Personal Care and Service · Career brief

Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$55,010

Below the middle on pay

2025 national median. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

Slow projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

3,000

Moderate opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

Associate degree

Usually a two-year-level credential or equivalent route

Associate's degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Structured / detail

Accuracy, process, and organized information matter

Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of people who have died.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Unknown: review standing, lifting, repetitive movement, and posture with a practitioner. No overall physical-demand rating is assigned.

ChooseField take

The national benchmarks are mixed, so the work itself and the route in matter more than any standout pay or demand signal. It makes the most sense if structured, detail-oriented work appeals to you and you are comfortable with an associate-degree path. Main tradeoff: Unknown: review standing, lifting, repetitive movement, and posture with a practitioner. No overall physical-demand rating is assigned.

Before choosing, compare:Embalmers Gambling Dealers Amusement and Recreation Attendants

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers with another field Explore rankings in Personal Care and Service Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$55,010

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

3%employment growth3,000openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Associate's degree; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

26,700

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers (39-4031).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

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.
Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
Contact cemeteries to schedule the opening and closing of graves.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.7
Getting Information4.6
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.5
Documenting/Recording Information4.5
Assisting and Caring for Others4.4

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Conventional4.7
Enterprising4.7
Social4.4
Realistic3.6
Artistic1.8
Investigative1.4

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Psychology Personnel and Human Resources Computers and Electronics Biology

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Volunteer in a structured, supervised role long enough to learn whether sustained responsibility for other people's needs feels meaningful or draining.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options