SOC 39-4012.00

    Crematory Operators

    Operate crematory equipment to reduce human or animal remains to bone fragments in accordance with state and local regulations.

    Median pay
    $43,650
    Growth
    +3.1%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    500
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $33,270
    Median
    $43,650
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $62,460
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    2,970 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Crematory operators prepare and process human or animal remains using specialized cremation equipment. They earn a median annual wage of $43,650, with employment opportunities projected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What crematory operators do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    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.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    Crematory operators manage the daily tasks of reducing remains to bone fragments. Their work involves operating crematory machinery, which can include traditional flame-based systems, alkaline hydrolysis, or calcination. Operators are responsible for preparing bodies for the cremation process and performing routine maintenance on the cremation equipment. All of these duties must be performed in strict accordance with state and local regulations.

    This career strongly aligns with realistic interests, as it involves hands-on, practical work with machinery. Success in this role requires a high level of attention to detail, dependability, and cautiousness to ensure procedures are followed safely and correctly. Because operators handle sensitive situations, they must demonstrate integrity, empathy, sincerity, and self-control. Cooperation, perseverance, and stress tolerance are also important work styles for managing the daily demands of this profession.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a high school diploma. It is classified as an occupation that needs some preparation, meaning individuals usually receive on-the-job training or have some prior experience to become proficient.

    While a high school education is the standard entry requirement, some students prepare by studying college majors such as Funeral Service and Mortuary Science. Depending on where you plan to work, you may need to meet specific state guidelines, as some states list a license for this type of work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for crematory operators was $43,650. This means half of the workers in this field earned more than this amount, while the other half earned less. The lowest 10 percent of earners made less than $33,270, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $62,460.

    There are 2,970 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 3.1 percent, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. Employers are expected to have about 500 job openings each year during this ten-year period.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    83 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    18 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    8 / 100
    Social (S)
    29 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    8 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    56 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCS. Compare it with yours

    Skills and strengths

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Cautiousness
    • Self-Control
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Empathy
    • Sincerity
    • Cooperation
    • Perseverance

    Also called

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

    Career pathway

    From your interests to crematory operators

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Crematory Operators$43,650 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Main Campus

      Minneapolis, MN · Funeral Service and Mortuary Science · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $62,908
      4 yrs after
      $77,420
      Median debt
      $14,667
    2. 2Mid-America College of Funeral Service logo
      Mid-America College of Funeral Service

      Jeffersonville, IN · Funeral Service and Mortuary Science · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $67,172
      Median debt
      $14,757
    3. 3Wayne State University-Michigan logo
      Wayne State University-Michigan

      Detroit, MI · Funeral Service and Mortuary Science · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $56,637
      4 yrs after
      $62,954
      Median debt
      $14,500
    4. 4
      Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

      Carbondale, IL · Funeral Service and Mortuary Science · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $51,033
      4 yrs after
      $60,203
      Median debt
      $27,625
    5. 5University of Central Oklahoma logo
      University of Central Oklahoma

      Edmond, OK · Funeral Service and Mortuary Science · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $50,151
      4 yrs after
      $54,571
      Median debt
      $23,842

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What crematory operators may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, Other
    • Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    12 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

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    Questions about crematory operators

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for crematory operators?

    People in this profession are also called cremation arrangers, cremators, operations team members, pet crematory operators, or removal technicians.

    Do I need a college degree to work as a crematory operator?

    No, a college degree is not typically required. A high school diploma is the standard entry-level education, though some workers choose to study funeral service and mortuary science.

    Are crematory operators required to have a license?

    Licensing requirements vary by location. Some states list a license for individuals performing this work, so it is important to check local regulations.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.