Funeral service managers held about 23,500 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of funeral service managers were as follows:
| Self-employed workers | 64% |
| Death care services | 36 |
Morticians, undertakers, and funeral directors held about 29,600 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of morticians, undertakers, and funeral directors were as follows:
| Death care services | 85% |
| Self-employed workers | 13 |
Funeral services traditionally take place in a house of worship, in a funeral home, or at a gravesite or crematory. However, some families prefer holding the service in their home or in a social center.
Funeral service workers typically perform their duties in a funeral home. Workers also may operate a merchandise display room, crematory, or cemetery, which may be on the funeral home premises. The work is often stressful, because workers must arrange the various details of a funeral within 24 to 72 hours of a death. In addition, they may be responsible for managing multiple funerals on the same day.
Although workers may come into contact with bodies that have contagious diseases, the work is not dangerous if proper safety and health regulations are followed. Those working in crematories are exposed to high temperatures and must wear appropriate protective clothing.
Work Schedules
Most funeral service workers are employed full time. They are often on call, and long workdays are common, including evenings and weekends.
An associate’s degree in funeral service or mortuary science is the typical education requirement for funeral service workers. Most employers require applicants to be 21 years old, have 2 years of formal education, have supervised training, and pass a state licensing exam.
Education
An associate’s degree in funeral service or mortuary science is the typical education requirement for all funeral service workers. Courses taken usually include those covering the topics of ethics, grief counseling, funeral service, and business law. All accredited programs also include courses in embalming and restorative techniques.
The American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) accredits 60 funeral service and mortuary science programs, most of which are 2-year associate’s degree programs offered at community colleges. Some programs offer a bachelor’s degree.
Although an associate’s degree is typically required, some employers prefer applicants to have a bachelor’s degree.
High school students can prepare to become a funeral service worker by taking courses in biology, chemistry, and business, and by participating in public speaking.
Part-time or summer jobs in funeral homes also provide valuable experience.
Training
Those studying to be funeral directors and morticians must complete training, usually lasting 1 to 3 years, under the direction of a licensed funeral director or manager. The training, sometimes called an internship or an apprenticeship, may be completed before, during, or after graduating from a 2-year funeral service or mortuary science program and passing a national board exam.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Most workers must be licensed in Washington, DC and every state in which they work, except Colorado, which offers a voluntary certification program. Although licensing laws and examinations vary by state, most applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be 21 years old
- Complete an ABFSE accredited funeral service or mortuary science program
- Pass a state and/or national board exam
- Serve an internship lasting 1 to 3 years
Working in multiple states will require multiple licenses. For specific requirements, applicants should contact each applicable state licensing board.
Most states require funeral directors to earn continuing education credits annually to keep their licenses.
The Cremation Association of North America (CANA); International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA); and the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) offer crematory certification designations. Many states require certification for those who will perform cremations. For specific requirements, applicants should contact their state board or one of the above organizations.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Funeral service managers typically have multiple years of experience working as a funeral director or mortician before becoming managers.
Funeral service workers typically have an interest in the Helping, Persuading and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Helping interest area indicates a focus on assisting, serving, counseling, or teaching other people. The Persuading interest area indicates a focus on influencing, motivating, and selling to other people. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Helping or Persuading or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a funeral service worker, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Funeral service workers should also possess the following specific qualities:
Business skills . Knowledge of financial statements and the ability to run a funeral home efficiently and profitably are important for funeral directors and managers.
Compassion . Death is a delicate and emotional matter. Funeral service workers must be able to treat clients with care and sympathy in their time of loss.
Interpersonal skills . Funeral service workers should have good interpersonal skills. When speaking with families, for instance, they must be tactful and able to explain and discuss all matters about services provided.
Time-management skills . Funeral service workers must be able to handle numerous tasks for multiple customers, often in a short time frame.
The median annual wage for funeral service managers was $76,350 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $44,120, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $161,870.
The median annual wage for morticians, undertakers, and funeral directors was $54,150 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,370, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $89,880.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for funeral service managers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Death care services | $76,280 |
In May 2019, the median annual wages for morticians, undertakers, and funeral directors in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Death care services | $53,890 |
Most funeral service workers are employed full time. They are often on call, and long workdays are common, including evenings and weekends.
Overall employment of funeral service workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Demand for funeral service workers will stem from deaths in the aging population. In addition, these workers will be needed to assist the growing number of baby boomers who prearrange their end-of-life services. Prearrangement offers clients a stress-free way to ensure that their final wishes will be met.
Job Prospects
Job prospects for funeral service workers are expected to be good overall. Opportunities should be particularly favorable for those who are licensed as both a funeral director and an embalmer, for those willing to relocate, and for certified crematory operators.
Some job openings should result from the need to replace workers who retire or leave the occupation each year.
For more information about funeral service workers, including accredited mortuary science programs, visit
National Funeral Directors Association
For scholarships and educational programs in funeral service and mortuary science, visit
American Board of Funeral Service Education
National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, Inc.
For information about crematories, visit
Cremation Association of North America
International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association
Candidates should contact their state board for specific licensing requirements.