Crematory Operators
SOC code 39-4012 · O*NET-SOC 39-4012.00 · Little to some preparation needed
Crematory Operators pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$43,650
a year
Hourly
$20.98
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$45,670
$21.96 per hour
Middle 50%
$37,020 – $50,380
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$33,270 – $62,460
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
2,970
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $33,270
- $16.00/hr
- 25th percentile
- $37,020
- $17.80/hr
- Median percentile
- $43,650
- $20.98/hr
- 75th percentile
- $50,380
- $24.22/hr
- 90th percentile
- $62,460
- $30.03/hr
What does a crematory operator do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to become a crematory operator
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a crematory operator earn?
The national median is $43,650 a year. The full range runs from $33,270 at the 10th percentile to $62,460 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a crematory operator without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.