Crematory Operators: Career Profile
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.
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The Daily Work of Crematory Operators Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of crematory operators span:
- 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.
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Cremation Arranger
- Cremator
- Crematory Operator
- Operations Team Member (Ops Team Member)
- Pet Crematory Operator
- Removal Technician (Removal Tech)
Employment and Demand
There are about 242,409 crematory operators working in the United States today. This occupation is expected 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 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Crematory Operators Salary 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 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for crematory operators shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| 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 |
Industry Breakdown
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
This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
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Degree Programs
Future crematory operators often complete programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
2 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes 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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