Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9193.00
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.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.15
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only19 rated tasks · 1 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (5.3%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Record temperatures, amounts of materials processed, or test results on report forms.O*NET Task ID 8544 | 1.0 |
Adjust machine or freezer speed and air intake to obtain desired consistency and amount of product.O*NET Task ID 8542 | 0.0 |
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.O*NET Task ID 8543 | 0.0 |
Read dials and gauges on panel control boards to ascertain temperatures, alkalinities, and densities of mixtures, and turn valves to obtain specified mixtures.O*NET Task ID 8545 | 0.0 |
Correct machinery malfunctions by performing actions such as removing jams, and inform supervisors of malfunctions as necessary.O*NET Task ID 8546 | 0.0 |
Start machinery, such as pumps, feeders, or conveyors, and turn valves to heat, admit, or transfer products, refrigerants, or mixes.O*NET Task ID 8547 | 0.0 |
Assemble equipment, and attach pipes, fittings, or valves, using hand tools.O*NET Task ID 8548 | 0.0 |
Scrape, dislodge, or break excess frost, ice, or frozen product from equipment to prevent accumulation, using hands and hand tools.O*NET Task ID 8549 | 0.0 |
Weigh packages and adjust freezer air valves or switches on filler heads to obtain specified amounts of product in each container.O*NET Task ID 8550 | 0.0 |
Stir material with spoons or paddles to mix ingredients or allow even cooling and prevent coagulation.O*NET Task ID 8551 | 0.0 |
Start agitators to blend contents, or start beater, scraper, and expeller blades to mix contents with air and prevent sticking.O*NET Task ID 8552 | 0.0 |
Measure or weigh specified amounts of ingredients or materials, and load them into tanks, vats, hoppers, or other equipment.O*NET Task ID 8553 | 0.0 |
Load and position wrapping paper, sticks, bags, or cartons into dispensing machines.O*NET Task ID 8554 | 0.0 |
Insert forming fixtures, and start machines that cut frozen products into measured portions or specified shapes.O*NET Task ID 8555 | 0.0 |
Place or position containers into equipment, and remove containers after completion of cooling or freezing processes.O*NET Task ID 8556 | 0.0 |
Inspect and flush lines with solutions or steam, and spray equipment with sterilizing solutions.O*NET Task ID 8557 | 0.0 |
Position molds on conveyors, and measure and adjust level of fill, using depth gauges.O*NET Task ID 8558 | 0.0 |
Sample and test product characteristics such as specific gravity, acidity, and sugar content, using hydrometers, pH meters, or refractometers.O*NET Task ID 8559 | 0.0 |
Activate mechanical rakes to regulate flow of ice from storage bins to vats.O*NET Task ID 8560 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (18)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| 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. | Core |
| Record temperatures, amounts of materials processed, or test results on report forms. | Core |
| Read dials and gauges on panel control boards to ascertain temperatures, alkalinities, and densities of mixtures, and turn valves to obtain specified mixtures. | Core |
| Correct machinery malfunctions by performing actions such as removing jams, and inform supervisors of malfunctions as necessary. | Core |
| Start machinery, such as pumps, feeders, or conveyors, and turn valves to heat, admit, or transfer products, refrigerants, or mixes. | Core |
| Assemble equipment, and attach pipes, fittings, or valves, using hand tools. | Core |
| Adjust machine or freezer speed and air intake to obtain desired consistency and amount of product. | Supplemental |
| Scrape, dislodge, or break excess frost, ice, or frozen product from equipment to prevent accumulation, using hands and hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Weigh packages and adjust freezer air valves or switches on filler heads to obtain specified amounts of product in each container. | Supplemental |
| Stir material with spoons or paddles to mix ingredients or allow even cooling and prevent coagulation. | Supplemental |
| Start agitators to blend contents, or start beater, scraper, and expeller blades to mix contents with air and prevent sticking. | Supplemental |
| Measure or weigh specified amounts of ingredients or materials, and load them into tanks, vats, hoppers, or other equipment. | Supplemental |
| Load and position wrapping paper, sticks, bags, or cartons into dispensing machines. | Supplemental |
| Insert forming fixtures, and start machines that cut frozen products into measured portions or specified shapes. | Supplemental |
| Place or position containers into equipment, and remove containers after completion of cooling or freezing processes. | Supplemental |
| Inspect and flush lines with solutions or steam, and spray equipment with sterilizing solutions. | Supplemental |
| Sample and test product characteristics such as specific gravity, acidity, and sugar content, using hydrometers, pH meters, or refractometers. | Supplemental |
| Activate mechanical rakes to regulate flow of ice from storage bins to vats. | Supplemental |
1.23/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| 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. | E2 structured facilities |
| Read dials and gauges on panel control boards to ascertain temperatures, alkalinities, and densities of mixtures, and turn valves to obtain specified mixtures. | E2 structured facilities |
| Correct machinery malfunctions by performing actions such as removing jams, and inform supervisors of malfunctions as necessary. | E0 none |
| Start machinery, such as pumps, feeders, or conveyors, and turn valves to heat, admit, or transfer products, refrigerants, or mixes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Assemble equipment, and attach pipes, fittings, or valves, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Adjust machine or freezer speed and air intake to obtain desired consistency and amount of product. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Scrape, dislodge, or break excess frost, ice, or frozen product from equipment to prevent accumulation, using hands and hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Weigh packages and adjust freezer air valves or switches on filler heads to obtain specified amounts of product in each container. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Stir material with spoons or paddles to mix ingredients or allow even cooling and prevent coagulation. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Start agitators to blend contents, or start beater, scraper, and expeller blades to mix contents with air and prevent sticking. | E2 structured facilities |
| Measure or weigh specified amounts of ingredients or materials, and load them into tanks, vats, hoppers, or other equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Load and position wrapping paper, sticks, bags, or cartons into dispensing machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Insert forming fixtures, and start machines that cut frozen products into measured portions or specified shapes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Place or position containers into equipment, and remove containers after completion of cooling or freezing processes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect and flush lines with solutions or steam, and spray equipment with sterilizing solutions. | E2 structured facilities |
| Sample and test product characteristics such as specific gravity, acidity, and sugar content, using hydrometers, pH meters, or refractometers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Activate mechanical rakes to regulate flow of ice from storage bins to vats. | E2 structured facilities |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 8K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 8K
- Change (2025–35)
- +5.9%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $41,330
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85202 | 냉동 및 냉장기 설비 조작원 | Same scope | confirmed |
| 81131 | 육류가공 기계 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 81132 | 어패류가공 기계 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 81133 | 낙농품가공 기계 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 81140 | 과실 및 채소가공 관련 기계 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 8160Food and Related Products Machine Operators
- ISCO-08 8189Stationary Plant and Machine Operators Not Elsewhere Classified
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- chilling operatorESCO 8160.15Overlapping, not the same
Chilling operators perform various processes and tend specific machines for manufacturing prepared meals and dishes. They apply chilling, sealing, and freezing methods to foodstuffs for non-immediate consumption.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H2102 | Conducteur / Conductrice de machines en industrie alimentaire | Related, not a match |
| I1306 | Frigoriste | Related, not a match |
| D1118 | Glacier / Glacière | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8160 | Operadores de máquinas para elaborar productos alimenticios, bebidas y tabaco | Related, not a match |
| 8199 | Operadores de instalaciones y maquinaria fijas no clasificados bajo otros epígrafes | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 29201 | Berufe in der Lebensmittelherstellung (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 29282 | Berufe in der Lebensmittelherstellung (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 34232 | Berufe in der Kältetechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 503 | 食料品生産設備制御・監視員 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 533 | 食料品製造従事者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 649 | その他の定置・建設機械運転従事者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources