Occupation salary profile

Crematory Operators

SOC 39-4012 BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

National median · BLS
$43,650
▲ +1.8% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$45,670
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
2,970
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Crematory Operators

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$33,270
25th$37,020
Median (50th)$43,650
75th$50,380
90th — top pay$62,460

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Crematory Operators

BLS projects employment of crematory operators to grow 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 500 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
3,000 → 3,100
+100 jobs
Projected change
+3.1%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
500
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Crematory Operators

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WordBelmar & Associates MortwareHMIS Advantage

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What crematory operators do

  • 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.
More job titles for this occupation (6)
Cremation ArrangerCrematorCrematory OperatorOperations Team Member (Ops Team Member)Pet Crematory OperatorRemoval Technician (Removal Tech)

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.