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Crematory Operators: Career Overview
Operate crematory equipment to reduce human or animal remains to bone fragments in accordance with state and local regulations. Duties may include preparing the body for cremation and performing general maintenance on crematory equipment. May use traditional flame-based cremation, calcination, or alkaline hydrolysis.
What Tasks Do Crematory Operators Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of crematory operators cover:
- Clean the crematorium, including tables, floors, and equipment.
- Document divided remains to ensure parts are not misplaced.
- Embalm, dress, or otherwise prepare the deceased for viewing.
- Explain the cremation process to family or friends of the deceased.
- Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families or friends.
- Pick up and handle human or pet remains in a respectful manner.
- Place corpses into crematory machines to reduce remains to bone fragments using flame, heat, or alkaline hydrolysis.
- Pulverize remaining bone fragments into smaller pieces, using specialized equipment, such as a cremulator or grinder.
Types of Crematory Operators Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Cremation Arranger
- Cremator
- Crematory Operator
- Operations Team Member (Ops Team Member)
- Pet Crematory Operator
- Removal Technician (Removal Tech)
How Many Crematory Operators Are There?
There are roughly 242,409 crematory operators working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +7.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Crematory Operators
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $48,579 |
| Hourly median | $23.36 |
| 10th percentile | $28,187 |
| 25th percentile | $38,383 |
| 75th percentile | $58,775 |
| 90th percentile | $68,971 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $69,010 |
| New Jersey | $59,240 |
| Massachusetts | $52,240 |
| Colorado | $51,450 |
| New York | $50,490 |
| California | $49,860 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,480 |
| Washington | $47,480 |
| Nevada | $45,260 |
| Michigan | $44,710 |
| Virginia | $43,190 |
| Ohio | $42,600 |
| Oregon | $41,770 |
| Illinois | $41,600 |
| West Virginia | $39,900 |
| North Carolina | $39,550 |
| Arizona | $39,270 |
| Kentucky | $38,840 |
| Indiana | $37,930 |
| Florida | $37,300 |
| Kansas | $35,750 |
| Texas | $33,040 |
| Alabama | $32,040 |
| South Carolina | $31,510 |
Where Crematory Operators Earn the Most
Pay for crematory operators differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $52,240 | 2.0% | 0.77 |
| Rocky Mountains | $51,450 | 3.2% | 1.52 |
| Middle Atlantic | $49,918 | 18.7% | 3.14 |
| Far Western US | $46,938 | 19.0% | 1.50 |
| Great Lakes | $41,645 | 20.6% | 1.58 |
| Southeast | $37,404 | 25.0% | 2.09 |
| Southwest | $34,543 | 11.5% | 0.88 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Crematory Operators
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $62,570 | 30 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $57,340 | 110 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $56,640 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $54,810 | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $49,300 | 60 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | PA | $48,480 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $47,530 | 60 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $43,390 | 80 |
Top Industries Employing Crematory Operators
The largest employers of crematory operators are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 2,790 | $42,680 |
| Manufacturing | 70 | $47,270 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 50 | $40,380 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Getting Started in This Career
The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Funeral Home Managers (Primary-Short)
- Coroners (Primary-Long)
- Floral Designers (Supplemental)
- Surgical Technologists (Supplemental)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Home Health Aides (Supplemental)
- Personal Care Aides (Supplemental)
- Orderlies (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for crematory operators typically earn programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-4012.00 (Crematory Operators).
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