Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 298 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 297 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 307 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 311 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 308 | 0.00% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $45,193 | $21.73 | --0.1% |
| 2024 | $45,235 | $21.75 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $43,982 | $21.15 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $43,313 | $20.82 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $41,843 | $20.12 | +3.3% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 187 | 22% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 509 | 16% |
| 3 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 476 | 16% |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 440 | 11% |
| 5 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 490 | 10% |
| 6 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 481 | 10% |
| 7 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 294 | 10% |
| 8 | California | 39,536,653 | 61 | 0% |
| 9 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 27 | 0% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 25 | 0% |
| 11 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 21 | 0% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 21 | 0% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 18 | 0% |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 9 | 0% |
| 15 | New York | 19,849,399 | 8 | 0% |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 4 | 0% |
| 17 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 2 | 0% |
| 18 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 2 | 0% |
| 19 | Alaska | 739,795 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 0 | 0% |
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Funeral Service And Mortuary Science
Dr. Michael LuBrant Ph.D.: The most important skills you can bring to the profession are an empathic disposition, and the ability to provide attentive, compassionate service to client families experiencing pain and loss. Strong interpersonal communication skills are key to success in funeral service. Whereas the use of new and developing technologies such as AI in mortuary science will continue to grow in the future, the most important skill you can cultivate is the ability to be truly present for and with others during their time of bereavement.
Dr. Michael LuBrant Ph.D.: Our professional relationships are very important in mortuary science. Do everything you can to meet as many people in the profession while a student; take advantage of every opportunity for internship and practicum experiences. Get to know the vendors who visit and serve funeral home clients. The greater your professional network, the more opportunities you will have for employment. Many employment opportunities are presented via 'word of mouth' and through professional connections, which is why it's so important to get to know as many people as possible while still a student. When searching for a job, endeavor to find an employer and mentor who will help you be successful. Consider employment areas in towns and communities that may be new and/or unfamiliar to you - there are many business owners who are actively looking for someone to take over and/or purchase their business as they approach retirement.
Cody Walker: In my opinion, many parts of the country have been slow in bringing available starting salary ranges to a level commensurate with the education, skills, and knowledge required of the profession. When starting one’s career, they should first consider the position they most want to pursue. It may be that one more enjoys working on the funeral directing side of the profession while another may prefer the embalming or cremation side. With that consideration, sufficient due diligence should be performed to identify potential earning levels for the desired position. There can be vast differences in starting salaries from state to state, as well as various regions within a state. It is prudent for those entering the profession to learn and be familiar with resources that are available. There are vast resources from credible sources online, including local, state, and national trade associations. Many associations offer complimentary or reduced memberships for students of funeral service.