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Mechanics, Maintenance & Manufacturing career
Freezing Equipment Operator
Also called: Freezer Operator · Blast Freezer Operator · Cooling Equipment Operator · Refrigeration Operator
What freezing equipment operators do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a freezing equipment operator do?
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. The median pay is $41,330 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few months on the job, and employment is projected to grow +5.9% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$41,330$19.87/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+5.9%2025–35, faster than average
- Openings per year800Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationHigh school diploma or equivalentBLS classification
- Time to trainA few months on the jobTypical program length
- U.S. jobs7,700Employment, 2025
What freezing equipment operators do
Freezing equipment operators keep products cold. They run blast freezers, spiral freezers, ice cream freezers and cooling tunnels, check product temperatures, adjust settings and keep equipment clean in food and cold storage plants.
A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical. BLS projects faster than average growth.
Typical duties
- Run freezers
- Monitor temperatures
- Check product core temperature
- Adjust settings
- Load and unload product
- Defrost and clean
- Record data
Work environment and schedule
Operators work in very cold food plants and freezers.
Schedule: Full time, often early shifts.
A day in the life
- Gear up for cold.
- Start the spiral freezer.
- Check core temperatures.
- Adjust belt speed.
See a full day in the life of a freezing equipment operator →
Freezing Equipment Operator salary
Half of freezing equipment operators earned more than $41,330 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $33,430 for the lowest 10% to $62,340 for the top 10%.
Full freezing equipment operator pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a freezing equipment operator
- Finish high school
- Get hired at a food plant
- Learn freezers
- Learn food safety
- Advance
A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a freezing equipment operator →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Freezer operation
- Temperature monitoring
- Food safety
- Sanitation
- Defrosting
People skills
- Reliability
- Attention to detail
- Stamina
- Teamwork
All freezing equipment operator skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Faster-than-average growth
- No degree needed
- Steady food industry
- Training provided
Cons
- Extreme cold
- Ammonia hazards
- Early shifts
- Repetitive
Certifications and licenses
- Food safety training: HACCP.
- Ammonia awareness: Required in many plants.
- OSHA 10: Safety.
- Forklift certification: Helpful.
Career path
- Operator: Entry.
- Lead Operator: Lead.
- Refrigeration Technician: Maintenance.
- Supervisor: Lead.
Learn the job before day one
Our Freezing Equipment Operator training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as check frozen product core temperature and work safely in extreme cold, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Freezing Equipment Operator vs. Food Cooking Machine Operator · Freezing Equipment Operator vs. Packaging Machine Operator · Freezing Equipment Operator vs. HVAC Technician · Freezing Equipment Operator vs. Food Batchmaker
Freezing Equipment Operator FAQ
Is it really cold?
Yes, often below 0°F.
Is the job growing?
Yes, BLS projects faster than average growth.
Do I need a degree?
No.
How much does a freezing equipment operator make?
The median annual wage for freezing equipment operators was $41,330 ($19.87 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $33,430 and the highest 10% earned more than $62,340.
How long does it take to become a freezing equipment operator?
Most people need about A few months on the job of training. A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical.
Do you need a degree to be a freezing equipment operator?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
More freezing equipment operator questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 51-9193 (Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.