ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Cemetery Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Cedar Memorial

Burial Crew Member

Cedar Rapids, IA

$18 - $22/hr

This position is also responsible for other cemetery grounds maintenance duties and assisting with setting up and taking down seasonal displays. Duties/Responsibilities: * Prepares burial plots and ...

Cedar Memorial

Burial Crew Member

Cedar Rapids, IA · On-site

$18 - $22/hr

This position is also responsible for other cemetery grounds maintenance duties and assisting with setting up and taking down seasonal displays. Duties/Responsibilities: * Prepares burial plots and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsCemetery JobsCemetery Jobs in Iowa

Cemetery information

See Iowa salary details

$14

$26

$34

How much do cemetery jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for cemetery in Iowa is $26.19, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.12 and $31.39 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What requirements do you need to work at a cemetery?

To work at a cemetery, applicants typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, and some roles may require knowledge of groundskeeping, embalming, or customer service. Physical stamina, attention to detail, and the ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions are important. Certifications such as a state embalmer license or groundskeeping training can be required for specific positions.

What are some common challenges faced by cemetery workers, and how can they be addressed on the job?

Cemetery workers often encounter challenges such as working outdoors in varying weather conditions, handling heavy equipment, and performing physically demanding tasks like grave preparation and landscaping. Additionally, the role requires sensitivity and professionalism when interacting with grieving families. To address these challenges, workers should prioritize safety protocols, use proper protective gear, and receive training in customer service and equipment operation. Many cemeteries also foster teamwork and provide support resources to help staff manage the emotional aspects of the job.

What are different jobs at a cemetery?

The jobs in a cemetery or graveyard revolve around taking care of the grounds and facilitating funeral services. You may find a position as a caretaker or groundskeeper whose duties include caring for the grounds of the cemetery and tending to the graves or other memorial markers. Cemeteries may also have a gravedigger whose responsibilities involve digging and placing the remains in the grave. A cemetery may have sales professionals who sell grave plots, memorial service directors, and other service providers, such as stone engravers, flower arrangers, and hearse drivers.

What is the difference between Cemetery vs Funeral Director?

AspectCemeteryFuneral Director
Primary RoleMaintains and manages burial grounds and grave sitesCoordinates funeral services and assists families with arrangements
Work EnvironmentOutdoor, cemetery groundsIndoor office, funeral homes, and sometimes outdoor sites
Required CertificationsMay require state-specific groundskeeping or maintenance licensesFuneral director license, embalming certification
Industry UsagePart of the funeral services industry, often working closely with funeral directorsFuneral services industry, overseeing arrangements and ceremonies

While cemeteries focus on maintaining burial grounds, funeral directors handle funeral arrangements and coordinate services. Both roles are essential in the funeral industry but serve different functions within the process of honoring the deceased.

What does a cemetery worker do?

Cemetery workers are responsible for maintaining the grounds of cemeteries, preparing gravesites for burials, and sometimes assisting with funeral services. Their duties often include landscaping, operating machinery to dig or fill graves, setting up burial markers, and ensuring the cemetery remains a peaceful and respectful environment for visitors. They may also provide customer service to grieving families, help with record-keeping, and ensure compliance with legal and safety regulations. The role requires attention to detail, respect for the deceased and their families, and physical stamina.
More about Cemetery jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Cemetery jobs in Iowa? The most popular types of Cemetery jobs in Iowa are:
What are popular job titles related to Cemetery jobs in Iowa? For Cemetery jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Cemetery jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Cemetery jobs in Iowa are:
What cities in Iowa are hiring for Cemetery jobs? Cities in Iowa with the most Cemetery job openings:
Cemetery jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cemetery job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $54,471 per year, or $26.2 per hour.

Cemetery Services Specialist (temporary)

Service Corporation International

West Des Moines, IA • On-site

$17.75 - $23/hr

Temporary

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Service Corporation International rating

6.7

Company rating: 6.7 out of 10

Based on 94 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 9 rated funeral services

Job description

Our associates celebrate lives. We celebrate our associates.

Participates in openings and closings for interments, entombments, inurnments, and disinterment as well as the installation of memorials and markers. Performs grounds and facilities maintenance.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • Performs openings & closings for burials, entombments and inurnments

  • Sets, installs, and assembles foundations, memorials, and markers

  • Installs outer burial containers

  • Handles and completes work orders from client families as it pertains to individual grave and marker maintenance

  • Responds to and completes requests for service/work orders

  • Conducts Interment Verification Procedures

  • Conducts 25 foot radius preparation for burials and ensures the area is clean and neat

  • Fills grave, tamps, seeds or sods

  • Adheres to all Company safety rules and Universal Precautions 

  • Maintains and protects Company assets by performing regular preventive maintenance on machines, equipment and facilities

  • Maintains a clean and orderly work area

  • Completes Dignity University courses and other training as assigned

  • Adheres to all standards of the Dignity Memorial Promise

  • Performs all other duties as assigned by management

Minimum Requirements

Education

  • High School degree or equivalent

Experience

  • Minimum of six (6) months experience operating standard equipment

Licenses

  • Acceptable driving record and applicable license(s) to operate equipment/vehicles

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Ability to operate hand-held tools and equipment, including, but not limited to a shovel, pick, rake, sledge hammer, lawn mower, weed trimmer, leaf blower, chain saw and pump

  • Ability to operate mechanical equipment including, but not limited to, a dump truck, tractor, utility vehicle, marker trailed, dump trailer, jack hammer, tamper and backhoe

  • Ability to accurately use measuring devices (i.e. tape measure, yardstick, etc.)

  • Ability to communicate effectively with fellow associates, contractor personnel and client families Ability to lift heavy objects up to 30 lbs.

  • Ability to work in various adverse weather conditions

  • Understands safety and security issues and implications

  • Mechanical aptitude

Postal Code: 50265Category (Portal Searching): Cemetery MaintenanceJob Location: US-IA - West Des Moines

Company Description

We are proud to be North America's leading provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services.

Our nearly 25,000 associates are driven by our guiding purpose to compassionately support families during their most difficult times, celebrate the significance of life and preserve memories that transcend generations.

We’ve created a culture of Service Excellence to our families and to each other. It’s the reason more than 600,000 families turn to us each year to care for their loved ones.

What Service Corporation International employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom