What apprenticeships are available for refrigeration technicians in Washington?

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

Q: How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Washington?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), refrigeration technicians in Washington earned a median annual wage of approximately $75,660. Employment concentration in Washington is roughly 0.79 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 Washington?

Washington currently employs approximately 7,370 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

Washington heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $75,660 ($36.38/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 7,370 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 24.0% above the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $75,660 ($36.38/hr)
25th percentile: $60,170 per year
75th percentile: $93,970 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $120,360 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,810 per year
Workers employed in Washington: 7,370
Versus national median: 24.0% above the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.79 - this occupation is less concentrated in Washington than the national average

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

Washington employs about 7,370 refrigeration technicians earning a median $75,660 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most refrigeration technicians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Washington.

Compare Refrigeration Technician Schools in Washington

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	Bellingham Technical College	69.4	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	44%	Yes*	In-state
2	Bates Technical College	65.2	$6,027 - $18,837	Not reported	43%	Yes*	In-state
3	Clover Park Technical College	63.9	$6,634 - $18,882	$51,699	42%	Yes*	In-state
4	Clark College	63.1	Contact school for pricing	$49,337	37%	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.

Washington employs approximately 7,370 refrigeration technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $75,660 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 Washington, 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 (Washington): $75,660 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Washington

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

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 Washington? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Washington is $75,660 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,810 and experienced professionals can earn $120,360 or more ¹.

How to Become a Refrigeration Technician in Washington

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

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

Contact Information:

Office: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
Address: 7273 Linderson Way SW, Tumwater, WA 98501-5414
Phone: (360) 902-5320
Email: [email protected]

Refrigeration Technician Wages by Metro Area in Washington

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

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers wages in Washington 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
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	3,940	$80,100	$85,420	$51,380	$129,390
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	2,580	$65,260	$72,700	$48,650	$98,810
Spokane-Spokane Valley	610	$62,840	$67,410	$45,690	$94,380
Kennewick-Richland	520	$75,660	$75,250	$47,530	$109,220
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater	270	$76,260	$79,680	$46,980	$135,580
Bellingham	240	$72,190	$71,730	$48,070	$99,260
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard	180	$74,650	$74,050	$47,690	$97,130
Yakima	160	$65,900	$66,080	$42,050	$94,080
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	150	$77,010	$77,400	$48,900	$110,500
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee	120	$61,630	$61,260	$37,840	$80,080
Lewiston	100	$49,880	$52,820	$37,470	$72,240
Longview-Kelso	80	$64,400	$71,230	$46,920	$99,270
Walla Walla	80	$62,530	$63,080	$46,180	$79,850

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 Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 7,370 refrigeration technicians ¹. Nationally, refrigeration technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do refrigeration technicians earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for refrigeration technicians in Washington is $75,660, which is $15,850 above the national median of $59,810 according to BLS data ¹.

In Washington

Best Trade Schools in Washington (2026)

Explore More Trades in Washington

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Washington State of Labor and Industry - Apprenticeship: https://secure.lni.wa.gov/arts-public/#/ ↩︎

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)