What apprenticeships are available for refrigeration technicians in Illinois?

In Illinois, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Illinois Department of Employment Services - 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 Illinois (2026)

Q: How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), refrigeration technicians in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $77,410. Employment concentration in Illinois is roughly 0.61 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

Illinois currently employs approximately 9,740 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

Illinois heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $77,410 ($37.21/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 9,740 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 26.9% above the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $77,410 ($37.21/hr)
25th percentile: $60,200 per year
75th percentile: $96,030 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $117,550 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $46,690 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 9,740
Versus national median: 26.9% above the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.61 - this occupation is less concentrated in Illinois than the national average

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

Illinois employs about 9,740 refrigeration technicians earning a median $77,410 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most refrigeration technicians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Illinois.

Compare Refrigeration Technician Schools in Illinois

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	Black Hawk College	52.4	Contact school for pricing	$49,173	41%	Yes*	In-state
2	Southwestern Illinois College	49.6	Contact school for pricing	$51,516	37%	Yes*	In-state
3	College of DuPage	47.7	Contact school for pricing	$55,984	25%	—	In-state
4	Danville Area Community College	41.5	Contact school for pricing	$47,299	41%	—	In-state
5	City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College	37.3	Contact school for pricing	$43,247	29%	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.

Illinois employs approximately 9,740 refrigeration technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $77,410 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 Illinois, 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 (Illinois): $77,410 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Illinois

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

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 Illinois? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Illinois is $77,410 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $46,690 and experienced professionals can earn $117,550 or more ¹.

How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Illinois

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois.
Earn your journey card or employer qualification. Complete the registered apprenticeship or approved program, earn the journey card or employer qualification used in Illinois, 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 Illinois

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

Contact Information:

Office: BEST, Inc
Address: 815 N. Orlando Smith Ave., Oglesby, IL 61348
Phone: (815) 224-0375
Email: [email protected]

Refrigeration Technician Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	7,210	$77,960	$79,340	$47,460	$117,940
St. Louis	2,980	$63,000	$68,000	$45,870	$100,180
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	410	$65,190	$69,990	$45,790	$100,270
Peoria	370	$78,710	$78,520	$47,100	$105,450
Champaign-Urbana	240	$74,880	$76,400	$47,590	$111,660
Rockford	190	$75,070	$76,950	$46,960	$117,550
Bloomington	140	$64,030	$66,160	$39,200	$91,500
Springfield	110	$70,730	$72,660	$47,690	$101,000
Cape Girardeau	110	$47,150	$53,050	$37,950	$72,690
Decatur	90	$77,770	$78,160	$47,770	$107,540
Paducah	90	$56,610	$57,340	$44,970	$78,110
Kankakee	50	$62,570	$69,990	$46,130	$97,870

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 Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 9,740 refrigeration technicians ¹. Nationally, refrigeration technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Illinois is $77,410, which is $17,600 above the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

Explore More Trades in Illinois

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Illinois Department of Employment Services - 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)