Funeral Attendants

Overview

Funeral Attendants has a national median salary of $35,680 per year, with +2.6% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

Perform a variety of tasks during funeral, such as placing casket in parlor or chapel prior to service, arranging floral offerings or lights around casket, directing or escorting mourners, closing casket, and issuing and storing funeral equipment.

Work Values

• Relationships
• Support
• Independence

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Embalm, dress, cosmeticize, and casket the deceased.
• Prepare obituaries for newspapers.
• Obtain burial permits and register deaths.
• Transport the deceased to the funeral home.
• Obtain doctors' signatures on death certificate and complete other paperwork, such as insurance claims forms.

Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Getting Information
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Detailed Work Activities

• Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
• Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Funeral Attendants:

Video Resources