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, Machine Operator, Refrigeration Operator, Refrigeration Technician, Ammonia Refrigeration Worker, Batch Freezer, Batch Freezer Operator, Brewery Cellar Worker, Brewery Worker, Cellar Person, Chiller Operator, Chiller Tender, Chilling Hood Operator, Cooler, Cooler Case Picker, Cooler Operator, Cooler Tender, Cooling Machine Operator, Cooling Pan Tender, Crystalizer, Crystalizer Operator, Crystalizer Tender, Crystallizer Operator, Dairy Freezer Operator, Dispensing Operator, Freezer, Freezer Case Picker, Freezer Laboratory Technician, Freezer Machine Operator, Freezer Manager, Freezer Tunnel Operator, Freezing Machine Operator, Hog Cooler, Ice Cream Vault Worker, Ice Maker, Ice Plant Operator, Ice Puller, Icebox Man, Icebox Worker, Maintenance Mechanic, Meat Cooler, Mold Cooler, Novelty Maker, Paradichlorobenzene Tender, Refrigerating Machine Operator, Refrigeration Engine Operator, Refrigeration Person, Spreading Machine Operator, Votator Machine Operator

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.

Skills, machines and equipment

Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Complex Problem Solving
Speaking
Equipment Maintenance
Troubleshooting
Repairing
Quality Control Analysis
Judgment and Decision Making
Reading Comprehension

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (7.31% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

36,380–49,550 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9193.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (7.31% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders