Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
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.
Also called: Certified Refrigeration Operator · Compressor Operator · Engine Room Operator · Freezer Operator · Freezer Person · Ice Cream Maker
Median pay (national)
$40,160
$33,710–$62,760 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
6,590
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+7.2%
~800 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $62,760 versus $33,710 at the bottom 10% — 1.9x. The median of $40,160 leaves roughly 56% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +7.2% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 800 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 34 states with released data, Illinois pays the most for this role (median $58,200, +45% vs the national median), while Texas sits lowest at $34,970 — a 66% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Assemble equipment, and attach pipes, fittings, or valves, using hand tools.
- Correct machinery malfunctions by performing actions such as removing jams, and inform supervisors of malfunctions as necessary.
- Measure or weigh specified amounts of ingredients or materials, and load them into tanks, vats, hoppers, or other equipment.
- Adjust machine or freezer speed and air intake to obtain desired consistency and amount of product.
- Weigh packages and adjust freezer air valves or switches on filler heads to obtain specified amounts of product in each container.
- Inspect and flush lines with solutions or steam, and spray equipment with sterilizing solutions.
Tools & technology
- Google Gmail
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Food Production
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training