How to hire a freezer operator

How to hire a freezer operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step freezer operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a freezer operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new freezer operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The freezer operator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A freezer operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, freezer operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of freezer operators.

   Type of Freezer Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Freezer Operator	Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or excavate earth from a mine... Show more	$14-22
   Forklift Driver	A forklift operator is responsible for managing and operating industrial trucks and machines to ensure its performance safety and stability. Forklift operators' duties include safely handling of deliveries, securely moving items to storage areas, monitoring inventories and supplies, running diagnostic tests, reporting inspected malfunctions and deficiencies, performing basic troubleshooting, and adhering to safety procedures... Show more	$12-19
   Machine Operator/Forklift Operator	A machine operator/forklift operator is responsible for operating industrial trucks to move merchandise around the warehouse facilities and other assigned areas. Machine operators/forklift operators also assist with inventory tasks by scanning orders and ensuring the correct merchandise for shipment... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • CIP
   • Quality Products
   • RF
   • Customer Specifications
   • Production Lines
   • Load Trucks
   • Quality Standards
   • RAN

   Responsibilities:

   • Load, operate, and unload laundry washers and dryers.
   • Load and unload garments and all Cintas product from the trucks.
   • Used an RF ring scanner to pick orders on a double pallet jack.
   • Perform specialized production line and quality control duties in a professional production environment specializing in plastic extrusion.
   • Operate rail and shuttle when unloading and loading wash and dryer machines
   • Manufacture ammunition from components using a power loading machine.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your freezer operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A freezer operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, freezer operators' average salary in indiana is 33% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level freezer operators 34% less than senior-level freezer operators.
   • Certifications. A freezer operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a freezer operator's salary.

   Average freezer operator salary

   $39,097yearly

   $18.80 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level freezer operator salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

4. Writing a freezer operator job description

   A job description for a freezer operator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a freezer operator job description:

   Freezer operator job description example

   ARE YOU A CURRENT US FOODS EMPLOYEE? CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN TO THE INTERNAL CAREER SITE.
   Join Our Community of Food People!
   
   JOIN OUR WAREHOUSE TEAM!
   Ready to build a career with a company that's leading the foodservice industry?
   
   We help you make it! Our selector associates start at $21 per hour plus incentive! Plus up to $2000 Sign on Bonus!
   
   Benefits medical, dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, strong safety culture, and much more! Benefits day one, stellar local leadership, team oriented environment.
   US Foods is one of the largest food distributors with a culture and a history of promoting from within, excellent training programs and continuous improvement focus.
   
   Main Ingredients of the Job
   Safely and accurately select customer orders. Build and wrap pallets to meet weekly standards for productivity and accuracy Perform pre-shift equipment checks and safely operate an electric pallet Carefully move products from racks to pallets directed by order selecting software and equipment Validate that correct product has been selected and is damage free Efficiently deliver products to correct dock area and shrink wraps palletized orders Team up to clear aisles of debris, stacks empty pallets from slots in aisle and return pallet jacks to charging area
   
   Physical Requirements
   Comfortable working in a multi-temperature environment ranging from -5 degrees to over 100 degrees required Ability to lift/carry/push/pull 20 to 80+ lbs. of product repetitively; moving 1,000+ cases of product during each shift required
   
   What You Bring to the Table
   Able to work 8+ hour night shifts, Sunday 2:00pm, Monday - Thursday, 3:00 pm start time. At times weekends and holidays will be required.Recent experience (within past 6 months) in high endurance or highly physical activity or role preferred e.g. lifting/transferring patients, sports/fitness, farming, construction work, etc.Experience selecting large scale orders in a warehouse or distribution center environment preferred Experience operating motorized pallet jack or similar equipment preferred
   
   Why US Foods
   
   At US Foods, we're committed to our mission of GREAT FOOD. MADE EASY™ -- providing food products that keep operators ahead of customer demand and services that help them run their operations.
   
   Our Warehouse Team Members prepare the orders that sustain our business, instilling and reinforcing safety above all else. We team up to deliver accurate and damage-free orders. At the foundation of those efforts
   are our cultural beliefs, the pillars that define our work ethic, collaborative spirit and service. Together we help our customers make it, but we also believe in helping our warehouse team make it! We are committed
   to compensation and benefits that respect and reward our employees for their dedication and hard work.
   
   #INDNE
   #ZR
   #AP
   
   ***EOE Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Protected Veteran/Disability Status***

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find freezer operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any freezer operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level freezer operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your freezer operator job on Zippia to find and recruit freezer operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit freezer operators, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new freezer operator

   Once you've selected the best freezer operator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new freezer operator. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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