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Salary comparison

Crematory Operators vs. Childcare Workers: Who Earns More?

Crematory Operators out-earn Childcare Workers by $9K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Crematory Operators land at $43,650 and Childcare Workers at $34,980. The education gap is real: crematory operator programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while childcare worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Crematory Operators is Wisconsin ($64,220); for Childcare Workers it's District of Columbia ($47,340).

Crematory Operators
Childcare Workers
Median salary
$43,650
$34,980
Hourly rate
$20.98/hr
$16.82/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$33,270
$24,260
Senior level (90th %)
$62,460
$46,010
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
2,970
518,910
Job growth (10-year)
3.3%
-2.9%
Category
Personal Care
Personal Care
Top-paying state
Wisconsin
District of Columbia

Pay by state

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

State
Crematory Operators
Childcare Workers
Wisconsin
$64,220
$32,460
Massachusetts
$56,050
$40,900
Washington
$53,580
$41,680
Colorado
$52,060
$40,750
Delaware
$50,320
$33,210
Arizona
$49,970
$35,100
California
$49,780
$40,020
Pennsylvania
$47,980
$30,140
Connecticut
$47,160
$36,660
Nevada
$46,190
$29,740
Illinois
$41,740
$35,830
Michigan
$40,970
$30,970
Indiana
$40,650
$30,180
Florida
$38,710
$34,210
Oregon
$37,020
$38,650

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Crematory Operators or Childcare Workers?

Crematory Operators earn more nationally. The median is $43,650 for Crematory Operators versus $34,980 for Childcare Workers, a difference of $9K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Crematory Operators or Childcare Workers?

Crematory Operators has the better 10-year outlook at 3.3% projected growth, compared to -2.9% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Crematory Operators or Childcare Workers?

Crematory Operators typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Childcare Workers 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. Childcare Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Wisconsin, Crematory Operators earn $64,220 vs. $32,460 for Childcare Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Crematory Operators salary breakdownView →Full Childcare Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Crematory Operators by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Childcare Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a crematory operatorsGuide →How to become a childcare workersGuide →