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Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics

Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics assemble, install, maintain and repair industrial, commercial and domestic airconditioning and refrigeration systems and equipment.

Trades & constructionLicensed workANZSCO 3421
$2,100/wkMedian full-time pay
30kPeople employed
+7% ▲Growth to 2035
91%Work full time
31Median age
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3421.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.

establishing job requirements from drawings and specifications, and laying out installation reference pointsdrilling holes, installing mounting brackets and cutting, bending and threading pipinginstalling and repairing components such as compressors, motors, condensers, evaporators, switches and gauges, and copper lines for steam, gas, refrigerant, compressed air, oil and chilled waterbolting, soldering, riveting, welding and brazing pipes to connect equipment, and checking alignment and accuracy of fitfilling systems with gas or fluid to check for leakstest-operating refrigeration systems, checking mechanisms and making adjustments
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 3421 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 2,000 more people in airconditioning and refrigeration mechanics by 2035 ▲

The field shrank 1.3% in the year to February 2026, losing about 400 workers. Most of the jobs are in NSW and QLD, with VIC third.

Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3421.More about our sources: How we check our facts
29.2k2025
29.9k2030 PROJ.
31.2k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

Most airconditioning and refrigeration mechanics came through a certificate or diploma. 74% did.

A university degree is rare here: 3% hold one. The trade qualification is the standard way in. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.

Source: JSA · training.gov.auEducation split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 3421. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our facts

Nationally recognised training · most offered first

UEE32225Certificate III

Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

Electrotechnology Training Package · licensed work.

See 23 providers
MEM31322Certificate III

Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Manufacturing and Engineering · licensed work.

See 4 providers
UEE42725Certificate IV

Certificate IV in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Servicing

Electrotechnology Training Package · licensed work.

See 4 providers

Licensed work: several of these courses lead to work that also needs a state or territory licence. Training is the first step; licensing rules are set by each state.

See all 11 mapped courses
UEE32225Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration · 23 providers
MEM31322Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning · 4 providers
UEE42725Certificate IV in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Servicing · 4 providers
UEE51225Diploma of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering · 3 providers
UEE62525Advanced Diploma of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering · 2 providers
UEE62420Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration · 0 providers
UEE42825Certificate IV in Air-conditioning Systems Energy Management and Control · 0 providers
UEE40520Certificate IV in Electrical - Air Conditioning Split Systems · 0 providers
UEE42925Certificate IV in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems · 0 providers
UEE50325Diploma of Electrical and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning · 0 providers
UEE51120Diploma of Engineering Technology - Refrigeration and Air Conditioning · 0 providers

Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.

Jobs open right now

30k Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.

Search job ads by state

Each link opens seek.com.au in a new tab, showing ads posted in the last month. SEEK is a job site; we link there because that is where most Australian jobs are advertised. We have no commercial relationship with SEEK.

Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 3421.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

NSW9.3k
QLD7.9k
VIC5.8k
WA3k
SA2.5k
ACT0.6k
NT0.5k
TAS0.3k

Occupations near this one

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