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Crematory Operators

Crematory Operators score 4 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #835 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 12 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 0 on its own and 1 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 2 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

4/ 100
Low
Rank
#835of 923 jobs
US workers
2,970BLS, May 2025
Median pay
$43,650a year
In real AI use
2 of 12tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

  • AI can speed this up on its own: 0 (0%)
  • AI can speed this up with extra software: 1 (8%)
  • Little or no AI speed-up: 11 (92%)
  • Read documentation to confirm the identity of the deceased.AI can speed this up with extra software · Seen in real AI use
  • Clean the crematorium, including tables, floors, and equipment.Little or no AI speed-up
  • Document divided remains to ensure parts are not misplaced.Little or no AI speed-up
  • Embalm, dress, or otherwise prepare the deceased for viewing.Little or no AI speed-up
  • Explain the cremation process to family or friends of the deceased.Little or no AI speed-up
  • Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families or friends.Little or no AI speed-up · Seen in real AI use
  • Pick up and handle human or pet remains in a respectful manner.Little or no AI speed-up
  • Place corpses into crematory machines to reduce remains to bone fragments using flame, heat, or alkaline hydrolysis.Little or no AI speed-up
  • Pulverize remaining bone fragments into smaller pieces, using specialized equipment, such as a cremulator or grinder.Little or no AI speed-up
  • Remove jewelry, watches, or other personal items from the deceased prior to cremation.Little or no AI speed-up
  • Sweep or vacuum the cremation chamber to retrieve remains for storage in an urn or other container.Little or no AI speed-up
  • Transport the deceased to a funeral home or crematory using a van, hearse, or other vehicle.Little or no AI speed-up

Similar jobs, lower exposure

Related occupations that score at least 10 points lower.

This job is already among the least exposed in its field.

Other jobs in this field

Personal Care and Service occupations close to this one.

Questions about crematory operators and AI

Will AI replace crematory operators?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Crematory Operators score 4 out of 100 (low exposure), #835 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 1 of the job's 12 tasks, 0 of them on its own, while 11 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which crematory operators tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Read documentation to confirm the identity of the deceased".

Which crematory operators tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "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".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 2 of the 12 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as crematory operators, and what do they earn?

About 2,970 people in the US, with median pay of $43,650 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

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