Do refrigeration technicians need a license in Oregon?

Yes. Oregon requires state-level licensing or registration for refrigeration technicians, administered by the Bureau of Labor and Industries. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

What apprenticeships are available for refrigeration technicians in Oregon?

In Oregon, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division, 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 Oregon (2026)

Q: How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Oregon?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), refrigeration technicians in Oregon earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,940. Employment concentration in Oregon is roughly 0.77 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 Oregon?

Oregon currently employs approximately 3,980 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

Oregon heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $62,940 ($30.26/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,980 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 3.2% above the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,940 ($30.26/hr)
25th percentile: $56,340 per year
75th percentile: $78,890 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $94,520 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $46,990 per year
Workers employed in Oregon: 3,980
Versus national median: 3.2% above the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.77 - this occupation is less concentrated in Oregon than the national average

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

Oregon employs about 3,980 refrigeration technicians earning a median $62,940 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a refrigeration technician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Bureau of Labor and Industries credentialing requirements.

Compare Refrigeration Technician Schools in Oregon

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	Chemeketa Community College	49.9	Contact school for pricing	$50,594	22%	Yes*	In-state
2	Mt Hood Community College	48.8	Contact school for pricing	$52,184	25%	Yes*	In-state
3	Portland Community College	46.0	Contact school for pricing	$55,238	Not reported	Yes*	In-state
4	Lane Community College	38.9	Contact school for pricing	$59,131	20%	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.

Oregon employs approximately 3,980 refrigeration technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,940 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 Oregon, 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: Bureau of Labor and Industries
Median wage (Oregon): $62,940 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Oregon

How to become a Refrigeration Technician in Oregon? Oregon requires credentials such as Apprentice Plumber (Speciality), Solar Heating and Cooling System Installer. The licensing authority is the Bureau of Labor and Industries 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 Oregon? Yes. Oregon has licensing or registration requirements for refrigeration technicians. The Bureau of Labor and Industries oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do refrigeration technicians earn in Oregon? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Oregon is $62,940 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $46,990 and experienced professionals can earn $94,520 or more ¹.

How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Oregon

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Oregon 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 Oregon 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 Bureau of Labor and Industries, pass the required examination, and obtain the refrigeration technician credential before working unsupervised in Oregon.

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

Refrigeration Technician License Requirements in Oregon

The Bureau of Labor and Industries oversees refrigeration technician licensing in Oregon ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Apprentice Plumber (Speciality), Solar Heating and Cooling System Installer	Apprentice plumber and limited specialty plumber licenses are issued to individuals who are enrolled in registered apprenticeship or training programs approved by the Oregon State Apprenticeship and T…

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Refrigeration Technician Apprenticeship Information in Oregon

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

Contact Information:

Office: Apprenticeship and Training Division, Oregon State Bureau of Labor and Industries
Address: 1800 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Phone: (971) 245-3844
Email: [email protected]

Refrigeration Technician Wages by Metro Area in Oregon

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	2,580	$65,260	$72,700	$48,650	$98,810
Eugene-Springfield	370	$60,050	$62,870	$44,760	$82,590
Salem	350	$65,050	$68,450	$46,810	$91,330
Bend	340	$61,150	$66,060	$47,270	$89,980
Medford	200	$59,750	$64,110	$45,310	$84,460
Albany	130	$58,890	$62,680	$45,130	$84,600
Grants Pass	80	$48,190	$54,910	$38,420	$78,020
Corvallis	40	$63,720	$67,470	$49,280	$80,040

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 Oregon? Oregon currently employs approximately 3,980 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 Oregon with an out-of-state license? Contact the Bureau of Labor and Industries for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Oregon compared to the national average? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Oregon is $62,940, which is $3,130 above the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data ¹.

In Oregon

Best Trade Schools in Oregon (2026)

Explore More Trades in Oregon

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor and Industries - Licensing Information: http://www.oregonobo.org/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division: https://www.oregon.gov/boli/apprenticeship/pages/apprenticeship-opportunities.aspx ↩︎

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)