Crematory Operators
Crematory Operators (SOC 39-4012) earn a median $43,650 a year ($20.98 an hour) in the United States, with 2,970 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Wisconsin.
What crematory operators do
Crematory operators run the machinery that reduces the remains of people or animals to bone fragments, following state and local rules. The job may include preparing the body beforehand and doing general upkeep on the equipment. The method may be conventional flame-based cremation, calcination, or alkaline hydrolysis. O*NET gives no list of core tasks for the code, but the titles it lists, including cremator, cremation arranger, crematory operator, and pet crematory operator, show that the work covers both human and animal remains. The code is separate from embalmers, who prepare bodies for interment, and from funeral attendants and funeral arrangers, who work with services and families and do not run the equipment. Because state and local regulations govern the work, operators follow those rules in every case.
Also called: Cremation Arranger, Cremator, Crematory Operator, Pet Crematory Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.00 | $17.80 | $20.98 | $24.22 | $30.03 | $21.96 | 2,970 |
| Annual | $33,270 | $37,020 | $43,650 | $50,380 | $62,460 | $45,670 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where crematory operators earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $23.30 | $29.61 | $30.88 | $32.84 | $34.27 | $30.10 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $48,460 | $61,590 | $64,220 | $68,300 | $71,270 | $62,620 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $20.85 | $22.13 | $26.95 | $28.61 | $28.61 | $26.42 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $43,370 | $46,040 | $56,050 | $59,510 | $59,520 | $54,950 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $22.47 | $23.15 | $25.76 | $28.35 | $31.56 | $26.31 | 70 | 0.02 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $46,740 | $48,140 | $53,580 | $58,960 | $65,650 | $54,720 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $18.00 | $22.67 | $25.03 | $30.38 | $34.76 | $26.22 | 70 | 0.02 | 1.24 |
| Annual | $37,440 | $47,150 | $52,060 | $63,190 | $72,300 | $54,540 | ||||
| Delaware | Hourly | $22.31 | $23.08 | $24.19 | $24.34 | $25.32 | $23.69 | 30 | 0.06 | 3.26 |
| Annual | $46,400 | $48,010 | $50,320 | $50,620 | $52,660 | $49,280 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Florida | Hourly | $17.54 | $17.96 | $18.61 | $20.76 | $22.83 | $20.24 | 320 | 0.03 | 1.69 |
| Annual | $36,480 | $37,360 | $38,710 | $43,180 | $47,480 | $42,100 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $14.32 | $14.82 | $16.00 | $17.94 | $24.37 | $17.26 | 270 | 0.02 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $29,790 | $30,830 | $33,270 | $37,320 | $50,690 | $35,890 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $21.17 | $22.44 | $23.93 | $28.94 | $32.30 | $25.73 | 240 | 0.01 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $44,030 | $46,680 | $49,780 | $60,190 | $67,190 | $53,520 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $17.56 | $18.01 | $20.07 | $20.67 | $22.66 | $20.08 | 190 | 0.03 | 1.61 |
| Annual | $36,520 | $37,450 | $41,740 | $42,980 | $47,120 | $41,760 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $17.51 | $18.35 | $19.54 | $27.71 | $29.61 | $22.29 | 190 | 0.06 | 3.17 |
| Annual | $36,420 | $38,170 | $40,650 | $57,640 | $61,580 | $46,370 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $22.13 | $22.14 | $28.61 | $29.82 | $40.27 | $28.32 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $46,040 | $46,040 | $59,510 | $62,020 | $83,760 | $58,910 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $18.54 | $22.02 | $24.20 | $26.38 | $27.75 | $23.90 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $38,570 | $45,800 | $50,330 | $54,880 | $57,710 | $49,710 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $20.41 | $22.38 | $22.60 | $24.14 | $31.81 | $24.30 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $42,450 | $46,540 | $47,000 | $50,220 | $66,160 | $50,550 | ||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | $18.86 | $21.64 | $21.64 | $24.26 | $31.49 | $23.87 | 40 | 0.02 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $39,240 | $45,010 | $45,020 | $50,460 | $65,500 | $49,660 | ||||
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | Hourly | $17.71 | $18.03 | $18.87 | $20.84 | $22.41 | $19.98 | 70 | 0.05 | 2.35 |
| Annual | $36,840 | $37,500 | $39,240 | $43,340 | $46,610 | $41,560 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | Hourly | $18.35 | $18.50 | $18.74 | $27.64 | $29.61 | $22.07 | 80 | 0.07 | 3.67 |
| Annual | $38,170 | $38,480 | $38,980 | $57,490 | $61,580 | $45,910 | ||||
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | Hourly | $17.71 | $18.03 | $18.87 | $20.84 | $22.41 | $19.98 | 70 | 0.05 | 2.35 |
| Annual | $36,840 | $37,500 | $39,240 | $43,340 | $46,610 | $41,560 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $18.54 | $22.02 | $24.20 | $26.38 | $27.75 | $23.90 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $38,570 | $45,800 | $50,330 | $54,880 | $57,710 | $49,710 | ||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | $18.86 | $21.64 | $21.64 | $24.26 | $31.49 | $23.87 | 40 | 0.02 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $39,240 | $45,010 | $45,020 | $50,460 | $65,500 | $49,660 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $22.13 | $22.14 | $28.61 | $29.82 | $40.27 | $28.32 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $46,040 | $46,040 | $59,510 | $62,020 | $83,760 | $58,910 | ||||
Top industries employing crematory operators
Death Care Services employ 91.6% of crematory operators nationally (2,720 jobs) at a median $44,100 a year ($21.20 an hour), followed by Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (4.7%) and Other Personal Services (2.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Death Care Services NAICS 812200 | 2,720 | 91.6% | $44,100 | $21.20 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services NAICS 541900 | 140 | 4.7% | $37,000 | $17.79 |
| Other Personal Services NAICS 812900 | 80 | 2.7% | $37,220 | $17.90 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (2,970). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $37,490 for crematory operators in May 2021 and $43,650 in May 2025, with employment of 2,040 and 2,970.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $37,490 | $18.03 | 2,040 |
| May 2022 | $40,360 | $19.40 | 2,930 |
| May 2023 | $41,670 | $20.03 | 3,220 |
| May 2024 | $42,880 | $20.62 | 2,950 |
| May 2025 | $43,650 | $20.98 | 2,970 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
24 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin profile | $30.88 | $64,220 | $48,460 | $71,270 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | Massachusetts profile | $26.95 | $56,050 | $43,370 | $59,520 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.47 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $25.76 | $53,580 | $46,740 | $65,650 | 70 | 0.02 | 1.05 |
| 4 | Colorado profile | $25.03 | $52,060 | $37,440 | $72,300 | 70 | 0.02 | 1.24 |
| 5 | Delaware profile | $24.19 | $50,320 | $46,400 | $52,660 | 30 | 0.06 | 3.26 |
| 6 | Arizona profile | $24.02 | $49,970 | $39,410 | $57,770 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.70 |
| 7 | California profile | $23.93 | $49,780 | $44,030 | $67,190 | 240 | 0.01 | 0.70 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania profile | $23.07 | $47,980 | $34,520 | $57,190 | 140 | 0.02 | 1.24 |
| 9 | Connecticut profile | $22.68 | $47,160 | $43,390 | $71,040 | 100 | 0.06 | 3.09 |
| 10 | Kansas profile | $22.35 | $46,490 | $38,500 | $59,170 | 50 | 0.04 | 2.00 |
| 11 | Nevada profile | $22.21 | $46,190 | $36,070 | $56,020 | 80 | 0.05 | 2.60 |
| 12 | West Virginia profile | $21.08 | $43,840 | $41,670 | $59,990 | 30 | 0.04 | 2.32 |
| 13 | Ohio profile | $20.93 | $43,530 | $36,190 | $47,990 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.60 |
| 14 | Illinois profile | $20.07 | $41,740 | $36,520 | $47,120 | 190 | 0.03 | 1.61 |
| 15 | North Carolina profile | $19.88 | $41,350 | $34,020 | $49,710 | 150 | 0.03 | 1.58 |
| 16 | Michigan profile | $19.70 | $40,970 | $30,310 | $53,090 | 130 | 0.03 | 1.57 |
| 17 | Indiana profile | $19.54 | $40,650 | $36,420 | $61,580 | 190 | 0.06 | 3.17 |
| 18 | Florida profile | $18.61 | $38,710 | $36,480 | $47,480 | 320 | 0.03 | 1.69 |
| 19 | Kentucky profile | $18.15 | $37,740 | $32,150 | $50,990 | 50 | 0.03 | 1.41 |
| 20 | Oregon profile | $17.80 | $37,020 | $31,200 | $50,990 | 100 | 0.05 | 2.59 |
| 21 | Tennessee profile | $17.25 | $35,880 | $34,580 | $38,380 | ** | ** | ** |
| 22 | Iowa profile | $16.89 | $35,120 | $33,610 | $44,330 | ** | ** | ** |
| 23 | Alabama profile | $16.27 | $33,840 | $32,270 | $49,540 | 40 | 0.02 | 1.06 |
| 24 | Texas profile | $16.00 | $33,270 | $29,790 | $50,690 | 270 | 0.02 | 1.00 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (39-4010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Personal Care and Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 39-4012 Crematory Operators.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 39-4012, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 39-4012.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.