How Much Does a Refrigeration Mechanic Make? (2024)
HVAC · SOC Code 49-9021 · 4-year apprenticeship
The average refrigeration mechanic earns $62,556 per year ($30/hour) as of 2024, according to BLS data. Yearly income ranges from $50,010 to $77,600 depending on city, with entry-level workers earning about $50,110 and top earners making $121,350+.
Yes — top-decile refrigeration mechanics clear $100K in 10 of 30 metros
The 90th-percentile refrigeration mechanic in Boston, MA earns $121,350 per year ($58/hour). Reaching that tier typically takes journeyman-to-master progression plus union membership, specialization, or running a small contracting business. Median refrigeration mechanic pay nationally is $62,556 — the $100K mark is the high-earner ceiling, not the middle.
National Salary Range
Refrigeration Mechanic salaries range from $50,010 to $77,600 median across cities, depending on location, union membership, and experience level.
Refrigeration Mechanic Salary by City
| City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL-Adjusted | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $77,600 | $50,110 – $121,350 | $51,053 | C | 5,760 |
| San Francisco, CA | $76,760 | $48,870 – $124,230 | $40,400 | D | 3,610 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $76,090 | $48,120 – $97,310 | $71,783 | C | 3,170 |
| Seattle, WA | $75,500 | $47,660 – $137,000 | $50,671 | C | 3,590 |
| Chicago, IL | $74,400 | $44,770 – $115,570 | $69,533 | C | 6,140 |
| New York, NY | $74,090 | $48,800 – $102,870 | $39,620 | D | 21,340 |
| Denver, CO | $64,990 | $47,830 – $104,210 | $50,773 | C | 4,580 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $64,820 | $46,510 – $106,270 | $39,048 | D | 9,420 |
| Portland, OR | $64,290 | $44,690 – $100,850 | $49,454 | C | 2,480 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $63,490 | $46,800 – $100,150 | $66,135 | C | 1,450 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $62,830 | $38,240 – $98,340 | $54,635 | C | 8,290 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $62,030 | $39,170 – $95,630 | $68,165 | C | 3,110 |
| Columbus, OH | $61,990 | $39,690 – $91,600 | $66,656 | C | 2,450 |
| St. Louis, MO | $61,880 | $41,250 – $101,090 | $68,756 | C | 3,640 |
| Detroit, MI | $61,140 | $41,110 – $84,150 | $68,697 | C | 5,750 |
| Kansas City, MO | $61,080 | $40,270 – $91,550 | $64,979 | C | 3,500 |
| Nashville, TN | $59,840 | $43,120 – $76,900 | $58,097 | C | 3,300 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $59,530 | $46,740 – $93,220 | $64,707 | C | 3,500 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $58,820 | $45,780 – $80,100 | $57,107 | C | 7,920 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $58,790 | $38,480 – $91,920 | $56,529 | C | 3,040 |
| Charlotte, NC | $57,950 | $40,980 – $78,830 | $59,133 | C | 3,160 |
| Houston, TX | $57,910 | $38,010 – $84,390 | $60,323 | C | 7,000 |
| New Orleans, LA | $57,780 | $36,700 – $79,950 | $60,821 | C | 1,080 |
| Dallas, TX | $57,670 | $38,220 – $89,250 | $56,539 | C | 9,980 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $57,110 | $35,490 – $82,830 | $54,913 | C | 2,620 |
| Atlanta, GA | $56,830 | $38,710 – $81,260 | $53,613 | C | 7,060 |
| Raleigh, NC | $54,180 | $39,050 – $77,020 | $54,180 | C | 2,570 |
| San Antonio, TX | $53,770 | $37,600 – $81,980 | $59,744 | C | 2,890 |
| Miami, FL | $53,510 | $38,270 – $77,600 | $43,861 | D | 9,200 |
| Tampa, FL | $50,010 | $38,520 – $71,180 | $49,515 | C | 5,640 |
About Refrigeration Mechanic Pay
Refrigeration Mechanics earn a national median salary of $62,556 based on 2024 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is Boston at $77,600 median, while Tampa offers the lowest at $50,010.
Becoming a refrigeration mechanic typically requires a 4-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $50,110, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $121,350 or more. With 6% wage growth over the past 5 years, this trade is growing at a steady pace.
See how this compares to other trades on our highest paying trades ranking, or browse the best cities for trade workers.
Thinking about becoming a refrigeration mechanic?
Step-by-step path: 4-year apprenticeship, certifications, state licensing, and apprentice-to-master pay timeline.
Related HVAC Trades
Frequently Asked Questions
The average refrigeration mechanic salary is $62,556 per year ($30/hour) based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Average yearly income ranges from $50,010 to $77,600 depending on city, experience, and union status.
Refrigeration Mechanics earn an average hourly wage of $30/hour based on a 2,080-hour work year. Entry-level (10th percentile) hourly pay is about $24/hour, while top earners (90th percentile) make $58/hour or more.
Boston offers the highest median pay for refrigeration mechanics at $77,600. However, cost of living matters, the COL-adjusted pay may tell a different story. Check our city-by-city breakdown above.
With a Trade Pay Score of C and 6% wage growth over 5 years, refrigeration mechanic offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 157,240 jobs nationwide across 30 metro areas.
Becoming a refrigeration mechanic typically requires a 4-year apprenticeship program combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Entry-level pay starts around $50,110 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.
The this entity record above pulls directly from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. What follows is the per-entity context — how this entity sits in the broader U.S. skilled-trade wage data distribution and which underlying factors drive the headline numbers.
The methodology behind every numeric value on this page is publicly documented on the the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey portal and described in detail on this site’s methodology page. Refresh cadence varies by underlying series; the page surfaces the as-of date for each number so readers can trace any figure back to the source release.
For readers using this page as a decision input, the related-entity pages elsewhere on the site provide the comparison set. The most useful comparison for this entity is typically a peer within U.S. trades, cities, and states with similar size, similar exposure, or similar geography — not the national-level summary alone.