Refrigeration engine operator vs machine operator

The differences between refrigeration engine operators and machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a refrigeration engine operator has an average salary of $51,929, which is higher than the $32,874 average annual salary of a machine operator.

The top three skills for a refrigeration engine operator include HVAC, hot water and cooling towers. The most important skills for a machine operator are basic math, CNC, and math.

Refrigeration engine operator vs machine operator overview

	Refrigeration Engine Operator	Machine Operator
Yearly salary	$51,929	$32,874
Hourly rate	$24.97	$15.80
Growth rate	5%	-6%
Number of jobs	28,649	96,834
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 31%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	43	44
Years of experience	-	-

Refrigeration engine operator vs machine operator salary

Refrigeration engine operators and machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Refrigeration Engine Operator	Machine Operator
Average salary	$51,929	$32,874
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $96,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	-	Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state	-	Minnesota
Best paying company	-	BD
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between refrigeration engine operator and machine operator education

There are a few differences between a refrigeration engine operator and a machine operator in terms of educational background:

	Refrigeration Engine Operator	Machine Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 31%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Heating And Air Conditioning	Business
Most common college	-	-

Refrigeration engine operator vs machine operator demographics

Here are the differences between refrigeration engine operators' and machine operators' demographics:

	Refrigeration Engine Operator	Machine Operator
Average age	43	44
Gender ratio	Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7%	Male, 72.3% Female, 27.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 5.6% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between refrigeration engine operator and machine operator duties and responsibilities

Refrigeration engine operator example responsibilities.

Maintain pneumatic systems, electrical systems, gas equipment, HVAC and AC/DC systems.
Operate and maintain ammonia refrigeration system perform preventive maintenance on equipment from compressors to tunnel freezers.
Exercise attention to detail of paperwork involving math percentages of injections and production.

Machine operator example responsibilities.

Conduct preventative maintenance checks on industrial brake manufacturing machines and forklifts.
Follow company and safety procedures using industrial chemicals and PPE to efficiently clean and sanitize all equipment.
Operate forklift and bobcat as needed.
Run a line in a PVC pipe production plant.
Operate machinery including forklift, bobcat and various power tools.
Provide leadership to others through example and sharing of knowledge/skill.

Refrigeration engine operator vs machine operator skills

Common refrigeration engine operator skills

HVAC, 76%
Hot Water, 15%
Cooling Towers, 9%

Common machine operator skills

Basic Math, 11%
CNC, 9%
Math, 9%
Safety Procedures, 8%
Machine Operation, 6%
Quality Standards, 5%

Refrigeration Engine Operator vs. similar jobs

Refrigeration Engine Operator related careers

Refrigeration Engine Operator related jobs

What similar roles do

Operator responsibilities

Zippia Careers
Production and Manufacturing Industry
Refrigeration Engine Operator
Refrigeration Engine Operator vs Machine Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs