Home / Career Explorer / Personal Care and Services

Crematory Operators

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)	Projected Growth (2024-2034)
National Statistics	$42880	600	3.3%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$42880

Median Wage (USD, 2024)

600

Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)

3.3%

Projected Growth (2024-2034)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Detailed Work Activities

Clean facilities or work areas.
Maintain records, documents, or other files.
Apply cleansing or conditioning agents to client hair, scalp, or skin.
Apply makeup to alter or enhance appearance.
Embalm corpses.
Explain use of products or services.
Discuss goods or services information with customers or patrons.
Provide counsel, comfort, or encouragement to individuals or families.
Transport biological or other medical materials.
Handle caskets.
Load materials into equipment for processing.
Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
Operate grinding equipment.
Verify information or specifications.
Prepare patients physically for medical procedures.
Clean facilities or equipment.
Drive vehicles to transport individuals or equipment.

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.
Sweep or vacuum the cremation chamber to retrieve remains for storage in an urn or other container.
Transport the deceased to a funeral home or crematory using a van, hearse, or other vehicle.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Innovation

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 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. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Session has been expired