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Refrigeration operator salary
Average refrigeration operator salary
$50,937
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Let Zippi find your next refrigeration operator job
Average refrigeration operator salary by state
Highest paying states for refrigeration operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $75,277 | $36.19 |
| 2 | Delaware | $75,365 | $36.23 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $73,777 | $35.47 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $71,034 | $34.15 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $76,593 | $36.82 |
| 6 | Maryland | $74,249 | $35.70 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $73,525 | $35.35 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $72,410 | $34.81 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $65,524 | $31.50 |
| 10 | Washington | $66,728 | $32.08 |
| 11 | Alaska | $62,178 | $29.89 |
| 12 | Vermont | $71,473 | $34.36 |
| 13 | Iowa | $59,562 | $28.64 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $64,587 | $31.05 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $64,753 | $31.13 |
| 16 | Nevada | $67,135 | $32.28 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $60,518 | $29.10 |
| 18 | Maine | $65,265 | $31.38 |
| 19 | Ohio | $59,712 | $28.71 |
| 20 | Idaho | $64,869 | $31.19 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $59,177 | $28.45 |
| 22 | California | $65,335 | $31.41 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $62,415 | $30.01 |
| 24 | Michigan | $59,754 | $28.73 |
| 25 | Oregon | $57,719 | $27.75 |
| 26 | Illinois | $62,641 | $30.12 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $54,936 | $26.41 |
| 28 | New York | $59,378 | $28.55 |
| 29 | Kansas | $53,737 | $25.84 |
| 30 | Utah | $55,594 | $26.73 |
| 31 | Colorado | $59,408 | $28.56 |
| 32 | Montana | $59,492 | $28.60 |
| 33 | Indiana | $48,761 | $23.44 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $56,999 | $27.40 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $53,304 | $25.63 |
| 36 | Virginia | $56,244 | $27.04 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $48,208 | $23.18 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $48,098 | $23.12 |
| 39 | Texas | $47,914 | $23.04 |
| 40 | Georgia | $46,942 | $22.57 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $49,548 | $23.82 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $45,845 | $22.04 |
| 43 | Missouri | $50,222 | $24.15 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $50,085 | $24.08 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $42,992 | $20.67 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $48,197 | $23.17 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $46,595 | $22.40 |
| 48 | Florida | $44,861 | $21.57 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $40,815 | $19.62 |
| 50 | Alabama | $45,027 | $21.65 |
| 51 | Arizona | $40,566 | $19.50 |
Refrigeration operator salary details
A refrigeration operator's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $71,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a refrigeration operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $50,937 | $4,245 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying refrigeration operator jobs
The highest paying types of refrigeration operators are ammonia refrigeration technician, refrigeration technician, and boiler operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
| Ammonia Refrigeration Technician | $56,255 | $4,688 | $27.05 | 119,272 |
| Boiler Operator | $49,782 | $4,149 | $23.93 | 32,715 |
| Refrigeration Technician | $50,701 | $4,225 | $24.38 | 131,115 |
| Refrigeration Mechanic | $47,677 | $3,973 | $22.92 | 69,987 |
Top companies hiring refrigeration operators now:
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Refrigeration operator salary trends
The average refrigeration operator salary has risen by $7,259 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average refrigeration operator earned $43,678 annually, but today, they earn $50,937 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for refrigeration operators over the last decade.
Compare refrigeration operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average refrigeration operator salary over time
Compare refrigeration operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Refrigeration operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,900 | $24.49 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $49,100 | $23.59 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $47,900 | $23.05 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $47,400 | $22.79 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $46,200 | $22.22 | +1.7% |
Recently added refrigeration operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molson Coors | Refrigeration Operator | Tony, WI | 06/21/2025 | $72,795 |
| Fifco USA | Refrigeration Operator | Rochester, NY | 06/16/2025 | $46,540 |
| Gordon Food Service | Maintenance Refrigeration Operator | Coppell, TX | 06/12/2025 | $61,880 |
| Hormel Foods | Burke-Boiler/Refrigeration Operator (Utilities Tech) | Nevada, IA | 06/10/2025 | $61,567 |
| Hormel Foods Corp | Burke-Boiler/Refrigeration Operator (Utilities Tech) | Nevada, IA | 05/29/2025 | $61,567 |
| Gordon Food Service | Maintenance Refrigeration Operator | Coppell, TX | 05/29/2025 | $61,880 |
| McCain Foods | Boiler & Refrigeration Operator | Burley, ID | 05/25/2025 | $60,085 |
| Molson Coors Brewing Company | Refrigeration Operator | Milwaukee, WI | 05/21/2025 | $72,795 |
| Fifco USA | Refrigeration Operator | Rochester, NY | 05/06/2025 | $46,540 |
| The Kraft Heinz Company | Boiler/Refrigeration Operator and Mechanic Apprentice | Springfield, MO | 02/19/2025 | $62,380 |
Refrigeration operator salary FAQs
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