Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers

Overview

Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers has a national median salary of $55,010 per year, with +3% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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.

Work Values

• Relationships
• Independence
• Achievement

Work Styles

Responsibilities

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.

Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Getting Information
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Scheduling Work and Activities
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Handling and Moving Objects

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.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• 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.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree 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 an associate's degree.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers:

Video Resources