Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary
The median cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders salary in the United States is $41,330 per year ($19.87/hour). Salaries range from $33,430 at the entry level to $62,340+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 6,900 cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 7.2% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$41,330
per year
Hourly Rate
$19.87
per hour
Employment
6,900
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$33,430
25th percentile
$36,380
Median
$41,330
75th percentile
$49,550
90th percentile
$62,340
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+7.2%
Faster than average
Annual Openings
800
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$32K$68K■ No data
Top Paying States
Nebraska
$68K
+65%
Iowa
$63K
+51%
Indiana
$56K
+35%
Missouri
$54K
+31%
New Jersey
$51K
+25%
Washington
$51K
+23%
Illinois
$49K
+19%
Idaho
$48K
+17%
Ohio
$48K
+17%
Wisconsin
$47K
+14%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $68,170 | +64.9% |
| Iowa | $62,520 | +51.3% |
| Indiana | $55,730 | +34.8% |
| Missouri | $53,940 | +30.5% |
| New Jersey | $51,460 | +24.5% |
| Washington | $50,870 | +23.1% |
| Illinois | $49,200 | +19.0% |
| Idaho | $48,360 | +17.0% |
| Ohio | $48,160 | +16.5% |
| Wisconsin | $47,060 | +13.9% |
Showing 1–10 of 34
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $65,850 | +59.3% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $65,320 | +58.0% |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $54,450 | +31.7% |
| Lancaster, PA | $54,330 | +31.5% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $51,460 | +24.5% |
| Gainesville, GA | $47,160 | +14.1% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $46,950 | +13.6% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $40,580 | -1.8% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $39,340 | -4.8% |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $38,090 | -7.8% |
Showing 1–10 of 14
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders earning $41,330/year would need 1442 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1549 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders salary trend (2011–2024) →