Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders salary in the U.S.
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders in the U.S. earn a median of $41,330 a year ($19.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,900 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,340 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $44,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| 25th percentile | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Median | $41,330 | $19.87 |
| 75th percentile | $49,550 | $23.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,340 | $29.97 |
| Average (mean) | $44,940 | $21.61 |
Half of cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,444.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,722.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,589.62 |
| Weekly | $794.81 |
| Hourly | $19.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $41,330 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
Best-paying metro areas for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $65,850 | 50 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $65,320 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $54,450 | 30 |
| Lancaster, PA | $54,330 | 60 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $51,460 | 110 |
| Gainesville, GA | $47,160 | 140 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $46,950 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $40,580 | 70 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $39,340 | 40 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $38,090 | 100 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $36,670 | 70 |
| Rochester, NY | $36,600 | 50 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $36,090 | 160 |
| Salem, OR | $33,180 | 30 |
Metro areas with the most cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 160 | $36,090 |
| Gainesville, GA | 140 | $47,160 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 120 | $46,950 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 110 | $51,460 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 100 | $38,090 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 70 | $40,580 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 70 | $36,670 |
| Lancaster, PA | 60 | $54,330 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 50 | $65,850 |
| Rochester, NY | 50 | $36,600 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 40 | $65,320 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 40 | $39,340 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 30 | $54,450 |
| Salem, OR | 30 | $33,180 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,110 | $19.29 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,250 | $23.20 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,040 | $27.90 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,270 | $24.17 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,610 | $24.81 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $46,170 | $22.20 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9193. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders make in the U.S.?
The median salary for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders in the U.S. is $41,330 a year, or $19.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders in the U.S. earn at least $62,340 a year. The top 25% earn $49,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,430 a year, and a quarter of cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders earn $36,380 or less.
How many cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders work in the U.S.?
About 6,900 cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.