Prevailing Wage for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
Prevailing wage for Certified Refrigeration Operator positions is set by DOL under SOC 51-9193, covering roles from Compressor Operator to Freezer Operator. DOL defines four experience levels, each with a different wage floor, and the required minimum shifts meaningfully depending on the worksite city. International candidates pursuing H-1B or green card sponsorship should confirm their offer clears the applicable level before accepting.
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Entry-level Certified Refrigeration Operators with limited hands-on experience, typically under two years. Workers at this level follow established procedures under direct supervision, handling routine cooling and freezing tasks with minimal independent decision-making.
The most common filing level for this occupation. Qualified operators with two or more years of experience who work independently on standard cooling and freezing equipment, apply established methods, and require only occasional supervisory guidance.
Experienced operators who handle complex or non-routine freezing and refrigeration assignments, troubleshoot equipment issues, and may informally guide junior workers. Typically reflects five or more years in production or processing environments.
Senior or lead Certified Refrigeration Operators responsible for the full scope of cooling and freezing operations, including process optimization, compliance oversight, and direct supervision of other operators. Reflects extensive tenure and facility-wide accountability.
Prevailing Wage for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title mismatches that shift the SOC
Employers sometimes post Freezer Operator or Compressor Operator roles under a broader production SOC, which carries a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm that your LCA cites SOC 51-9193 specifically before signing an offer.
Factor out shift differentials before comparing
Cooling and freezing work often includes night or weekend shift premiums that inflate the apparent base wage. DOL prevailing wage compliance is assessed on the base rate, not total compensation including differentials, so verify the base figure separately.
Prioritize Dallas and Sioux City when evaluating locations
Dallas posts the widest level spread for this occupation, meaning experienced Freezer Operators can target significantly higher floors there. Sioux City shows consistently strong wages even at entry level, making it a viable market for newer Compressor Operators.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Migrate Mate lists cooling and freezing roles from employers whose sponsorship history is verified, letting you filter by visa type and see which companies have previously sponsored this occupation before you apply.
Jobs for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-9193.00 alongside Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Certified Refrigeration Operator Prevailing Wage
Certified Refrigeration Operator Prevailing Wage
Certified Refrigeration Operator positions fall under SOC 51-9193.00 (Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Compressor Operator Prevailing Wage
Compressor Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Compressor Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9193.00 (Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Engine Room Operator Prevailing Wage
Engine Room Operator Prevailing Wage
Engine Room Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9193.00 (Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Freezer Operator Prevailing Wage
Freezer Operator Prevailing Wage
Freezer Operator positions fall under SOC 51-9193.00 (Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Freezer Person Prevailing Wage
Freezer Person Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Freezer Person for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9193.00 (Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Ice Cream Maker Prevailing Wage
Ice Cream Maker Prevailing Wage
Ice Cream Maker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9193.00 (Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 51-9193.00 (Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Refrigeration Operator Prevailing Wage
Refrigeration Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Refrigeration Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9193.00 (Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Refrigeration Technician Prevailing Wage
Refrigeration Technician Prevailing Wage
Refrigeration Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9193.00 (Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for a Certified Refrigeration Operator role?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across U.S. metro areas. For SOC 51-9193, OFLC translates that survey data into four wage levels tied to experience and skill. Employers must request a Prevailing Wage Determination from OFLC or use the OFLC Wage Search to identify the applicable floor before filing an LCA.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which applies to my offer?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level operators under close supervision. Level 2 applies to workers performing tasks independently, and is the level most employers file for this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced operators handling complex assignments. Level 4 reflects senior or lead scope. Your level should match the actual duties in the LCA job description, not simply your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation vary so much from city to city?
OFLC draws wage floors from regional BLS surveys, so cities with higher local pay norms or denser concentrations of food processing and industrial refrigeration employers produce higher floors. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, meaning the floor is determined by where you physically work, not where the employer is headquartered. Dallas and Sioux City register substantially higher floors than markets like Urban Honolulu or Oklahoma City for the same occupation level.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot file a certified LCA with OFLC, and without a certified LCA there is no valid H-1B or PERM petition. If USCIS or DOL later finds that the offered wage fell below the prevailing floor, the employer faces back-pay liability and potential debarment from sponsorship. As an international candidate, your status is directly tied to the employer's compliance, so a below-floor offer is a legal problem for both parties.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Certified Refrigeration Operator in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool and enter SOC code 51-9193 along with the worksite metropolitan area. Select the wage level that matches the job duties in your offer. For sponsored roles, you can also review OFLC disclosure data to see what wage levels previous employers have certified for similar Freezer Operator or Compressor Operator filings in that location. Migrate Mate can help you identify employers that have actively sponsored this occupation, giving you a realistic picture of which markets have the most activity.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders right now.
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