Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
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.
Median pay: $41,330/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +7.2% projected growth, 2024–2034 — faster than average.
About 800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders?
The median pay for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders is $41,330 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders?
Employment for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders is projected to change +7.2% from 2024 to 2034 - faster than average.
What education is typically required for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders?
About 800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.