What apprenticeships are available for refrigeration technicians in South Dakota?

In South Dakota, registered apprenticeships are administered through the South Dakota Department of Labor - 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 South Dakota (2026)

Q: How much do refrigeration technicians earn in South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), refrigeration technicians in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,390. Employment concentration in South Dakota is about 1.34 times the national average for this occupation.

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

South Dakota currently employs approximately 1,610 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

South Dakota heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $61,390 ($29.51/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,610 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.6% above the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,390 ($29.51/hr)
25th percentile: $51,480 per year
75th percentile: $65,940 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $75,190 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,420 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 1,610
Versus national median: 0.6% above the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.34 - this occupation is more concentrated in South Dakota than the national average

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

South Dakota employs about 1,610 refrigeration technicians earning a median $61,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most refrigeration technicians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in South Dakota.

Compare Refrigeration Technician Schools in South Dakota

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	Mitchell Technical College	78.9	Contact school for pricing	$54,865	74%	Yes*	In-state
2	Sinte Gleska University	30.0	Contact school for pricing	$51,797	6%	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.

South Dakota employs approximately 1,610 refrigeration technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,390 ¹. The state’s concentration of refrigeration technician jobs is 1.34x 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 South Dakota, 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 (South Dakota): $61,390 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in South Dakota

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

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 South Dakota? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in South Dakota is $61,390 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,420 and experienced professionals can earn $75,190 or more ¹.

How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in South Dakota

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

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

Contact Information:

Office: StartTodaySD Apprenticeship Program
Address: 123 West Missouri Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 910-7031
Email: [email protected]

Refrigeration Technician Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Sioux Falls	600	$62,440	$63,050	$48,990	$76,070
Rapid City	360	$61,430	$61,160	$48,010	$74,280
Sioux City	200	$59,840	$61,880	$39,330	$81,880

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 South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 1,610 refrigeration technicians ¹. Nationally, refrigeration technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do refrigeration technicians earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in South Dakota is $61,390, which is $1,580 above the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Dakota

Best Trade Schools in South Dakota (2026)

Explore More Trades in South Dakota

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
South Dakota Department of Labor - 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)