What apprenticeships are available for refrigeration technicians in District of Columbia?

In District of Columbia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Employment Services, 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 District of Columbia (2026)

Q: How much do refrigeration technicians earn in District of Columbia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), refrigeration technicians in District of Columbia earned a median annual wage of approximately $84,390. Employment concentration in District of Columbia is roughly 0.21 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: Do refrigeration technicians need a license in District of Columbia?

Yes. District of Columbia requires state-level licensing or registration for refrigeration technicians, administered by the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

Q: What is the job outlook for refrigeration technicians in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia currently employs approximately 400 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

District of Columbia heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $84,390 ($40.57/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 400 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 38.3% above the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $84,390 ($40.57/hr)
25th percentile: $77,730 per year
75th percentile: $101,940 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $108,240 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $49,940 per year
Workers employed in District of Columbia: 400
Versus national median: 38.3% above the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.21 - this occupation is less concentrated in District of Columbia than the national average

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

District of Columbia employs about 400 refrigeration technicians earning a median $84,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a refrigeration technician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration credentialing requirements.

Compare Refrigeration Technician Schools in District of Columbia

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	University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus	70.3	$6,660	$107,963	39%	Yes*	In-state
2	University of the District of Columbia	57.2	Contact school for pricing	$66,946	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.

District of Columbia employs approximately 400 refrigeration technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $84,390 ¹. 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 District of Columbia, 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: Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration
Median wage (District of Columbia): $84,390 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Quick Answers About How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in District of Columbia

How to become a Refrigeration Technician in District of Columbia? District of Columbia requires credentials such as REFRIGERATION/AIR CONDITIONING, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. The licensing authority is the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration 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 District of Columbia? Yes. District of Columbia has licensing or registration requirements for refrigeration technicians. The Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do refrigeration technicians earn in District of Columbia? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in District of Columbia is $84,390 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $49,940 and experienced professionals can earn $108,240 or more ¹.

How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in District of Columbia

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia 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 Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration, pass the required examination, and obtain the refrigeration technician credential before working unsupervised in District of Columbia.

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

Refrigeration Technician License Requirements in District of Columbia

The Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration oversees refrigeration technician licensing in District of Columbia ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
REFRIGERATION/AIR CONDITIONING	Contact licensing agency for more information.
Refrigeration and 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 District of Columbia

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. District of Columbia’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Department of Employment Services ⁵.

Contact Information:

Office: D.C. Apprenticeship Council
Address: 4058 Minnesota Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 724-7000
Email: [email protected]

Refrigeration Technician Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	8,730	$71,920	$73,740	$46,920	$105,180

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 District of Columbia? District of Columbia currently employs approximately 400 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 District of Columbia with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in District of Columbia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in District of Columbia. You can also contact the Department of Employment Services for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do refrigeration technicians earn in District of Columbia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in District of Columbia is $84,390, which is $24,580 above the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data ¹.

In District of Columbia

Best Trade Schools in Washington, DC (2026)

Explore More Trades in District of Columbia

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs - Occupational & Professional Licensing Administration - Licensing Information: https://dlcp.dc.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Department of Employment Services: https://does.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/does/publication/attachments/DOES_Up-to%20date%20Non-Union%20Sponsors%202011.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)