Crematory Operators Salary
Personal Care and Service Occupations · 3.0K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$43,650
Median hourly
$21
Average annual
$45,670
Typical range
$33,270–$62,460
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Crematory Operators is $43,650 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $21 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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.
Most earn between $33,270 and $62,460 a year. There are roughly 3.0K people employed as crematory operators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Crematory Operators.
- Hourly
- $20.99
- Daily
- $168
- Weekly
- $839
- Bi-weekly
- $1,679
- Monthly
- $3,638
- Annual
- $43,650
$43,650 a year is around the 50th percentile for Crematory Operatorss. The median is $43,650.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Wisconsin$64,220
- 2Massachusetts$56,050
- 3Washington$53,580
- 4Colorado$52,060
- 5Delaware$50,320
- 6Arizona$49,970
- 7California$49,780
- 8Pennsylvania$47,980
- 9Connecticut$47,160
- 10Kansas$46,490
- 11Nevada$46,190
- 12West Virginia$43,840
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$59,510
- 2Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$50,330
- 3Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$47,000
- 4Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$45,020
- 5Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL$39,240
- 6Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$38,980
- 7Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN$37,750
- 8Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$36,180
Related job titles
Employers advertise Crematory Operators roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Funeral Attendants$35,680
- Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$55,010
- Funeral Home Managers$78,790
- Embalmers$58,780
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$49,450
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$38,150
- Compliance Officers$80,730
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Crematory Operators make?
- The median annual wage for Crematory Operators is $43,650 ($21 per hour). Pay ranges from about $33,270 at the 10th percentile to $62,460 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Crematory Operators?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $45,670, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Crematory Operatorss the most?
- Wisconsin has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $64,220.
- Is Crematory Operators a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 3.0K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.