All careers › Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
Refrigeration operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $33,430lowest 10% earn less
- $36,38025th percentile
- $41,330median
- $49,55075th percentile
- $62,340top 10% earn more
Refrigeration operators, which BLS calls cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders, had a median pay of $41,330 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 5.9% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +5.9%[2]
- Openings per year
- 800[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do refrigeration operators make?
The median pay for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders was $41,330 a year, or $19.87 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $44,940 a year, or $21.61 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job was below the median for all occupations.
Pay varies within the job. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,430 a year, and the 25th percentile was $36,380[3]. The 75th percentile was $49,550 and the 90th percentile was $62,340[3]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $16.07 and the 90th percentile was $29.97[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].
| Measure | Annual wage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3] | $33,430 | |
| 25th percentile[3] | $36,380 | |
| Median[1] | $41,330 | |
| 75th percentile[3] | $49,550 | |
| 90th percentile[3] | $62,340 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 6,900 people held these jobs in this count[11].
Pay by state and city
BLS published medians for 34 states[12]. Nebraska had the highest at $68,170, followed by Iowa at $62,520 and Indiana at $55,730[12]. Michigan had the lowest published median, at $31,700[12]. Nebraska had only 60 jobs and Iowa had 290, so these are small groups of workers[12].
Pennsylvania had the most jobs, at 760[13]. Georgia followed with 540, then Texas with 510, North Carolina with 420 and Mississippi with 360[13]. Pennsylvania had a median of $39,360, Georgia had $46,770 and Texas had $35,810[12].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $51,460, Gainesville, GA at $47,160 and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA at $46,950[14]. Pittsburgh, PA had the most metro jobs, at 160, with a median of $36,090[15]. Gainesville had 140 jobs and Atlanta had 120[15].
Show median pay in 34 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska[12] | $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 |
| Minnesota | $46,910 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $46,800 | n/a |
| Georgia | $46,770 | 540 |
| Colorado | $46,160 | 130 |
| South Dakota | $45,520 | 80 |
| Utah | $45,500 | 70 |
| New York | $45,460 | 160 |
| Florida | $45,270 | 130 |
| California | $42,100 | 310 |
| Connecticut | $41,080 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $40,840 | 70 |
| Oregon | $40,030 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $39,640 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $39,630 | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,360 | 760 |
| North Carolina | $39,030 | 420 |
| Mississippi | $38,200 | 360 |
| Arkansas | $38,090 | 270 |
| Hawaii | $37,990 | 110 |
| Tennessee | $37,780 | 50 |
| Texas | $35,810 | 510 |
| Virginia | $35,370 | 170 |
| Alabama | $35,280 | 280 |
| Michigan | $31,700 | 290 |
How to become a refrigeration operator
The path in the BLS data is short and does not list a license or exam.
- First: finish high school or earn an equivalent. That is the typical education for entry[6].
- Next: you do not need related work experience[6].
- Then: learn on the job. BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training for this occupation[6].
O*NET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, where some jobs need little experience and others need several months to a year[16]. BLS facts here do not say how many weeks or months the training lasts.
What refrigeration operators do
O*NET describes the work as running or tending refrigeration and freezing units, including batch freezers and freezing tunnels, to chill or freeze foods, plasma, chemicals and other products[17]. Common tasks include:
- Writing down temperatures, amounts processed and test results on report forms[18].
- Watching gauges and products and adjusting controls to hold set conditions[18].
- Reading dials on control panels and turning valves to get the right mixtures[18].
- Starting pumps, feeders or conveyors and moving products or refrigerants[18].
- Fixing problems such as jams and telling supervisors about malfunctions[18].
- Putting equipment together and attaching pipes and valves with hand tools[18].
- Weighing or measuring ingredients and loading them into tanks or hoppers[18].
- Cleaning lines and equipment with flushing solutions, steam or sterilizing sprays[18].
Workers in O*NET report job titles such as freezer operator, compressor operator and engine room operator[19].
Job outlook
BLS projects jobs for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders to grow 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 7,700 to 8,100[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[20]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, which is why they are not the same measure as the 6,900 wage and salary jobs above[2][11]. In 2025, 6.1% of these workers were self-employed[21].
BLS expects about 800 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[5]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or move to other occupations, as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 6.3% move to a different occupation[22].
Is it a good fit?
The facts describe a job with a low barrier to entry. A high school diploma and on-the-job training are typical, and no related experience is needed[6]. The median pay of $41,330 is below the all-occupations median of $50,980, though the top 10% earned $62,340 or more[1][4][3]. Projected growth is faster than average at 5.9% against 3.5%, but this is a small occupation with about 800 openings a year[2][20][5]. Pay differs a lot by state, so local figures matter[12].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a refrigeration operator make an hour?
- The median was $19.87 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $16.07 and the 90th percentile was $29.97[8].
- What education do you need to be a refrigeration operator?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
- Is refrigeration operator in demand?
- BLS projects 5.9% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 800 openings a year[2][20][5].
- What is the highest paying state for refrigeration operators?
- Nebraska had the highest median at $68,170, followed by Iowa at $62,520[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders in the US was $41,330 per year and $19.87 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders is projected to grow 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 7,700 to 8,100 jobs (a change of +500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders: 10th percentile $33,430, 25th percentile $36,380, 75th percentile $49,550, 90th percentile $62,340. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 800 openings for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders was $44,940 per year and $21.61 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders: 10th percentile $16.07, 25th percentile $17.49, 75th percentile $23.82, 90th percentile $29.97. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 6,900 people were employed as Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders jobs: Pennsylvania 760; Georgia 540; Texas 510; North Carolina 420; Mississippi 360. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $51,460; Gainesville, GA $47,160; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $46,950; Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $38,090; Pittsburgh, PA $36,090. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders jobs: Pittsburgh, PA 160 (median $36,090); Gainesville, GA 140 (median $47,160); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 120 (median $46,950); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 110 (median $51,460); Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR 100 (median $38,090); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 70 (median $40,580). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 51-9193.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-9193.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Certified Refrigeration Operator, Compressor Operator, Engine Room Operator, Freezer Operator, Freezer Person, Ice Cream Maker, Machine Operator, Refrigeration Operator. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: 6.1% of Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.