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, food, blood plasma, and chemicals.

Also Known As:

Certified Refrigeration Operator Compressor Operator Engine Room Operator Freezer Operator Freezer Person Ice Cream Maker Machine Operator Refrigeration Operator Refrigeration Technician

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders in United States

Job Outlook Bright

New job opportunities are very likely in the future

United States 2033 Projected Employment

7,800

9% Change From 2023

Explore Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Start machinery, such as pumps, feeders, or conveyors, and turn valves to heat, admit, or transfer products, refrigerants, or mixes.
Weigh packages and adjust freezer air valves or switches on filler heads to obtain specified amounts of product in each container.
Start agitators to blend contents, or start beater, scraper, and expeller blades to mix contents with air and prevent sticking.
Correct machinery malfunctions by performing actions such as removing jams, and inform supervisors of malfunctions as necessary.
Place or position containers into equipment, and remove containers after completion of cooling or freezing processes.
Scrape, dislodge, or break excess frost, ice, or frozen product from equipment to prevent accumulation, using hands and hand tools.
Activate mechanical rakes to regulate flow of ice from storage bins to vats.
Start machinery, such as pumps, feeders, or conveyors, and turn valves to heat, admit, or transfer products, refrigerants, or mixes.
Assemble equipment, and attach pipes, fittings, or valves, using hand tools.
Weigh packages and adjust freezer air valves or switches on filler heads to obtain specified amounts of product in each container.
Sample and test product characteristics such as specific gravity, acidity, and sugar content, using hydrometers, pH meters, or refractometers.
Sample and test product characteristics such as specific gravity, acidity, and sugar content, using hydrometers, pH meters, or refractometers.
Stir material with spoons or paddles to mix ingredients or allow even cooling and prevent coagulation.
Adjust machine or freezer speed and air intake to obtain desired consistency and amount of product.
Monitor pressure gauges, ammeters, flowmeters, thermometers, or products, and adjust controls to maintain specified conditions, such as feed rate, product consistency, temperature, air pressure, and machine speed.
Inspect and flush lines with solutions or steam, and spray equipment with sterilizing solutions.
Load and position wrapping paper, sticks, bags, or cartons into dispensing machines.
Correct machinery malfunctions by performing actions such as removing jams, and inform supervisors of malfunctions as necessary.
Measure or weigh specified amounts of ingredients or materials, and load them into tanks, vats, hoppers, or other equipment.
Record temperatures, amounts of materials processed, or test results on report forms.
Read dials and gauges on panel control boards to ascertain temperatures, alkalinities, and densities of mixtures, and turn valves to obtain specified mixtures.
Read dials and gauges on panel control boards to ascertain temperatures, alkalinities, and densities of mixtures, and turn valves to obtain specified mixtures.
Measure or weigh specified amounts of ingredients or materials, and load them into tanks, vats, hoppers, or other equipment.
Start machinery, such as pumps, feeders, or conveyors, and turn valves to heat, admit, or transfer products, refrigerants, or mixes.
Assemble equipment, and attach pipes, fittings, or valves, using hand tools.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.