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Personal Care and Service

Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers
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Median pay

$49,800
Median annual pay for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

3.1%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

3,200
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

27,500
Estimated U.S. employment for Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+800
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Associate's degree
Typical additional preparation: Long-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Speaking
  3. 3Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Writing
  5. 5Critical Thinking
  6. 6Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Administrative
  4. 4Administration and Management
  5. 5Psychology
  6. 6Personnel and Human Resources

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Expression
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Speech Clarity
  4. 4Speech Recognition
  5. 5Problem Sensitivity
  6. 6Information Ordering

Career interests

  1. 1Conventional
  2. 2Enterprising
  3. 3Social
  4. 4Realistic
  5. 5Artistic
  6. 6Investigative

Work styles

  1. 1Attention to Detail
  2. 2Dependability
  3. 3Empathy
  4. 4Integrity
  5. 5Self-Control
  6. 6Sincerity

Work activities

  1. 1Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  2. 2Getting Information
  3. 3Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  4. 4Documenting/Recording Information
  5. 5Assisting and Caring for Others
  6. 6Scheduling Work and Activities

Work context

  1. 1Telephone Conversations
  2. 2Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  3. 3Contact With Others
  4. 4Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
  5. 5Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
  6. 6Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Representative 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.

Software and tools

Microsoft Access · in demandMicrosoft Excel · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · in demandMicrosoft PowerPoint · in demandMicrosoft Word · hot technologySalesforce software · hot technologyBelmar & Associates MortwareCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteCustom Data Systems Sterling Management SoftwareFPA Software MACCSFuneralKiosk

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.