How to become a Crematory Operator
Official title: 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.
How to become one
Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent
Ways in
- Licence: A licence is required in 10 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $43,650 a year The middle half earn $37,020 to $50,380.
- About 3,000 people work in this job now, and about 3,100 are projected by 2035. (+3.1%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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Questions people ask
How much does a Crematory Operator earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $43,650 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $37,020 to $50,380.
Is a Crematory Operator a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 3,000 to about 3,100 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Crematory Operator?
Not always. 28% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Crematory Operator?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.