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Embalmer/funeral director job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected embalmer/funeral director job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 5,300 new jobs for embalmer/funeral directors are projected over the next decade.
Embalmer/funeral director salaries have increased 8% for embalmer/funeral directors in the last 5 years.
There are over 22,327 embalmer/funeral directors currently employed in the United States.
There are 5,805 active embalmer/funeral director job openings in the US.
The average embalmer/funeral director salary is $38,736.
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,327 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 22,200 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 22,996 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 23,267 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 23,014 | 0.01% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $38,736 | $18.62 | --0.1% |
| 2024 | $38,772 | $18.64 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $37,698 | $18.12 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $37,125 | $17.85 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | $35,865 | $17.24 | +3.3% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 172 | 20% |
| 2 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 681 | 14% |
| 3 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 261 | 14% |
| 4 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 518 | 11% |
| 5 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 470 | 10% |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 410 | 10% |
| 7 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 270 | 9% |
| 8 | California | 39,536,653 | 85 | 0% |
| 9 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 29 | 0% |
| 10 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 21 | 0% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 19 | 0% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 11 | 0% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 9 | 0% |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 9 | 0% |
| 15 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 8 | 0% |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 4 | 0% |
| 17 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 2 | 0% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2 | 0% |
| 19 | Alaska | 739,795 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 0 | 0% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Douglasville | 1 | 3% | $37,664 |
| 2 | Holland | 1 | 3% | $35,266 |
| 3 | Kennesaw | 1 | 3% | $37,722 |
| 4 | Lewiston | 1 | 3% | $41,583 |
| 5 | Fort Smith | 2 | 2% | $30,720 |
| 6 | Ankeny | 1 | 2% | $33,213 |
| 7 | Brookline | 1 | 2% | $33,692 |
| 8 | Kokomo | 1 | 2% | $40,953 |
| 9 | Davenport | 1 | 1% | $33,595 |
| 10 | Lake Charles | 1 | 1% | $30,065 |
| 11 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $35,331 |
| 12 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $33,670 |
| 13 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $34,394 |
| 14 | Fort Wayne | 1 | 0% | $41,824 |
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Funeral Service And Mortuary Science
Dr. Michael LuBrant Ph.D.: Consider additional training opportunities to earn credentials that will enhance your professional skill set. For example, consider becoming a certified funeral celebrant, a certified crematory operator, and/or a certified funeral pre-arranger. All of these trainings and credentials demonstrate a willingness to go 'above and beyond' what is typically required for licensure as a funeral director and/or embalmer. Seek out employment opportunities at funeral firms which recognize and value these credentials.
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: While much of our society is becoming more autonomous in business interactions, I believe it will be critically important to remain vigilant in providing personal service to the families we serve. In providing personal service, we must also embrace the ever-changing technological landscape that can be used to enhance services available to families. While I feel we must always honor the traditional services families choose, we should be open and accepting to less traditional and innovative services and offerings.
Cody Walker: First and foremost, one must have a genuine desire to care and serve others in their greatest time of need. Funeral service is just as much about caring for the dead and caring for the living that survive the decedent. A funeral service professional can make a truly meaningful difference in the grieving and mourning process. When asked, an overwhelming majority of funeral service professionals will say they feel they are called or meant to serve others in their time of need. Research state-specific licensing requirements for the state in which you will practice. Know in advance what license(s) you would like to earn and the processes for earning them. Also, be certain to review any background check concerns that may prevent you from earning licensure. Many states will allow candidates to apply for waivers regarding these concerns prior to beginning their education. Determine what your career goals are in the death care profession. It is important to consider this aspect while attending school, following completion of educational requirements, during any required provisional or apprenticeship period, and long-term career goals. The death care profession can, in many cases, require irregular working hours that may include nights, weekends, and holidays. This can depend on the type of position and the firm in which one is employed. I feel it is important to consider the potential work schedule requirements in advance. One should thoroughly research the job market and earning potential for the area in which they are considering to practice.
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.