Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders in the U.S. is $41,330 ($19.87 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $41,330
- Mean annual wage
- $44,940
- Median hourly wage
- $19.87
- Employment
- 6,900
6,900 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| 25th percentile | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Median (50th) | $41,330 | $19.87 |
| 75th percentile | $49,550 | $23.82 |
| 90th percentile | $62,340 | $29.97 |
Highest-paying states for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $68,170 | 60 |
| Iowa | $62,520 | 290 |
| Indiana | $55,730 | 50 |
| Missouri | $53,940 | 200 |
| New Jersey | $51,460 | 100 |
| Washington | $50,870 | 60 |
| Illinois | $49,200 | 60 |
| Idaho | $48,360 | 90 |
| Ohio | $48,160 | 240 |
| Wisconsin | $47,060 | 100 |
Lowest-paying states
- Michigan: $31,700 median annual wage
- Alabama: $35,280 median annual wage
- Virginia: $35,370 median annual wage
- Texas: $35,810 median annual wage
- Tennessee: $37,780 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Load and position wrapping paper, sticks, bags, or cartons into dispensing machines.
- Start machinery, such as pumps, feeders, or conveyors, and turn valves to heat, admit, or transfer products, refrigerants, or mixes.
- Adjust machine or freezer speed and air intake to obtain desired consistency and amount of product.
- Inspect and flush lines with solutions or steam, and spray equipment with sterilizing solutions.
- Sample and test product characteristics such as specific gravity, acidity, and sugar content, using hydrometers, pH meters, or refractometers.
- Place or position containers into equipment, and remove containers after completion of cooling or freezing processes.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 17.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 45.8% |
| Some college, no degree | 19.9% |
| Associate's degree | 7.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 7.5% |
| Master's degree | 1.3% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.4% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.