# Crematory Operators

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/crematory-operators
- SOC code: 39-4012.00
- Career family: Personal care and service
- Median annual pay: $43,650 (10th percentile $33,270, 90th percentile $62,460)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.1%
- Openings a year: 500
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 83 |
| Investigative (I) | 18 |
| Artistic (A) | 8 |
| Social (S) | 29 |
| Enterprising (E) | 8 |
| Conventional (C) | 56 |

## Also called

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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Funeral Service and Mortuary Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1203) (CIP 1203, 71 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities-main-campus-2963) | Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $62,908 | $77,420 | $14,667 |
| [Mid-America College of Funeral Service](https://www.collegesref.com/college/mid-america-college-of-funeral-service-1681) | Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | not reported | $67,172 | $14,757 |
| [Wayne State University-Michigan](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wayne-state-university-michigan-3181) | Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $56,637 | $62,954 | $14,500 |
| [Southern Illinois University-Carbondale](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-illinois-university-carbondale-2495) | Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $51,033 | $60,203 | $27,625 |
| [University of Central Oklahoma](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-central-oklahoma-2893) | Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $50,151 | $54,571 | $23,842 |

## Related careers

- [Funeral Attendants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/funeral-attendants): $35,680 median pay
- [Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/morticians-undertakers-and-funeral-arrangers): $55,010 median pay
- [Funeral Home Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/funeral-home-managers): $78,790 median pay
- [Embalmers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/embalmers): $58,780 median pay
- [Recycling and Reclamation Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/recycling-and-reclamation-workers): $40,240 median pay
- [Coroners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/coroners): $80,730 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.