Massachusetts pairs a dense grocery-and-foodservice base around Boston with seafood processing on the South Coast, so you'll find both grocery rack work and industrial ammonia openings here. The state runs a licensing system through its Board of Examiners of Refrigeration, meaning you'll need a state refrigeration license to work independently, on top of the EPA 608 certification every tech needs to handle refrigerants. Openings cluster around Boston, Worcester, Springfield, New Bedford and Lowell.
Who's Hiring
Employers in Massachusetts
Stop & ShopGrocery Chain
In-house rack refrigeration on supermarket cases across the Boston metro and statewide.
SyscoFoodservice DC
Distribution-center refrigeration keeping cold and frozen storage running for foodservice supply.
LineageCold Storage
Industrial ammonia systems at temperature-controlled warehouses; RETA credentials help here.
HP HoodDairy Plant
Process refrigeration at dairy manufacturing, another route into industrial ammonia work.
Seafood ProcessorsNew Bedford
South Coast seafood plants run heavy refrigeration loads for freezing and cold holding.
Service ContractorsStatewide
Commercial refrigeration and HVAC/R shops serving grocery, restaurant and light-industrial accounts.
Roles and Getting In
Postings run from commercial refrigeration and HVAC/R techs to ammonia operators and industrial refrigeration mechanics. If you're breaking in, the fastest route is a helper or apprentice spot with a service contractor, or trade school plus your EPA 608; HVAC techs already in the state can cross over into refrigeration work. Details on the state license path are in the state license requirements guide, and the how to become a refrigeration technician guide covers the full entry path.
Massachusetts FAQ
Do I need a state license to work in refrigeration in Massachusetts?
Yes. Massachusetts licenses refrigeration technicians through its state Board of Examiners of Refrigeration, so beyond the federal EPA 608 you'll need a state refrigeration license to work on your own. [VERIFY: exact MA license classes and hour/exam thresholds]
How much do refrigeration techs make in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts sits toward the higher end of the national range, driven by Greater Boston's cost of living and the state licensing requirement that limits the pool. See the salary-by-state ranking for where it lands. [VERIFY: MA-specific wage figure]
Where are the industrial refrigeration jobs in Massachusetts?
Ammonia and industrial work concentrates in cold storage warehouses, dairy plants like HP Hood, and the New Bedford seafood processing cluster, rather than in the grocery-heavy Boston core.
