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Crematory Operators in Washington

Want to work as a Crematory Operators in Washington? Below are the key facts. 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 do Crematory Operators Make in Washington?

For a crematory operators working in Washington, wages run about $47,480 per year (or about $22.83/hour).Pay can range from $39,820 at the 10th percentile to $57,570 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$39,820	$19.14
25th percentile	$42,220	$20.30
Median (50th)	$47,480	$22.83
75th percentile	$51,240	$24.63
90th percentile	$57,570	$27.68

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Washington compared to the national average — is 1.25, suggesting that crematory operators are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, crematory operators earn a median of $48,579 per year ($23.36/hour), below the Washington median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 242,409 crematory operators nationwide. In Washington alone, approximately 80 people work in this role. That trails the typical state, which employs around 100 crematory operators.

Top Washington Metros for Crematory Operators

The metro areas below employ the most crematory operators in Washington.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	60	$49,300

Top States for Crematory Operators Employment

View the states that employ the most crematory operators work.

State	Number Employed
Florida	440
Pennsylvania	410
California	220
Texas	220
Ohio	190
Indiana	130
Oregon	110
Illinois	100
Michigan	100
North Carolina	100
Washington	80
Colorado	80
Nevada	70
Arizona	70
Massachusetts	50
Alabama	50
West Virginia	40
Maryland	30
New York	30

Highest-Paying States for Crematory Operators

These states pay the most for crematory operators.

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

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• 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.
• Read documentation to confirm the identity of the deceased.
• Remove jewelry, watches, or other personal items from the deceased prior to cremation.
• Sweep or vacuum the cremation chamber to retrieve remains for storage in an urn or other container.
• Transport the deceased to a funeral home or crematory using a van, hearse, or other vehicle.

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

• Funeral & Mortuary Science

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Related Careers

Other careers like crematory operators include:

• Funeral Home Managers
• Coroners
• Floral Designers
• Surgical Technologists
• Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
• Home Health Aides

Also Known As

Cremation Arranger, Cremator, Crematory Operator, Operations Team Member (Ops Team Member), Pet Crematory Operator, Removal Technician (Removal Tech).

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 39-4012.00