Description
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.
Interests
- Realistic
- Conventional
Work Values
- Support
- Independence
- Relationships
Work Styles
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Self-Control
- Integrity
- Leadership
Tasks
- Record temperatures, amounts of materials processed, or test results on report forms.
- 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.
- Read dials and gauges on panel control boards to ascertain temperatures, alkalinities, and densities of mixtures, and turn valves to obtain specified mixtures.
- Start machinery, such as pumps, feeders, or conveyors, and turn valves to heat, admit, or transfer products, refrigerants, or mixes.
- Correct machinery malfunctions by performing actions such as removing jams, and inform supervisors of malfunctions as necessary.
Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Getting Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Documenting/Recording Information
Detailed Work Activities
- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
Technology Skills
- Spreadsheet software
- Presentation software
- Electronic mail software
- Office suite software
- Word processing software
Abilities
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Perceptual Speed
Skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Food Production
- Administration and Management
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
RETA Authorized InstructorCertifying Organization
Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association
Type
Advanced
Certificate name
Certified Industrial Refrigeration OperatorCertifying Organization
Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association
Type
Core
Certificate name
EPA Section 608 Certification - Refrigerant HandlingCertifying Organization
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Refrigeration Service TechnicianCertifying Organization
Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Assistant Refrigeration OperatorCertifying Organization
Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association
Type
Core
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $41,254 |
| Median (50%) | $42,746 |
| High (90%) | $46,611 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | N/A |
| Mid Level | N/A |
| Senior Level | N/A |
| Expert Level | N/A |
Employability
There are currently 7,100 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 7,800 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 9%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 9%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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