How much does a crematory operator make?
a year · about $21 an hour
A typical crematory operator in the United States makes $43,650 a year, about $21 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check paperwork and identity tags, prepare and run cremation equipment, then process the remains and place them in a container. They clean the room and equipment and carefully record each step.
Did you know? California crematory operator Lawrence Moore invented the first electric cremator and started using a unique metal disc to identify cremated remains.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $33,270 and $62,460How do you become one?
Most U.S. operators need a high school diploma or GED, then learn the job and the particular machine through employer training. Rules vary by state: some require an approved operator course or registration, so check the state board's rules.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experienced operators and people with training or certifications employers value may earn more. Pay also varies by employer and location, and hours or shifts can matter because some funeral-service jobs involve on-call evenings and weekends.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Wisconsin ($64,220), lowest in Texas ($33,270).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $33,270 | $43,650 | $62,460 | about 3,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $64,220 | — |
| Massachusetts | $56,050 | about 30 |
| Washington | $53,580 | about 70 |
| Colorado | $52,060 | about 70 |
| Delaware | $50,320 | about 30 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/39-4012.00
- www.cremationassociation.org/COCP
- llr.sc.gov/fs/PDF/Crematory-Operator-Registration.pdf
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/funeral-service-occupations.htm
- www.cremationassociation.org/blog/cremated-remains-a-history
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY