Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,350 | $16.03 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $55,010 | $26.45 |
| Mean (average) | $58,160 | $27.96 |
| 90th percentile | $88,620 | $42.61 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 49 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $44,930 | $30,660 | $61,440 | 420 | 1.24 |
| Arizona | $41,870 | $36,260 | $55,960 | 360 | 0.7 |
| Arkansas | $36,120 | $30,540 | $60,040 | 360 | 1.69 |
| California | $50,750 | $37,030 | $77,850 | 2,240 | 0.76 |
| Colorado | $60,850 | $38,000 | $138,880 | 320 | 0.68 |
| Connecticut | $59,710 | $34,010 | $94,620 | 300 | 1.1 |
| Delaware | $81,530 | $59,240 | $123,700 | 80 | 0.99 |
| Florida | $48,510 | $30,580 | $77,770 | 1,510 | 0.94 |
| Georgia | $49,990 | $35,810 | $78,290 | 780 | 0.99 |
| Hawaii | $46,310 | $33,580 | $53,620 | 150 | 1.52 |
| Idaho | $60,250 | $45,900 | $100,230 | 160 | 1.15 |
| Illinois | $69,600 | $42,740 | $104,570 | 1,320 | 1.34 |
| Indiana | $60,890 | $31,680 | $96,390 | 630 | 1.23 |
| Iowa | $63,700 | $34,540 | $94,950 | 640 | 2.54 |
| Kansas | $58,580 | $32,150 | $79,990 | 230 | 0.98 |
| Kentucky | $43,320 | $27,520 | $61,230 | 470 | 1.44 |
| Louisiana | $46,730 | $27,190 | $78,770 | 440 | 1.4 |
| Maine | $60,880 | $34,650 | $95,580 | 80 | 0.81 |
| Maryland | $58,060 | $36,330 | $100,330 | 500 | 1.13 |
| Massachusetts | $62,120 | $46,190 | $100,360 | 430 | 0.73 |
| Michigan | $60,450 | $37,440 | $87,340 | 810 | 1.15 |
| Minnesota | $49,760 | $37,440 | $104,770 | 500 | 1.05 |
| Mississippi | $48,350 | $26,360 | $60,570 | 320 | 1.71 |
| Missouri | $42,940 | $28,600 | $86,700 | 790 | 1.66 |
| Montana | $43,680 | $35,040 | $79,450 | 110 | 1.37 |
| Nebraska | $64,310 | $34,890 | $86,700 | 210 | 1.26 |
| Nevada | $43,940 | $28,360 | $55,710 | 280 | 1.12 |
| New Hampshire | $57,630 | $46,850 | $121,720 | 80 | 0.73 |
| New Jersey | $69,110 | $33,000 | $94,810 | 580 | 0.84 |
| New Mexico | $50,380 | $37,440 | $69,470 | 100 | 0.7 |
| New York | $63,090 | $46,780 | $94,990 | 1,030 | 0.66 |
| North Carolina | $60,730 | $29,950 | $84,920 | 1,000 | 1.25 |
| North Dakota | $59,760 | $44,700 | $94,250 | 110 | 1.55 |
| Ohio | $57,800 | $29,290 | $82,430 | 1,370 | 1.53 |
| Oklahoma | $47,780 | $26,200 | $97,290 | 380 | 1.37 |
| Oregon | $48,630 | $35,640 | $78,000 | 220 | 0.68 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,580 | $46,570 | $92,830 | 910 | 0.93 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,630 | $21,840 | $33,800 | 70 | 0.47 |
| Rhode Island | $55,420 | $54,360 | $139,100 | 40 | 0.51 |
| South Carolina | $40,020 | $29,510 | $83,650 | 400 | 1.07 |
| South Dakota | $47,840 | $43,780 | $78,940 | 200 | 2.72 |
| Tennessee | $46,180 | $33,600 | $68,990 | 550 | 1.04 |
| Texas | $46,630 | $24,120 | $62,070 | 1,500 | 0.66 |
| Utah | $72,800 | $43,960 | $100,980 | 240 | 0.86 |
| Vermont | $48,740 | $45,490 | $81,880 | 40 | 0.74 |
| Washington | $59,700 | $45,290 | $77,470 | 400 | 0.71 |
| West Virginia | $47,960 | $31,340 | $59,970 | 180 | 1.59 |
| Wisconsin | $58,250 | $38,170 | $92,220 | 580 | 1.23 |
| Wyoming | $55,570 | $33,970 | $90,320 | 40 | 0.78 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 5.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, General CIP 12.0301
- Funeral Direction/Service CIP 12.0302
- Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, Other CIP 12.0399
- Thanatology CIP 30.5301
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Perform embalming duties, as necessary.
- Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
- Remove deceased remains from place of death.
- Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves.
- Plan, schedule, or coordinate funerals, burials, or cremations, arranging details such as floral delivery or the time and place of services.
- Close caskets and lead funeral corteges to churches or burial sites.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Access (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Salesforce software (hot technology)
- Belmar & Associates Mortware
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Custom Data Systems Sterling Management Software
- FPA Software MACCS
- FuneralKiosk
- HMIS Advantage
- Twin Tier Technologies MIMS
- Web browser software
- iCIMS Talent Cloud software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination, Time Management, Persuasion, Negotiation.
Common job titles: Funeral Arrangement Director, Funeral Arranger, Funeral Counselor, Funeral Director, Funeral Family Service Assistant, Funeral Location Manager, Funeral Prearrangement Counselor, Licensed Funeral Director, Licensed Mortician, Mortician.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers make?
The national median annual wage for morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers was $55,010 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $33,350 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $88,620. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers to change +3.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Delaware ($81,530), Utah ($72,800), Illinois ($69,600). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.