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Career

Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers

Typical education: Associate degreeModerate pressure

What they 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.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $55,010 Median per year · $26.45/hr Most earn $33,350–$88,620

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Plan, schedule, or coordinate funerals, burials, or cremations, arranging details such as floral delivery or the time and place of services.
  • Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
  • Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died.
  • Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates or burial permits.
  • Manage funeral home operations, including the hiring, training, or supervision of embalmers, funeral attendants, or other staff.
  • Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 3,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Death care services93.3%
  • Self-employed (their own business)5.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Associate degreeExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

This career can be entered straight out of school. Most people earn an associate degree in funeral service or mortuary science, which typically takes about two years, and then start working in a funeral home.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build a strong base in English, math, and science, and get comfortable talking with people, since funeral work is largely about listening to families.

  2. Associate degree in funeral service or mortuary science

    About 2 years

    Study funeral directing, business and ethics, grief support, and related coursework. This is the education most commonly expected for this job.

  3. Funeral Director / Mortician

    Ongoing

    Arrange services with families, coordinate transportation and details, and support mourners. Many states require a license, so check your state's rules for requirements.

Where it can lead

  1. Funeral Home Manager

    Several years as a funeral director of experience first

    You take on running the funeral home, including staff, budgets, and day-to-day operations. Strong organization and business skills help you move into this role.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology and business or speech classesBiology helps with the science side of the work, and public speaking or business classes build the communication and planning skills you'll use with families.
  • Volunteer at a hospice, nursing home, or community centerSpending time with people who are grieving or older helps you learn compassion and comfort in hard situations.
  • Get a customer service jobA part-time job at a store or restaurant teaches you to be patient, organized, and respectful with a wide range of people.
  • Ask to shadow a local funeral directorMany funeral homes welcome students who want to learn. Seeing the daily work helps you decide whether this career suits you.

In college

  • Enroll in a funeral service or mortuary science programThis is the education most commonly needed for this career, and it covers the core knowledge you'll use on the job.
  • Take psychology, sociology, or counseling coursesThese classes help you understand grief and how families cope, which supports the care you'll give.
  • Work part-time at a funeral home or related businessA starter job such as a funeral attendant or front-desk role gives you hands-on experience and a sense of how the business runs.
  • Join a student organization or local funeral director associationStudent groups and professional associations offer networking, learning events, and connections with people already in the field.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local funeral home if you can volunteer, shadow staff, or attend a service. Seeing the work up close will help you decide if it fits you.
  • Look up which education programs and licensing rules apply in your state before you choose a school, since requirements vary.
  • Practice calm, kind communication now, such as volunteering or working customer-facing jobs. Staying steady with grieving people is a key part of this career.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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