Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $41,330 | $19.87 |
| Mean (average) | $44,940 | $21.61 |
| 90th percentile | $62,340 | $29.97 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 34 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $35,280 | $22,820 | $38,860 | 280 | 2.94 |
| Arkansas | $38,090 | $34,990 | $52,320 | 270 | 4.63 |
| California | $42,100 | $35,080 | $67,470 | 310 | 0.38 |
| Colorado | $46,160 | $43,240 | $53,860 | 130 | 0.99 |
| Connecticut | $41,080 | $36,300 | $48,510 | 70 | 0.91 |
| Florida | $45,270 | $38,470 | $51,570 | 130 | 0.29 |
| Georgia | $46,770 | $37,690 | $59,100 | 540 | 2.5 |
| Hawaii | $37,990 | $35,700 | $48,890 | 110 | 4 |
| Idaho | $48,360 | $43,420 | $72,800 | 90 | 2.42 |
| Illinois | $49,200 | $46,260 | $65,950 | 60 | 0.23 |
| Indiana | $55,730 | $39,090 | $82,190 | 50 | 0.35 |
| Iowa | $62,520 | $41,720 | $82,790 | 290 | 4.26 |
| Kentucky | $40,840 | $38,470 | $46,980 | 70 | 0.78 |
| Massachusetts | $46,800 | $35,480 | $58,700 | ||
| Michigan | $31,700 | $28,990 | $58,730 | 290 | 1.47 |
| Minnesota | $46,910 | $39,420 | $68,080 | 100 | 0.79 |
| Mississippi | $38,200 | $23,760 | $39,940 | 360 | 7 |
| Missouri | $53,940 | $41,430 | $62,220 | 200 | 1.5 |
| Nebraska | $68,170 | $45,090 | $75,240 | 60 | 1.24 |
| New Jersey | $51,460 | $38,170 | $75,610 | 100 | 0.53 |
| New York | $45,460 | $36,140 | $69,180 | 160 | 0.37 |
| North Carolina | $39,030 | $35,420 | $56,380 | 420 | 1.93 |
| Ohio | $48,160 | $39,730 | $76,180 | 240 | 0.97 |
| Oklahoma | $39,630 | $34,740 | $64,690 | 130 | 1.72 |
| Oregon | $40,030 | $32,570 | $60,840 | 120 | 1.36 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,360 | $33,430 | $54,330 | 760 | 2.81 |
| South Carolina | $39,640 | $35,140 | $60,500 | 60 | 0.62 |
| South Dakota | $45,520 | $36,030 | $55,870 | 80 | 4.09 |
| Tennessee | $37,780 | $29,210 | $46,490 | 50 | 0.38 |
| Texas | $35,810 | $25,230 | $62,920 | 510 | 0.82 |
| Utah | $45,500 | $22,990 | $45,500 | 70 | 0.95 |
| Virginia | $35,370 | $34,700 | $45,860 | 170 | 0.92 |
| Washington | $50,870 | $47,770 | $53,950 | 60 | 0.39 |
| Wisconsin | $47,060 | $45,450 | $57,990 | 100 | 0.76 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 6.1%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Record temperatures, amounts of materials processed, or test results on report forms.
- Monitor pressure gauges, ammeters, flowmeters, thermometers, or products, and adjust controls to maintain specified conditions, such as feed rate, product consistency, temperature, air pressure, and machine speed.
- Read dials and gauges on panel control boards to ascertain temperatures, alkalinities, and densities of mixtures, and turn valves to obtain specified mixtures.
- Start machinery, such as pumps, feeders, or conveyors, and turn valves to heat, admit, or transfer products, refrigerants, or mixes.
- Correct machinery malfunctions by performing actions such as removing jams, and inform supervisors of malfunctions as necessary.
- Assemble equipment, and attach pipes, fittings, or valves, using hand tools.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Google Gmail
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing.
Common job titles: Certified Refrigeration Operator, Compressor Operator, Engine Room Operator, Freezer Operator, Freezer Person, Ice Cream Maker, Machine Operator, Refrigeration Operator, Refrigeration Technician.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders make?
The national median annual wage for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders was $41,330 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $33,430 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $62,340. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders a growing career?
BLS projects employment of cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders to change +5.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Nebraska ($68,170), Iowa ($62,520), Indiana ($55,730). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.