Crematory Operators Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for crematory operatorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Wisconsin$62,620
- Massachusetts$54,950
- Washington$54,720
- Colorado$54,540
- California$53,520
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $62,620 | $64,220 | $30 | +37.1% | — |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $54,950 | $56,050 | $26 | +20.3% | 30 |
| 3 | Washington | $54,720 | $53,580 | $26 | +19.8% | 70 |
| 4 | Colorado | $54,540 | $52,060 | $26 | +19.4% | 70 |
| 5 | California | $53,520 | $49,780 | $26 | +17.2% | 240 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $52,350 | $47,160 | $25 | +14.6% | 100 |
| 7 | Arizona | $49,710 | $49,970 | $24 | +8.8% | 40 |
| 8 | Kansas | $49,440 | $46,490 | $24 | +8.3% | 50 |
| 9 | Delaware | $49,280 | $50,320 | $24 | +7.9% | 30 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $48,520 | $47,980 | $23 | +6.2% | 140 |
| 11 | Nevada | $47,230 | $46,190 | $23 | +3.4% | 80 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $46,690 | $43,840 | $22 | +2.2% | 30 |
| 13 | Indiana | $46,370 | $40,650 | $22 | +1.5% | 190 |
| 14 | Ohio | $43,050 | $43,530 | $21 | -5.7% | 60 |
| 15 | Florida | $42,100 | $38,710 | $20 | -7.8% | 320 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $41,910 | $41,350 | $20 | -8.2% | 150 |
| 17 | Illinois | $41,760 | $41,740 | $20 | -8.6% | 190 |
| 18 | Michigan | $41,080 | $40,970 | $20 | -10.1% | 130 |
| 19 | Oregon | $40,200 | $37,020 | $19 | -12% | 100 |
| 20 | Alabama | $39,280 | $33,840 | $19 | -14% | 40 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $38,730 | $37,740 | $19 | -15.2% | 50 |
| 22 | Iowa | $36,800 | $35,120 | $18 | -19.4% | — |
| 23 | Tennessee | $36,330 | $35,880 | $17 | -20.5% | — |
| 24 | Texas | $35,890 | $33,270 | $17 | -21.4% | 270 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 8 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $59,510 | $58,910 | 30 |
| 2 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $50,330 | $49,710 | 40 |
| 3 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,000 | $50,550 | — |
| 4 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $45,020 | $49,660 | 40 |
| 5 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $39,240 | $41,560 | 70 |
| 6 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $38,980 | $45,910 | 80 |
| 7 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $37,750 | $41,040 | 30 |
| 8 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $36,180 | $39,620 | — |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing crematory operatorss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Death Care Services | $44,100 | $45,790 | 2,720 |
| 2 | Sector 81 - Other Services (except Public Administration) | $43,840 | $45,570 | 2,800 |
| 3 | Personal and Laundry Services | $43,820 | $45,570 | 2,800 |
| 4 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $43,650 | $45,670 | 2,970 |
| 5 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $43,620 | $45,620 | 2,960 |
| 6 | Other Personal Services | $37,220 | $37,650 | 80 |
| 7 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,000 | $45,910 | 140 |
| 8 | Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,000 | $45,910 | 140 |
| 9 | Veterinary Services | $37,000 | $45,910 | 140 |
| 10 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $37,000 | $45,910 | 140 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do crematory operators make in the U.S.?
The median crematory operators salary in the United States is $43,650 per year (mean $45,670), and about 80% earn between $33,270 and $62,460.
How much do crematory operators make per hour?
Roughly $22 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $45,670 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays crematory operators the most?
Wisconsin has the highest average pay for crematory operators at $62,620 per year (median $64,220).
What is the job outlook for crematory operators?
Employment is projected to change +3.3% from 2024 to 2034 (About as fast as average), with about 600 openings per year.