Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders salary in Illinois
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders in Illinois earn a median of $49,200 a year ($23.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,950 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $41,330. Illinois ranks 7th of 34 states for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders pay. There are 0.01 cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.23). The average (mean) salary is $56,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| 25th percentile | $49,200 | $23.66 |
| Median | $49,200 | $23.66 |
| 75th percentile | $65,350 | $31.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,950 | $31.71 |
| Average (mean) | $56,220 | $27.03 |
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 | $4,100 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,050 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,892.31 |
| Weekly | $946.15 |
| Hourly | $23.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,200 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $65,320 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $54,450 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Nebraska | $68,170 |
| Iowa | $62,520 |
| Indiana | $55,730 |
| Missouri | $53,940 |
| New Jersey | $51,460 |
| Washington | $50,870 |
| Illinois | $49,200 |
| Idaho | $48,360 |
| Ohio | $48,160 |
| Wisconsin | $47,060 |
See Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders pay in every state.
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.75 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,730 | $20.06 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $61,940 | $29.78 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $56,400 | $27.11 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $41,480 | $19.94 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $51,380 | $24.70 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,740 | $23.92 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,370 | $22.78 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $47,180 | $22.68 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $68,830 | $33.09 |
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 Illinois?
The median salary for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders in Illinois is $49,200 a year, or $23.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders make in Illinois?
The top 10% of cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders in Illinois earn at least $65,950 a year. The top 25% earn $65,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,260 a year, and a quarter of cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders earn $49,200 or less.
How many cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders work in Illinois?
About 60 cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.