53,060 per year
75th percentile: $76,740 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $97,600 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $45,000 per year
Workers employed in Delaware: 1,730
Versus national median: 2.1% above the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.35 - this occupation is more concentrated in Delaware than the national average

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

Delaware employs about 1,730 refrigeration technicians earning a median $62,320 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a refrigeration technician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Delaware Department of State - Board of Plumbing/Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration credentialing requirements.

Compare Refrigeration Technician Schools in Delaware

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	Polytech Adult Education	60.8	Contact school for pricing	$54,607	74%	—	In-state
2	Dawn Career Institute LLC	52.4	Contact school for pricing	$32,884	Not reported	—	In-state
3	Delaware Technical Community College-Terry	48.4	Contact school for pricing	$55,102	Not reported	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.

Delaware employs approximately 1,730 refrigeration technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,320 ¹. The state’s concentration of refrigeration technician jobs is 1.35x 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 Delaware, 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
Licensing authority: Delaware Department of State - Board of Plumbing/Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Median wage (Delaware): $62,320 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Quick Answers About How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Delaware

How to become a Refrigeration Technician in Delaware? Delaware requires credentials such as Master HVACR - License by Reciprocity, Master HVACR, Master HVACR Restricted. The licensing authority is the Delaware Department of State - Board of Plumbing/Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

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 Delaware? Yes. Delaware has licensing or registration requirements for refrigeration technicians. The Delaware Department of State - Board of Plumbing/Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do refrigeration technicians earn in Delaware? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Delaware is $62,320 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,000 and experienced professionals can earn $97,600 or more ¹.

How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Delaware

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Delaware 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 Delaware 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. Apply to the Delaware Department of State - Board of Plumbing/Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, pass the required examination, and obtain the refrigeration technician credential before working unsupervised in Delaware.

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

Refrigeration Technician License Requirements in Delaware

The Delaware Department of State - Board of Plumbing/Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration oversees refrigeration technician licensing in Delaware ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Master HVACR - License by Reciprocity	The Board issues master plumber, master HVACR and master restricted HVACR licenses. Restricted licenses limit practice to a specialty such as air conditioning.
Master HVACR	The Board issues master plumber, master HVACR and master restricted HVACR licenses. Restricted licenses limit practice to a specialty such as air conditioning.
Master HVACR Restricted	The Board issues master plumber, master HVACR and master restricted HVACR licenses. Restricted licenses limit practice to a specialty such as air conditioning.
Master HVACR Restricted - License by Reciprocity	The Board issues master plumber, master HVACR and master restricted HVACR licenses. Restricted licenses limit practice to a specialty such as air conditioning.
Temporary Master Plumber or HVACR	The Board issues master plumber, master HVACR and master restricted HVACR licenses. Restricted licenses limit practice to a specialty such as air conditioning.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Specific type of conviction prohibited
Exam: State exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Refrigeration Technician Apprenticeship Information in Delaware

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Delaware’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Delaware Office of Apprenticeship and Training ⁵.

Contact Information:

Office: Apprenticeship and Training Section: Division of Industrial Affairs, Delaware Department of Labor
Address: 4425 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19802
Phone: (302) 761-8328
Email: [email protected]

Refrigeration Technician Wages by Metro Area in Delaware

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	8,610	$64,580	$69,440	$45,510	$100,800
Dover	180	$59,810	$59,160	$42,480	$75,830

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 Delaware? Delaware currently employs approximately 1,730 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 Delaware with an out-of-state license? Contact the Delaware Department of State - Board of Plumbing/Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Delaware? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Delaware. You can also contact the Delaware Office of Apprenticeship and Training for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Delaware compared to the national average? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Delaware is $62,320, which is $2,510 above the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data ¹.

In Delaware

Best Trade Schools in Delaware (2026)

Explore More Trades in Delaware

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Delaware Department of State - Board of Plumbing/Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration - Licensing Information: https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Delaware Office of Apprenticeship and Training: 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)