39 Series · SOC 39-4012
Crematory Operators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $43,650
- Median / year
- +1.8%
- 2024→2025
- $62,460
- Top 10% earn
- +3.3%
- Growth '24–'34
- 2,970
- Estimated US jobs
Crematory Operators earn a median of $43,650 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $43,650, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $33,270 (10th percentile) to $62,460 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 2,970 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Wisconsin ($64,220).
The pay verdict
Crematory Operators earn a median of $43,650, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 17% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Personal Care and Service, it ranks #10 of 32 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.3% by 2034.
- $43,650
- Median annual wage
- Top 83%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #10 of 32
- in Personal Care and Service
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Wisconsin at $64,220. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Crematory Operators (SOC 39-4012) has a national median of $43,650 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $33,270 to $62,460, and the published mean is $45,670. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 2,970 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 24 state or territory areas and 8 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $42,880 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $43,650 in May 2025, a rise of $770 (+1.8%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 600 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as short-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Personal Care and Service Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Wisconsin pays the highest state median at $64,220, which is +47% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $59,510. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$43,650
per year
Median Hourly
$20.98/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$45,670
average
Employment
2,970
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Crematory Operators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$43,650 Bottom 17% higher than 17% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 (this entry) | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$43,650 · 17th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 39-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Crematory Operators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Childcare Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.9%, Median annual wage $34980
- Amusement and Recrea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.4%, Median annual wage $32150
- Recreation Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $36560
- Exercise Trainers an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.9%, Median annual wage $47160
- Hairdressers, Hairst…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $35790
- Animal Caretakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.1%, Median annual wage $35360
- Manicurists and Pedi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $35760
- Ushers, Lobby Attend…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $32910
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $48590
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.3%, Median annual wage $48560
- Residential Advisors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $42240
- Gambling Dealers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.6%, Median annual wage $34320
- Skincare Specialists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.7%, Median annual wage $45330
- Personal Care and Se…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $41600
- Tour and Travel Guides: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.1%, Median annual wage $38120
- Concierges: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.3%, Median annual wage $38950
- Funeral Attendants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.1%, Median annual wage $35680
- Baggage Porters and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.6%, Median annual wage $37080
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2%, Median annual wage $63820
- Morticians, Undertak…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.1%, Median annual wage $55010
- Animal Trainers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $39990
- Locker Room, Coatroo…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $36300
- Barbers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $38210
- Gambling Service Wor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.6%, Median annual wage $36310
- Crematory Operators: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $43650
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+3.3%
About as fast as average
Annual Openings
600
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+100
3,100 (2024) → 3,200 (2034)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Personal Care and Service Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
2/100
Danger Index
8.8/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Crematory Operators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Read documentation to confirm the identity of the deceased.
- ▸ Remove jewelry, watches, or other personal items from the deceased prior to cremation.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Crematory Operators pay history, 2021–2025
Published national median across 5 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $37,490 |
| 2022 | $40,360 |
| 2023 | $41,670 |
| 2024 | $42,880 |
| 2025 | $43,650 |
2021 median
$37,490
2025 median
$43,650
2021–2025 change
+$6,160 (+16.4%)
Avg/year
+3.9%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $37,490 | First banked release | 2,040 |
| May 2022 | $40,360 | +7.7% | 2,930 |
| May 2023 | $41,670 | +3.2% | 3,220 |
| May 2024 | $42,880 | +2.9% | 2,950 |
| May 2025 | $43,650 | +1.8% | 2,970 |
Across the 5 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $37,490 in May 2021 to $43,650 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2021–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3.9% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 2,040 in May 2021 to 2,970 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 24 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $64,220 | +47% above national |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $56,050 | +28% above national |
| 3 | Washington | $53,580 | +23% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $52,060 | +19% above national |
| 5 | Delaware | $50,320 | +15% above national |
| 6 | Arizona | $49,970 | +14% above national |
| 7 | California | $49,780 | +14% above national |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $47,980 | +10% above national |
| 9 | Connecticut | $47,160 | +8% above national |
| 10 | Kansas | $46,490 | +7% above national |
| 11 | Nevada | $46,190 | +6% above national |
| 12 | West Virginia | $43,840 | same as national |
| 13 | Ohio | $43,530 | same as national |
| 14 | Illinois | $41,740 | 4% below national |
| 15 | North Carolina | $41,350 | 5% below national |
| 16 | Michigan | $40,970 | 6% below national |
| 17 | Indiana | $40,650 | 7% below national |
| 18 | Florida | $38,710 | 11% below national |
| 19 | Kentucky | $37,740 | 14% below national |
| 20 | Oregon | $37,020 | 15% below national |
| 21 | Tennessee | $35,880 | 18% below national |
| 22 | Iowa | $35,120 | 20% below national |
| 23 | Alabama | $33,840 | 22% below national |
| 24 | Texas | $33,270 | 24% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 8 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $59,510 | +36% above national |
| 2 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $50,330 | +15% above national |
| 3 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,000 | +8% above national |
| 4 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $45,020 | +3% above national |
| 5 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $39,240 | 10% below national |
| 6 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $38,980 | 11% below national |
| 7 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $37,750 | 14% below national |
| 8 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $36,180 | 17% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 39 (Personal Care and Service Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
SOC 39-3091
Animal Caretakers
SOC 39-2021
Animal Trainers
SOC 39-2011
Baggage Porters and Bellhops
SOC 39-6011
Barbers
SOC 39-5011
Showing 5 of 31 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Personal Care and Service Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($43,650 here) and reported employment (2,970 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Crematory Operators make? ▼
Where does Crematory Operators pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Crematory Operators the most? ▼
What education do Crematory Operators need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Crematory Operators? ▼
Is Crematory Operators a good career? ▼
How does Crematory Operators pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Crematory Operators? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Crematory Operators pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $50,380/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Wisconsin leads at $64,220/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.