The median pay for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers is $55,010 a year ($26.45/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.0% through 2035, with about 3,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
- SOC 39-4031
- Personal Care and Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger in four numbers
- Median pay
- $55,010a year, or $26.45/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $33KTop 10% $89K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.0%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,00026,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202526.7K
- Projected 203527.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 26.7K Projected 2035 27.5K - Typical education
- Associate'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school15.3%
- Some college0.3%
- Associate's73.2%
- Bachelor's11.2%
Highest education held by morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers Segment Value High school 15.3% Some college 0.3% Associate's 73.2% Bachelor's 11.2%
Also advertised as: Funeral Arrangement Director, Funeral Arranger, Funeral Counselor, Funeral Director, Funeral Family Service Assistant, Funeral Location Manager.
Pay
How much do Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers make?
Every mortician, undertaker, and funeral arranger in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$55,010
Middle half earn $42,430 to $72,010
- 10th
- $33,350
- 25th
- $42,430
- 75th
- $72,010
- 90th
- $88,620
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $33,350 |
| 25th | $42,430 |
| Median | $55,010 |
| 75th | $72,010 |
| 90th | $88,620 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $55,010
- Median hourly wage
- $26.45/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $58,160
- People employed
- 25,100
Versus all US occupations
At $55,010, Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers earn 8% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $4,030 a year.
Versus personal care and service occupations
Inside the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120, this is 44% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $88,620 or more while the bottom 10% earn $33,350, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 27% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Delaware pays the most at $81,530, and still leads at $81,687 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Delaware | $81,530 | $81,687 | 80 |
| 2Utah | $72,800 | $73,637 | 240 |
| 3Illinois | $69,600 | $69,629 | 1,320 |
| 4New Jersey | $69,110 | $63,517 | 580 |
| 5Nebraska | $64,310 | $71,374 | 210 |
| 6Iowa | $63,700 | $72,583 | 640 |
| 7Pennsylvania | $63,580 | $65,162 | 910 |
| 8New York | $63,090 | $58,459 | 1,030 |
| 9Massachusetts | $62,120 | $58,738 | 430 |
| 10Indiana | $60,890 | $65,242 | 630 |
Job outlook
Is Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers | +3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers to change 3.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,000 openings are projected each year, 11.2% of the 26,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of funeral service workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Funeral service workers will be needed to assist the growing number of people prearranging end-of-life services. This demand will be constrained by consumers increasingly preferring cremation, which costs less and requires fewer workers than do traditional funeral arrangements. However, since most cremations still involve a memorial service or funeral, funeral home managers are expected to be needed to guide families and loved ones through the death care process and to plan end-of-life events.
Getting in
How to become a Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger
An associate’s degree in a funeral service or mortuary science education program is the education typically required to become a funeral service worker. Most employers require applicants to be 21 years old, have at least 2 years of formal postsecondary education, have supervised training, and pass a state licensing exam.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Associate's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers.
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree73.2%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)15.3%
- Bachelor's Degree11.2%
- Some College Courses0.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 73.2% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 15.3% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 11.2% |
| Some College Courses | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger do?
Perform various tasks to arrange and direct individual funeral services, such as coordinating transportation of body to mortuary, interviewing family or other authorized person to arrange details, selecting pallbearers, aiding with the selection of officials for religious rites, and providing transportation for mourners.
Funeral service workers organize and manage the details of a ceremony honoring a deceased person.
Day-to-day tasks
- Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families or friends.
- Provide or arrange transportation between sites for the remains, mourners, pallbearers, clergy, or flowers.
- Plan placement of caskets at funeral sites or place or adjust lights, fixtures, or floral displays.
- Close caskets and lead funeral corteges to churches or burial sites.
- Provide information on funeral service options, products, or merchandise, and maintain a casket display area.
- Arrange for pallbearers or inform pallbearers or honorary groups of their duties.
- Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits.
- Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most funeral service workers are employed full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. They are often on call; irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, are common.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Self-employed workers58%
- Death care services40%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 58% |
| Death care services | 40% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.1
- Speaking3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.3
- Writing3.3
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Learning3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Mathematics2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.3 |
| Writing | 3.3 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Mathematics | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.1
- Service Orientation3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Time Management3.4
- Persuasion3.1
- Negotiation3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Instructing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.4 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
| Negotiation | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Human resources software
- Internet browser software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional4.7
- Enterprising4.7
- Social4.4
- Realistic3.5
- Artistic1.8
- Investigative1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
- Management
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Healthcare Support
- Business and Financial Operations
More personal care and service careers
Median annual pay, with morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers highlighted
- Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger$55,010
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,160
- Concierge$38,950
- Tour Guide and Escort$38,120
- Hairstylist$35,790
- Manicurist and Pedicurist$35,760
- Nanny$34,980
- Childcare Worker$34,980
- Gambling Dealer$34,320
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger | $55,010 |
| Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $47,160 |
| Concierge | $38,950 |
| Tour Guide and Escort | $38,120 |
| Hairstylist | $35,790 |
| Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 |
| Nanny | $34,980 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger appears on
Questions
Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger: frequently asked questions
How much do Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers make?
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers earn a median of $55,010 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 8% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $26.45/hr. The middle half earn between $42,430 and $72,010. The top 10% earn $88,620 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger?
Usually a two-year degree rather than a four-year one. BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 73.2% hold associate's degree or other 2-year degree.
Is Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.0% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger do?
Funeral service workers organize and manage the details of a ceremony honoring a deceased person. A core O*NET task: offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families or friends. Employers most often ask for Customer relationship management CRM software, Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers the most?
The highest state medians for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers are Delaware ($81,530), Utah ($72,800), Illinois ($69,600) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger?
O*NET scores Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Social interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.