How to hire a crematory operator

How to hire a crematory operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step crematory operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a crematory operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new crematory operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The crematory operator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a crematory operator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a crematory operator that fits the bill.

   This list presents crematory operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Crematory Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Crematory Operator		$12-26
   Funeral Attendant	A funeral attendant assists funeral directors in a funeral service to ensure it runs smoothly as planned. The attendant is in charge of placing the casket in the parlor before the service, and they may also manage the finances of the funeral home... Show more	$11-17
   Machine Operator/Forklift Operator	A machine operator/forklift operator is responsible for operating industrial trucks to move merchandise around the warehouse facilities and other assigned areas. Machine operators/forklift operators also assist with inventory tasks by scanning orders and ensuring the correct merchandise for shipment... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Adjacent Facilities
   • PET
   • OSHA
   • EPA
   • General Maintenance
   • Death Certificates
   • Funeral Services
   • Body Removals

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
   • Keep accurate maintenance records for OSHA.
   • Conform to all local, state and federal laws, including OSHA requirements.
   • Leverage strengths in daily operations running the pet and human cremation division of the crematory at Schoedinger.
   • Face to face interaction with families during witness cremation services and providing care to grieving pet owners as well.
   • Monitor combat missions through satellite and computer global positioning systems in order to prepare accurate reports for unit commanders.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your crematory operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A crematory operator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, crematory operators' average salary in kansas is 37% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level crematory operators earn 54% less than senior-level crematory operators.
   • Certifications. A crematory operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a crematory operator's salary.

   Average crematory operator salary

   $38,621yearly

   $18.57 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level crematory operator salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing a crematory operator job description

   A job description for a crematory operator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a crematory operator job description:

   Crematory operator job description example

   Our associates celebrate lives. We celebrate our associates.
   
   Consider the possibilities of joining a Great Place to Work!
   
   Ensure that human remains are transported properly to the crematory, are received and logged into the crematory log book, are cremated strictly according to state and federal laws, and that the ashes are carefully and completely processed and placed into the correct urns.
   
   JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
   
   Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.
   
   * Properly identify human remains against the paperwork and logbook to ensure that the correct body is cremated and is placed in the correct urn.
   * Occasionally greet families who want to witness the cremation and answer their questions. Ensure that health and safety rules are strictly maintained.
   * Perform cremation of human remains by preheating the retort; pushing the container with the body inside it into the retort; positioning the container inside the retort; closing the retort doors and pushing the igniter button; monitoring the internal retort temperature by watching the gauges to insure overheating does not occur; and ensuring that the human remains are completely cremated.
   * Using Personal Protective Equipment, process cremated human remains to ensure that no ashes remain in the retort, that they are all placed carefully in the correct urn, and that cleanliness around the retort is strictly maintained.
   * Carefully complete the crematory logbook with all of the required data.
   * At the end of each day, ensure that all urns with cremated remains are transported to the Interment Office.
   * Ensure that all work areas, working conditions, and work habits are performed in accordance with Company, state, and federal rules and regulations by understanding the importance of health and safety. Report unsafe equipment and conditions to management.
   * Be prepared for unannounced visits by state inspectors who audit the crematory process twice a year by scrupulously following rules and regulations, maintaining detailed records and logbooks, and keeping the crematory very clean.
   * Keep immediate supervisor promptly and fully informed of all problems and significant matters, and take prompt corrective action as needed.
   * Participate in training and skill development opportunities to improve competency and customer service.
   * Report to work on time and maintain standard attendance.
   
   Experience and Education:
   
   * Stable experience in work involving communication, driving, customer service, and/or following directions
   * High School Diploma or GED
   
   Special Skills
   
   * Must possess valid Crematory Operator training certificate
   * Possession of Crematory Manager license preferred
   * Ability to operate crematory under limited supervision
   * Valid CA driver's license
   * Drive Company vehicles and follow driving directions
   * Good verbal and written communication skills
   * Compassionate personality to relate with the bereaved
   * Problem solving skills
   * Ability to multitask and set priorities, and have a mind for detail
   * Current HBV vaccination
   
   Working Environment
   
   Drive Company van from mortuary to crematory; move containerized human remains from van into the crematory; using safety precautions for protection from human diseases, move container into the retort for cremation; work inside the crematory where the temperature can increase from warm to hot, and where dust and fumes must be tolerated; must be flexible to work occasional overtime and outside of normally scheduled hours.
   
   Physical Requirements
   
   Must be able to physically bend, reach, kneel, stoop, lift, carry, push or pull up to seven bodies/caskets per day, weighing up to 200# out of refrigerated storage at the mortuary and drive them to the crematory several miles away; must have good driving record; must be able to physically and emotionally handle the requirements of constantly being around and moving human remains from a temperature controlled environment to the crematory. Must constantly think about and comply with health and safety regulations, and practice good hygiene.
   
   Equipment / Machines Operated
   
   * Personal Protective Equipment
   * Heavy oven gloves, heat reflective jacket, respirator mask, face shield, rubber gloves, smock
   * Company vehicle
   * Mortuary first call cot, roller tables
   * Caskets and cardboard boxes
   * Crematory retort, pulverizing processor
   * Urns, very detailed logbooks
   
   Rose Hills is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The company's hiring procedures do not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual-orientation, veteran's status or disability, or any other legally protected status.
   
   SCI Shared Resources, LLC is committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. On request, we will seek to provide appropriate accessibility options to all applicants with disabilities.
   
   Postal Code: 90601
   
   Category (Portal Searching): Operations
   
   Job Location: US-CA - Whittier

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find crematory operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any crematory operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level crematory operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your crematory operator job on Zippia to find and recruit crematory operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit crematory operators, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new crematory operator

   Once you've selected the best crematory operator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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