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The differences between funeral attendants and funeral directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a funeral director has an average salary of $39,048, which is higher than the $30,116 average annual salary of a funeral attendant.
The top three skills for a funeral attendant include customer service, viewings and funeral homes. The most important skills for a funeral director are client families, veterans, and compassion.
| Funeral Attendant | Funeral Director | |
| Yearly salary | $30,116 | $39,048 |
| Hourly rate | $14.48 | $18.77 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 45,821 | 5,746 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Associate Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 51 | 49 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A funeral attendant assists funeral directors in a funeral service to ensure it runs smoothly as planned. The attendant is in charge of placing the casket in the parlor before the service, and they may also manage the finances of the funeral home. Their tasks include but are not limited to receiving payments and making bank deposits. They may also perform general bookkeeping duties. Their job as a funeral attendant will likely include moving the deceased from the chapel to the funeral home.
A funeral director organizes and oversees funeral services, aiming to provide optimal service and support to grieving families. They typically meet with families to identify their needs and help them plan services, arrange transportation for the deceased, prepare and process the body for the service, and assist families every step of the way. They are also responsible for processing documents, liaising with vendors and suppliers, writing obituaries, and resolving conflicts or issues should any arise. Moreover, a funeral director must lead and delegate tasks among staff, monitoring the progress of all operations regularly.
Funeral attendants and funeral directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Funeral Attendant | Funeral Director | |
| Average salary | $30,116 | $39,048 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $37,000 | Between $29,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Belmont, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Precoa |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a funeral attendant and a funeral director in terms of educational background:
| Funeral Attendant | Funeral Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Associate Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Mortuary Science |
| Most common college | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities |
Here are the differences between funeral attendants' and funeral directors' demographics:
| Funeral Attendant | Funeral Director | |
| Average age | 51 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.0% Female, 33.0% | Male, 64.7% Female, 35.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 3.6% White, 70.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Asian, 1.8% White, 77.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 9% |