Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders is $41,330, or $19.87 per hour. About 6,900 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $68,170 in Nebraska to $31,700 in Michigan.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 34 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | $68,170 | $32.78 | 60 | 1.24 |
| 2 | Iowa | $62,520 | $30.06 | 290 | 4.26 |
| 3 | Indiana | $55,730 | $26.79 | 50 | 0.35 |
| 4 | Missouri | $53,940 | $25.94 | 200 | 1.50 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $51,460 | $24.74 | 100 | 0.53 |
| 6 | Washington | $50,870 | $24.46 | 60 | 0.39 |
| 7 | Illinois | $49,200 | $23.66 | 60 | 0.23 |
| 8 | Idaho | $48,360 | $23.25 | 90 | 2.42 |
| 9 | Ohio | $48,160 | $23.15 | 240 | 0.97 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $47,060 | $22.62 | 100 | 0.76 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $46,910 | $22.56 | 100 | 0.79 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $46,800 | $22.50 | — | — |
| 13 | Georgia | $46,770 | $22.49 | 540 | 2.50 |
| 14 | Colorado | $46,160 | $22.19 | 130 | 0.99 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $45,520 | $21.89 | 80 | 4.09 |
| 16 | Utah | $45,500 | $21.88 | 70 | 0.95 |
| 17 | New York | $45,460 | $21.86 | 160 | 0.37 |
| 18 | Florida | $45,270 | $21.76 | 130 | 0.29 |
| 19 | California | $42,100 | $20.24 | 310 | 0.38 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $41,080 | $19.75 | 70 | 0.91 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $40,840 | $19.63 | 70 | 0.78 |
| 22 | Oregon | $40,030 | $19.24 | 120 | 1.36 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $39,640 | $19.06 | 60 | 0.62 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $39,630 | $19.06 | 130 | 1.72 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $39,360 | $18.92 | 760 | 2.81 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $39,030 | $18.77 | 420 | 1.93 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $38,200 | $18.36 | 360 | 7.00 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $38,090 | $18.31 | 270 | 4.63 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $37,990 | $18.27 | 110 | 4.00 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $37,780 | $18.16 | 50 | 0.38 |
| 31 | Texas | $35,810 | $17.22 | 510 | 0.82 |
| 32 | Virginia | $35,370 | $17.01 | 170 | 0.92 |
| 33 | Alabama | $35,280 | $16.96 | 280 | 2.94 |
| 34 | Michigan | $31,700 | $15.24 | 290 | 1.47 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders make?
The median annual wage for cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders in the United States is $41,330, or $19.87 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $33,430, and the top 10% earn $62,340.
How many cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders are employed in the U.S.?
About 6,900 people work as cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders nationwide.
Which state pays cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders the most?
Nebraska pays the most at a median of $68,170, followed by Iowa ($62,520) and Indiana ($55,730).
Which state pays cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders the least?
Michigan has the lowest median at $31,700.
Where are cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Mississippi at 7.00×.