What apprenticeships are available for refrigeration technicians in Virginia?

In Virginia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry - 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 Virginia (2026)

Q: How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Virginia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), refrigeration technicians in Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,730. Employment concentration in Virginia is about 1.36 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Virginia currently employs approximately 14,690 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

Virginia heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $59,730 ($28.72/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 14,690 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.1% below the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,730 ($28.72/hr)
25th percentile: $47,910 per year
75th percentile: $73,440 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $83,420 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,760 per year
Workers employed in Virginia: 14,690
Versus national median: -2.1% below the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.36 - this occupation is more concentrated in Virginia than the national average

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

Virginia employs about 14,690 refrigeration technicians earning a median $59,730 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most refrigeration technicians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Virginia.

Compare Refrigeration Technician Schools in Virginia

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	Advanced Technology Institute	63.1	$14,568 - $23,713	$47,728	76%	—	In-state
2	Central Virginia Community College	50.4	$5,157 - $12,829	$45,157	43%	Yes*	In-state
3	Danville Community College	46.4	$4,992 - $14,126	$40,486	39%	Yes*	In-state
4	Mountain Gateway Community College	42.0	$5,022 - $12,565	$44,085	42%	—	In-state
5	Centura College-Virginia Beach	35.4	$16,637	$37,316	64%	—	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.

Virginia employs approximately 14,690 refrigeration technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,730 ¹. The state’s concentration of refrigeration technician jobs is 1.36x 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 Virginia, 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 (Virginia): $59,730 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Virginia

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

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 Virginia? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Virginia is $59,730 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,760 and experienced professionals can earn $83,420 or more ¹.

How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Virginia

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

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

Contact Information:

Office: Division of Registered Apprenticeship, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry
Address: 6606 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: (804) 786-6030
Email: [email protected]

Refrigeration Technician Wages by Metro Area in Virginia

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

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers wages in Virginia 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
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	2,840	$59,470	$58,380	$39,220	$76,960
Richmond	2,700	$59,130	$58,490	$38,270	$78,620
Roanoke	660	$49,230	$53,960	$37,720	$75,040
Lynchburg	530	$58,500	$57,130	$38,480	$78,120
Charlottesville	420	$59,540	$59,250	$43,110	$76,860
Harrisonburg	340	$60,210	$57,930	$39,340	$77,780
Kingsport-Bristol	290	$48,950	$51,270	$35,600	$65,790
Staunton-Stuarts Draft	230	$62,350	$62,300	$39,120	$80,740
Winchester	200	$56,250	$54,920	$39,050	$72,540
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford	190	$50,030	$53,690	$39,280	$68,710

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 Virginia? Virginia currently employs approximately 14,690 refrigeration technicians ¹. Nationally, refrigeration technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Virginia is $59,730, which is $80 below the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data ¹.

In Virginia

Best Trade Schools in Virginia (2026)

Explore More Trades in Virginia

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.doli.virginia.gov/apprenticeship/sponsor-list/ ↩︎

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)