Do refrigeration technicians need a license in Maryland?

Yes. Maryland requires state-level licensing or registration for refrigeration technicians, administered by the Maryland Department of Labor - Board for HVACR. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

What apprenticeships are available for refrigeration technicians in Maryland?

In Maryland, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Maryland 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 Maryland (2026)

Q: How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Maryland?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), refrigeration technicians in Maryland earned a median annual wage of approximately $70,020. Employment concentration in Maryland is about 1.18 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Maryland currently employs approximately 8,560 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

Maryland employs about 8,560 refrigeration technicians earning a median $70,020 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a refrigeration technician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Maryland Department of Labor - Board for HVACR credentialing requirements.

Compare Refrigeration Technician Schools in Maryland

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	North American Trade Schools	63.4	Contact school for pricing	$47,948	69%	—	In-state
2	Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia	37.7	Contact school for pricing	$47,136	66%	—	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.

Maryland employs approximately 8,560 refrigeration technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $70,020 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 Maryland, 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: Maryland Department of Labor - Board for HVACR
Median wage (Maryland): $70,020 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Maryland

How to become a Refrigeration Technician in Maryland? Maryland requires credentials such as HEATING, VENTILATION, A/C, & REFRIGERATION APPRENTICE, HEATING, VENTILATION, A/C, & REFRIGERATION LIMITED LICENSE, HEATING, VENTILATION, A/C, & REFRIGERATION JOURNEYMAN. The licensing authority is the Maryland Department of Labor - Board for HVACR 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 Maryland? Yes. Maryland has licensing or registration requirements for refrigeration technicians. The Maryland Department of Labor - Board for HVACR oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do refrigeration technicians earn in Maryland? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Maryland is $70,020 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $46,180 and experienced professionals can earn $106,740 or more ¹.

How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Maryland

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland Department of Labor - Board for HVACR, pass the required examination, and obtain the refrigeration technician credential before working unsupervised in Maryland.

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

Refrigeration Technician License Requirements in Maryland

The Maryland Department of Labor - Board for HVACR oversees refrigeration technician licensing in Maryland ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
HEATING, VENTILATION, A/C, & REFRIGERATION APPRENTICE
HEATING, VENTILATION, A/C, & REFRIGERATION LIMITED LICENSE
HEATING, VENTILATION, A/C, & REFRIGERATION JOURNEYMAN
HEATING, VENTILATION, A/C, & REFRIGERATION MASTER
HEATING, VENTILATION, A/C, & REFRIGERATION JOURNEYMAN RESTRICTED
HEATING, VENTILATION, A/C, & REFRIGERATION INSPECTOR
HEATING, VENTILATION, A/C, & REFRIGERATION MASTER RESTRICTED
HEATING, VENTILATION, A/C, & REFRIGERATION INACTIVE MASTER RESTRICTED
HEATING, VENTILATION, A/C, & REFRIGERATION INACTIVE MASTER

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Refrigeration Technician Apprenticeship Information in Maryland

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

Contact Information:

Office: Maryland Apprenticeship & Training Program, Division of Workforce Development
Address: 1100 N. Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 767-2246
Email: [email protected]

Refrigeration Technician Wages by Metro Area in Maryland

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

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers wages in Maryland 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
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	8,610	$64,580	$69,440	$45,510	$100,800
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson	3,960	$63,180	$70,450	$45,040	$103,320
Lexington Park	350	$61,840	$70,160	$43,130	$112,290
Hagerstown-Martinsburg	280	$58,410	$60,820	$38,040	$87,790
Salisbury	160	$61,220	$65,670	$43,690	$98,140

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 Maryland? Maryland currently employs approximately 8,560 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 Maryland with an out-of-state license? Contact the Maryland Department of Labor - Board for HVACR for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Maryland compared to the national average? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Maryland is $70,020, which is $10,210 above the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data ¹.

In Maryland

Best Trade Schools in Maryland (2026)

Explore More Trades in Maryland

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Maryland Department of Labor - Board for HVACR - Licensing Information: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/electron.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Maryland Apprenticeship and Training: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/approcc/approcclinks.shtml ↩︎

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)