The median pay for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders is $41,330 a year ($19.87/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 5.9% through 2035, with about 800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-9193
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender in four numbers
- Median pay
- $41,330a year, or $19.87/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $33KTop 10% $62K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.9%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 8007,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20257.7K
- Projected 20358.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 7.7K Projected 2035 8.1K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school51.4%
- High school7.3%
- Certificate40.8%
- Some college0.5%
Highest education held by cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders Segment Value Less than high school 51.4% High school 7.3% Certificate 40.8% Some college 0.5%
Also advertised as: Certified Refrigeration Operator, Compressor Operator, Engine Room Operator, Freezer Operator, Freezer Person, Ice Cream Maker.
Pay
How much do Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders make?
Every cooling and freezing equipment operator and tender in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$41,330
Middle half earn $36,380 to $49,550
- 10th
- $33,430
- 25th
- $36,380
- 75th
- $49,550
- 90th
- $62,340
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $33,430 |
| 25th | $36,380 |
| Median | $41,330 |
| 75th | $49,550 |
| 90th | $62,340 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $41,330
- Median hourly wage
- $19.87/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $44,940
- People employed
- 6,900
Versus all US occupations
At $41,330, Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders earn 19% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $9,650 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 14% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $62,340 or more while the bottom 10% earn $33,430, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 8% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Nebraska pays the most at $68,170, and still leads at $75,658 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Nebraska | $68,170 | $75,658 | 60 |
| 2Iowa | $62,520 | $71,238 | 290 |
| 3Indiana | $55,730 | $59,713 | 50 |
| 4Missouri | $53,940 | $59,394 | 200 |
| 5New Jersey | $51,460 | $47,296 | 100 |
| 6Washington | $50,870 | $47,536 | 60 |
| 7Illinois | $49,200 | $49,221 | 60 |
| 8Idaho | $48,360 | $50,642 | 90 |
| 9Ohio | $48,160 | $51,911 | 240 |
| 10Wisconsin | $47,060 | $50,013 | 100 |
Job outlook
Is Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | +5.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders to change 5.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 800 openings are projected each year, 10.4% of the 7,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders.
- Less than a High School Diploma51.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate40.8%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)7.3%
- Some College Courses0.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 51.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 40.8% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 7.3% |
| Some College Courses | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender do?
Operate or tend equipment such as cooling and freezing units, refrigerators, batch freezers, and freezing tunnels, to cool or freeze products, food, blood plasma, and chemicals.
Day-to-day tasks
- Assemble equipment, and attach pipes, fittings, or valves, using hand tools.
- Start machinery, such as pumps, feeders, or conveyors, and turn valves to heat, admit, or transfer products, refrigerants, or mixes.
- 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.
- Record temperatures, amounts of materials processed, or test results on report forms.
- Correct machinery malfunctions by performing actions such as removing jams, and inform supervisors of malfunctions as necessary.
- Read dials and gauges on panel control boards to ascertain temperatures, alkalinities, and densities of mixtures, and turn valves to obtain specified mixtures.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Monitoring3.5
- Speaking3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Writing2.9
- Learning Strategies2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.9
- Operation and Control3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.5
- Equipment Maintenance3.1
- Troubleshooting3.1
- Repairing3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Operation and Control | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.5 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.1 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.1 |
| Repairing | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Electronic mail software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional4.3
- Investigative2.3
- Social1.4
- Enterprising1.1
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender
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More production careers
Median annual pay, with cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender$41,330
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender | $41,330 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender appears on
Questions
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender: frequently asked questions
How much do Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders make?
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders earn a median of $41,330 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 19% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $19.87/hr. The middle half earn between $36,380 and $49,550. The top 10% earn $62,340 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 51.4% hold less than a high school diploma.
Is Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.9% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender do?
Operate or tend equipment such as cooling and freezing units, refrigerators, batch freezers, and freezing tunnels, to cool or freeze products, food, blood plasma, and chemicals. A core O*NET task: assemble equipment, and attach pipes, fittings, or valves, using hand tools. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Presentation software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders the most?
The highest state medians for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders are Nebraska ($68,170), Iowa ($62,520), Indiana ($55,730) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender?
O*NET scores Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.