Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic

MEM30319

Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade (Light)

The Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade prepares students for a career as a tradesperson, with prospective occupations including maintenance fitter, toolmaker and fitter/machinist.

Career Outcomes

Duration

Snapshot

Employed

25,700

Future Growth

4%

Weekly Earnings

N/A

Full-Time Share

83%

Female Share

1%

Average age

33

Summary

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

Tasks

establishing job requirements from drawings and specifications, and laying out installation reference points
drilling holes, installing mounting brackets and cutting, bending and threading piping
installing and repairing components such as compressors, motors, condensers, evaporators, switches and gauges, and copper lines for steam, gas, refrigerant, compressed air, oil and chilled water
bolting, soldering, riveting, welding and brazing pipes to connect equipment, and checking alignment and accuracy of fit
filling systems with gas or fluid to check for leaks
test-operating refrigeration systems, checking mechanisms and making adjustments
removing test gas and fluid using vacuum pumps, and filling with refrigerant
checking and overhauling refrigeration systems, diagnosing faults and repairing and replacing defective components
adjusting system controls and mechanisms and reassembling systems
recording causes of malfunctioning and action taken

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:

is expected to grow moderately
is likely to reach 30,800 by 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.

Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.

Earnings

Around 89% of people employed as Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 23 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

Full-time workers work an average of 44 hours per week in their main job. This is the same as the all jobs average.

More than half of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).

Median hourly earnings are $51, this is more than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.

Industries

1

Other Services

47.2%

2

CONSTRUCTION

39.6%

3

RETAIL TRADE

3.1%

4

MANUFACTURING

2.8%

5

Other industries

6.9%

Want To Be An Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic? Get Started!

Generate your free SmartPlan™ to identify colleges you like, and potential ways to save on a degree or certification program toward your career with courses, offers, and much more!

or Learn More →

Courses