Ever walked past a cemetery at dusk and wondered who actually keeps the place from looking like a scene out of a 1980s horror flick? It’s a weirdly peaceful job, honestly. But "peaceful" doesn't pay the electric bill. If you're looking for the short answer to how much do graveyard workers make, the national average in the U.S. currently hovers around $39,387 a year.
That's about $18.94 an hour. Not exactly "buy a private island" money, but it’s a living.
📖 Related: UAE Dirham to Euro Exchange Rate: What Most People Get Wrong
However, those numbers are just the surface. If you dig deeper—pun fully intended—you'll find that paychecks in this industry are wildly inconsistent. Some guys are out there making barely above minimum wage cutting grass, while others are pulling in nearly $80,000 in specific pockets of the country. It all depends on whether you're just "the guy with the mower" or the person operating heavy machinery and managing the delicate logistics of a burial.
The Reality of the Paycheck
Most people think "cemetery worker" and imagine a guy with a shovel. In 2026, it’s a bit more technical than that. Most of the work falls under the umbrella of "grounds maintenance," but the "death care" aspect adds a premium.
According to recent data from ZipRecruiter and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical range for most workers stays between $34,000 and $40,000. That's the meat of the bell curve. If you're just starting out with zero experience, expect to land closer to $28,000. On the flip side, the top 10% of earners—the "seniors" who have been doing this for a decade or handle specialized equipment—can see upwards of $53,000.
Why the Location Is Everything
You want to make the most money? Move to California or Wisconsin. Seriously.
It sounds random, but the pay disparity between states is massive. In San Mateo County, CA, a graveyard worker can average about $57,976. That is nearly 50% higher than the national average. Meanwhile, in places like Milwaukee, Wisconsin, some reports show specialized cemetery workers clearing $75,140.
💡 You might also like: 2024 US Federal Income Tax Brackets: What Most People Get Wrong
Why the jump? It usually comes down to three things:
- Cost of Living: If a burger costs $20 in your city, the guy digging the graves needs to make more too.
- Municipal vs. Private: If you work for a city-owned cemetery, you’re often on a government pay scale with better benefits.
- Union Presence: Unionized workers, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, often negotiate significantly higher hourly rates than private contractors in the South.
Different Roles, Different Roles
"Graveyard worker" is a broad term. It’s like saying someone "works in a kitchen." Are they the head chef or the person scrubbing the pots?
The Groundskeeper
This is the entry-level tier. You're mowing, weed-whacking, and keeping the hedges trimmed. You aren't necessarily involved in the interments. The pay here is basically aligned with standard landscaping, often sitting around $35,638 annually.
The Crematory Operator
This is a different beast. It requires certification and a very strong stomach. Because it's a technical skill involving high-temperature machinery and strict legal compliance, the pay is better. The average crematory operator makes about $42,306, with some hitting the $55,000 mark if they also manage the facility.
The Cemetery Manager
If you move into management, the "worker" label starts to fade and you’re now a business professional. Managers can expect to make around $54,806. They handle the sales, the grieving families, and the scheduling. It’s a lot of emotional labor, which is why the pay jumps.
How Much Do Graveyard Workers Make in Specific Cities?
Let’s look at some real-world numbers from early 2026. These are averages, so individual results vary based on the specific cemetery's budget.
- Nome, AK: $48,859 (Hazard pay and cost of living are huge here).
- Berkeley, CA: $48,227.
- Wausau, WI: $81,744 (For highly specialized roles).
- Ohio (Statewide): $35,303.
- Connecticut (Statewide): $41,898.
You’ll notice that some of these numbers look like they’re for a totally different job. That’s because in some regions, the "Cemetery Worker" title is used for the person who actually performs the burials and handles the heavy machinery (the backhoes and lowering devices), whereas in others, it just refers to basic cleaning.
The Union Advantage
Honestly, if you’re looking at this as a career, you want to find a union shop. Data from the BLS shows that unionized workers in the "Death Care" and "Private Sector" industries earn about 11% to 15% more than their non-union counterparts.
It’s not just the hourly wage, though. It’s the health insurance. About 96% of union workers have employer-provided healthcare, compared to only 69% of non-union workers. When you're working outside in the cold or heat, doing physical labor, that insurance matters.
The Hidden Costs of the Job
Nobody talks about the "emotional tax." You aren't just digging holes. You’re working around people who are having the worst day of their lives.
There's also the physical toll. You're on your feet, often in rain, snow, or 100-degree heat. If the cemetery doesn't use modern machinery for every plot—which many older, cramped cemeteries can't—you might actually be doing some of that work by hand. That’s why you see a lot of "senior" workers topping out at age 50 and moving into management or sales. Their backs just can't take it anymore.
Is It Worth It?
If you like being alone, working outdoors, and you don't mind the "spooky" stigma, it’s a stable gig. People aren't stopping dying anytime soon. It’s a recession-proof industry.
If you're stuck at a desk and hate it, making $19 an hour to be in the fresh air might actually sound like a dream. But if you're looking for a high-growth, high-salary career path, you'll likely hit a ceiling pretty fast unless you move into the mortuary science or funeral directing side of things.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're serious about getting into this field, don't just apply to "landscaping" jobs. Look for municipal "Public Works" openings in your city or county. These roles often include cemetery maintenance but come with government pensions and better job security. If you're in a private cemetery, ask about crematory certification. Adding that "operator" tag to your resume is the fastest way to bump your pay by $5,000 to $10,000 a year without needing a college degree.
📖 Related: Is the Fresh Start Program Legit? What Taxpayers Actually Need to Know
Check local listings for "Interment Specialist" or "Cemetery Caretaker" rather than just "laborer" to find the higher-paying brackets.
Source Reference Summary:
- ZipRecruiter 2026 Data: Average national pay for cemetery workers ($39,387) and crematory operators ($42,306).
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): Grounds maintenance median pay and union wage advantages.
- ERI Economic Research Institute: Senior vs. entry-level pay scales and regional data for Wisconsin and Ohio.