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Salary comparison

Crematory Operators vs. Amusement and Recreation Attendants: Who Earns More?

Crematory Operators out-earn Amusement and Recreation Attendants by $12K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Crematory Operators land at $43,650 and Amusement and Recreation Attendants at $32,150. The education gap is real: crematory operator programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while amusement and recreation attendant programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Crematory Operators is Wisconsin ($64,220); for Amusement and Recreation Attendants it's Alaska ($45,680).

Crematory Operators
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Median salary
$43,650
$32,150
Hourly rate
$20.98/hr
$15.46/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$33,270
$22,350
Senior level (90th %)
$62,460
$42,490
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
2,970
397,830
Job growth (10-year)
3.3%
3.4%
Category
Personal Care
Personal Care
Top-paying state
Wisconsin
Alaska

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Crematory Operators median pay.

State
Crematory Operators
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Wisconsin
$64,220
$30,180
Massachusetts
$56,050
$34,440
Washington
$53,580
$37,790
Colorado
$52,060
$35,770
Delaware
$50,320
$31,200
Arizona
$49,970
$33,570
California
$49,780
$37,000
Pennsylvania
$47,980
$28,090
Connecticut
$47,160
$34,860
Nevada
$46,190
$29,940
Illinois
$41,740
$32,770
Michigan
$40,970
$28,580
Florida
$38,710
$30,670
Oregon
$37,020
$35,400
Tennessee
$35,880
$28,690

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Crematory Operators or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Crematory Operators earn more nationally. The median is $43,650 for Crematory Operators versus $32,150 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants, a difference of $12K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Crematory Operators or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Amusement and Recreation Attendants has the better 10-year outlook at 3.4% projected growth, compared to 3.3% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Crematory Operators or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Crematory Operators typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Amusement and Recreation Attendants requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Crematory Operators get paid the most?

Wisconsin is the top-paying state for Crematory Operators at $64,220/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Crematory Operators vs. Amusement and Recreation Attendants pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Wisconsin, Crematory Operators earn $64,220 vs. $30,180 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Crematory Operators salary breakdownView →Full Amusement and Recreation Attendants salary breakdownView →Best cities for Crematory Operators by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Amusement and Recreation Attendants by take-home payExplore →How to become a crematory operatorsGuide →How to become a amusement and recreation attendantsGuide →